Scotland: STV attacked for refusing to allow drag queen in Pride coverage
Pride Glasgow has attacked Scottish broadcaster STV, for refusing to allow a drag queen to appear in its Pride coverage.
According to the Herald, the group were due to appear on the Riverside Show on the newly-launched STV Glasgow ahead of this week’s Pride event, but the show’s producer refused to allow drag queen Bee Fiarse Beaujambes to appear in the coverage.
Alastair Smith of Pride Glasgow said: “We had suggested to them that a drag queen come on the show to promote the gay pride event, but they said that they didn’t want young children asking what a drag queen is.
“It was really insulting. Basically they’re saying they want to do a feature on gay pride without actually mentioning anything gay. It was just a bit odd.
“I’ve now asked them to stop any interviews with myself or anyone else connected with Pride Glasgow from appearing on the show. We’ve pulled out all together.
“It’s just absolute nonsense, children who ask questions grow up to be the well-informed, open-minded adults of the future.
“They’re already used to seeing panto dames and other drag queens on TV, so I don’t understand what all the fuss was about.
“I’m now considering writing to their chief executive to complain.”
Beaujambes said in a Facebook post: “Those of you who know me will know that I am not the kind of person to feel rage, until today that is.
“After hearing that STV GLASGOW withdrew their request for me to be interviewed on the Riverside Show Tomorrow night to talk about Pride Glasgow because having a drag queen wouldn’t be ‘appropriate’ as ‘parents could be watching with their kids’..?!
“Anita Bryant and Brian Souter would be proud! Save the children!
“STV have shown themselves to be narrow minded and prejudiced. Pride was built on the stilettos of Drag Queens, they started the first one.
“I will never forget this, please let STV GLASGOW know how you feel!”
A spokeswoman for STV Glasgow said: “This is not our understanding of the correspondence with Glasgow Pride.
“STV Glasgow was keen to host Glasgow Pride on The Riverside Show and invited them on to promote this weekend’s event.”
