A Wheeling, West Virginia, Primanti Brothers restaurant was forced to cancel a drag show brunch due to threats of violence against drag performers and their audience: violence and outright murder against the LGBT community is a national disgrace.
Groups like the Patriot Boys and other white nationalist movements' intimidation of minority populations are well known.
Martial artists showed kindness and offered to protect an ostracized group of people in their community. This retired Wushu practitioner is grateful for their offer.
One martial arts academy had enough of the bullying after seeing a post on Facebook canceling the breakfast and performance.
WTRF reports on the offer by Haught to provide security to S&S Productions.
Johnny Haught, who operates as the owner and head instructor at Ohio Valley MMA , took to Facebook after the drag show was cancelled and volunteered him and some of his fighters to make sure the event stays safe.
Haught said he has personally bounced in a couple local bars for around 10 years and has a good understanding of security and safety. Haught also said his students have more than enough training to keep an area safe under his direction.
“The drag show is no more offensive than a Broadway show, or a stand up comedy show. In essence, it’s a mix of both. At the end of the day, it is entertainment. Not part of some hidden agenda, like some would have you believe,” Haught said.
Haught says that he and his team can de-escalate any situation without violence and they key is to never get to that point. “If you have control of a situation, it shouldn’t escalate. That comes with the understanding that you will put your self in harms way sometimes. As long as you speak with respect to an individual, and refused to be treated any other way, usually even the most unruly person will fall in line.”
WBOY news writes on S&S Productions Facebook post canceling the show:
S&S productions said “that a little glitter never hurt anyone,” but the show cannot go on, citing safety concerns.
“We couldn’t wait to party with you all, support the local lgbtqia+ community, and show that a little glitter never hurt anyone.”
S&S Productions
It seems there was a strong interest in the show, though, considering that it was almost sold out with only two tables remaining open, according to organizers.
Outsports makes the story go national.
S&S Productions, which hosts drag shows throughout Pittsburgh, Penn. and surrounding areas, hasn’t said whether it will reschedule the event.
In the meantime, Haught continues to push back against anti-LGBTQ sentiment, with humor and appeals for decency. On Thursday, he addressed an anonymous caller who left him a voice message and warned him not to perform in the event (obviously, the caller wrongly thought Haught was one of the queens).
“The man on my voice-mail paid me the greatest compliment,” wrote Haught on Facebook. “Unfortunately, while I have tremendous legs and ass, I don’t have the makeup skills to be in a drag show.”
In addition, Haught posted the address to his training facility, along with its weekly schedule. If any of those drag show-threatening crowds are looking for a fight, they know where to find him.
We won’t be holding our breath ...
Martial artists are good people, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.