It’s an issue that concerns many communities. Scantily clad men dressed as women and women dressed as men gyrating on stage in publicly funded venues.
Until 2023, Owensboro taxpayers paid for monthly drag performances at the Ghostlight Lounge, located inside RiverPark Center.
Fed up and concerned about the community’s reputation, a handful of citizens formed Daviess County Citizens for Decency and called on city officials to do something.
City officials refused appeals to shut down the event, saying drag shows are not considered adult entertainment.
The citizens protested, voicing concerns about the community’s reputation, and the effect of normalizing drag shows on children. “They understand that normalizing this behavior will allow them easier access to our children. This is not about entertainment. This is about an agenda…..an attempt to groom our children,” said Jerry Chapman, leader of Citizens for Decency.
Chapman’s group persisted, petitioning RiverPark Center’s private and corporate donors and sponsors in the course of several mailings, calling for an end to the drag shows.
The petition read:
“Drag queens were witnessed performing sexual acts upon each other during events at the RiverPark during Pride week. An elderly female volunteer was confronted in the ladies room by 2 men. Indecent dress, exposure to children and elderly ladies as well as public sexual displays are an abomination and illegal. What adults do on private property or in their own homes is strictly their business, but there is no place for this conduct in our community. Your drag queens and your patrons have made it abundantly clear they have no respect for our community. These shows are far beyond the realm of entertainment and are simply an affront to our citizens and an assault on our reputation.”
Unsatisfied with the response from donors and sponsors, Citizens for Decency decided to take their case to Owensboro taxpayers by mailing a postcard to 7,500 households.
The postcard, showcasing drag performance pictures, asked “Have you had enough?”
The response from taxpayers was “overwhelmingly (85%) positive” according to a press release. “Our biggest struggle has been awareness. That’s why the mailers were so key to our success,” Chapman said.
Hundreds of citizens plus forty-seven Faith leaders and their congregations eventually signed the Citizens for Decency petition. The issue became so contentious that the Daviess County Fiscal Court voted to defund RiverPark Center. Judge Executive Charlie Castlen cited the “divisive” nature of the events and poorly managed tax payer dollars for the change.
Castlen announced, “When they have created something as divisive as it’s been in our community, and they readily admit they’re losing money on it, and yet they keep doing it, it’s almost as though they’re saying, ‘We don’t need your money.’”
Since then, the manager of the GhostLight Lounge was fired, the lounge closed and the RiverPark Center Executive Director was fired – a clear win for a small citizens advocacy organization.
“We awakened the sleeping giant,” Chapman said. ”So many, myself included, believed Owensboro was immune to the ailments of the world. My initial reaction when I was told about the drag shows … was, ‘no way! Not in Owensboro.’ We all had a false sense of security because Owensboro is a Christian community.”
While the City Commission did not change its funding for RiverPark Center, this experience will play a role in filling future City Commission vacancies.
“As individuals, my wife and I have been very involved in the Daviess Co. Republican Party. I proposed and organized a candidate development committee. This committee will find, vet, train and support conservative candidates for local and state positions. We are committed to putting Conservative leaders back in charge of our governments. “
About Tonja
Tonja has a varied background, including a degree in Russian from the University of Kentucky, and a Masters degree in International Studies from Old Dominion. Her intergovernmental / private policy work began as a part of the founding team that created Visit Florida, which partnered with the state of Florida and private tourism organizations to establish Florida as a pre-eminent destination. Upon returning to Kentucky, she changed careers to focus on her true passion – helping people in her hometown; becoming a Nurse and founding Warren County Conservatives.
Read the original reporting and other commentary:
Community members express opposition to Fiscal Court’s proposed defunding of RiverPark Center, The Owensboro Times, May 5 2023
New Daviess County budget proposal may affect local drag shows 44News May 4, 2023
Daviess Fiscal Court Considers Cutting Controversial Funding, Commonwealth Policy Center, May 2, 2023
Postcards Opposing Local Drag Shows Sent Out to Daviess County Residents, News 44 April 27, 2023
Fiscal Court Budget Would Eliminate RiverPark Center Funding Owensboro Messenger Inquirer, April 20, 2023
Proposed County Budget Reduces Funds to EDC. “Daviess Fiscal Court’s proposed budget for 2023-24 would reduce the county’s allocation to the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp. by $144,000.” Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, May 30, 2023
Fiscal Court Proposes Eliminating Funding for RiverPark Center, Drastically Lowering EDC Allocation, The Owensboro Times, April 20, 2023
City Officials Oppose Defunding RiverPark, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, February 24, 2023
Protecting Kids from Pornography in the Children’s Section
Save Our Community’s Reputation Petition