Quitting Queens: Chambers drag stars walk out in row over Pride symbols
‘You can’t paint the gay away’.
That’s the message from Cork’s queer community today after a beloved city bar allegedly removed its rainbow flags as part of a decor overhaul.
All eight of the regular performers at the Washington Street venue Chambers have declined to perform at upcoming drag events and are urging their fans to boycott the bar until the changes are explained.
Regular customers were surprised and dismayed to see the sign over the door of their favourite haunt removed and replaced with a new sign for Sinners, a nightclub also run by the Reardens hospitality group.
“Changes have been made this week that we are all not comfortable with. We were not made aware in advance of these changes to accommodate the coming ‘Fresher’s Week’.” said performer Mia Gold, posting on Instagram.
“The removal of all traces of our beloved LGBTQIA+ safe space is simply appalling and we refuse to accept this. So it is with great thought that we queens will no longer be performing in our former ‘safe space’.”
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“In these troubling times for our community, it is now more important than ever that we, the LGBTQIA+ community stand together for all.”
The Cork Queers group has asked its followers for suggestions on a peaceful protest at the venue in the coming days.
Chambers management has been contacted for comment.
