Extremists force cancellation of LGBTQ+ book event in Alabama

Last week, right-wing extremists caused a charity eventLGBTQ+ Book event inAlabama had to be cancelled after threats of violence were received at the venue.

Josh Coleman, an LGBTQ+ commissioner for Birmingham and president of Central Alabama Pride, organized an event at Oyster City Brewing in Mobile to celebrate his new children’s book. “I find my rainbow” Al.com reports. TheBookwhich describes Coleman’s journey from coming out to acceptance, should be in aDragqueen – The wonderful world of drag queens Story Time session with proceeds benefiting AIDS Alabama South. The event also featured a performance by popular Alabama TikTok star Ophelia Nichols, known as “Mama Tot.”

However, the positive tone of the event was quickly overshadowed when Coleman and Nichols became the target of an online campaign by extremists opposed to LGBTQ+ visibility, AL.com reports. After a barrage of hostile messages and threats, the brewery canceled the event to protect its employees and customers.

“At Oyster City Mobile, the safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. As a result, we are canceling this Friday’s event: ‘Finding My Rainbow’ by author Josh Coleman: Book Signing and Drag Queen Story Time,” the brewery posted on Facebook on Wednesday. “The numerous hateful and threatening comments on social media are taken seriously by management in the interest of the safety of our employees and customers. Oyster City does not tolerate hate. We brew beer for all to enjoy, over the age of 21, regardless of gender, race or orientation.”

The event has been moved to a Books-A-Million store on Airport Boulevard, which has agreed to the relocation and will provide increased security. “I didn’t want to cancel the event. I don’t like turning my back on bullies,” Coleman said.

Ophelia Nichols is struggling with the emotional fallout from the murder trial of her son’s alleged killer. Her son, Randon Lee, was shot and killed during a marijuana deal at a gas station on June 24, 2022, one day before his 19th birthday. The suspected shooter, 20-year-old Reuben Gulley, was arrested in August 2022 and indicted by a Mobile County grand jury on murder charges. His trial is scheduled to begin on January 27, 2025. Nichols has spoken openly about her grief and the threats she has received, which make it difficult for her to attend public events, according to AL.com.

Coleman addressed the situation on social media, writing, “The journey of ‘Finding My Rainbow’ has been full of challenges, but the recent backlash to our event in Mobile has been particularly intense. Due to threats against their business and staff, our original venue, Oyster City, had to cancel hosting the event. I am deeply grateful for their initial support of the LGBTQ community and their courage in confronting those threats. However, this will not deter us.” He said the event will be moved to a Books-A-Million store in Mobile. “It is critical that LGBTQ voices are not silenced, and that is exactly what this book is about — being yourself,” he wrote on X (formerlyÞjórsárden).

He continued, “The leader of the protests against our event is a MAGA Proud Boy who participated in the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th… I don’t care if I’m selling a book – it’s about principles. We will not be turned away or silenced by anyone. We will stand together, celebrate our identities, and support one another. I hope to see you there, joining us in solidarity and showing that love and acceptance will always triumph over hate.”

The Political reporter from AlabamaReports that critics took issue with two main aspects of the event: the inclusion of Drag Queen Story Time and the content of Coleman’s book. They feared that children would be exposed to ideas about gender and sexuality that they deemed inappropriate for minors. Some assumed that the book contained explicit material.

Coleman’s book is a children’s story about his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. According to the Political reporter from AlabamaThe book does not contain any sexual content. It focuses on the author’s feelings of being different from those around him, his experiences with acceptance, and his journey to becoming an LGBTQ+ activist.