UpRising Cafe In Lake In The Hills Cancels Drag Show

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — A Lake in the Hills bakery that has been targeted by threats over its scheduled drag show performances has again cancelled a drag show.

In a Facebook post, UpRising Cafe and Bakery noted they made the decision to cancel its Saturday Slay Bellas Drag event after discussions with their drag performers and "in observation of the growing threats of violence and targeted protests against drag performances." The Department of Homeland Security recently announced in its terrorism advisory bulletin that the threat of extremism and violence is increasing.

The business will refund all of the tickets sold.

"It is a shame we need to cancel. We are saddened that there are people out there with such disregard for the lives and safety of our fellow humans, but it’s sometimes vital to pause and regroup in order to win future battles," according to the Facebook post.

Earlier in the year, the bakery cancelled a drag show after a 24-year-old Alsip man, Joseph I. Collins, smashed windows at the bakery and café, and spray-painted "hateful messages" on the building at 2104 W. Algonquin Road on July 24, according to authorities.

Collins used a baseball bat to break a glass door at the bakery and cafe, and spray-painted "groomers" on the side of the building on the day a family-friendly drag show was supposed to take place at the business, according to court documents. He is also said to have spray-painted the words “Christ is King” and another homophobic slur.

The upheaval centered around the business allowing children to attend the event.

Since then, UpRising has hosted periodic drag events.

In place of Saturday's drag show, Uprising plans to have a "pride party" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the business as a way to show "solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community and to raise money for the performers and UpRising in the absence of this show that we were all depending on," according to the Facebook post.

"We are working on getting a DJ for live music, we will be holding give-aways in house and live stream hourly. We will have all of the performer’s preferred cash apps printed/posted for donations of tips," according to the Facebook post. "We stand in solidarity with every single member of the LGBTQIA+ community and Drag performers during these difficult and challenging times."

More via the UpRising Cafe & Bakery Facebook page