Left Coast Right Watch

SOUTHERN WASHINGTON BREWERY VANDALIZED AFTER ANNOUNCING DRAG SHOW

March 15, 2023 by ROBERT SANDS

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Early last Saturday morning one or more yet-unidentified people smashed the windows at Heathen Brewing Feral Public House in the Portland, OR exburb of Vancouver, Washington. The vandalism was likely a hate crime targeting the progressive brewery for hosting an all-ages drag show later this month.

Heathen Brewing has of late been the target of posts on a Telegram channel with nearly 350 subscribers. LCRW won’t name the channel to avoid giving it further notoriety among the far-right, but it is a hyper-local bulletin board for Portland-area bigots. The board focused their hate on the brewery because it’s hosting an all ages benefit drag brunch that will be held at the brewery on Sunday the 26th. The board shared calls from several prominent figures in the far right anti-drag movement, including the hate group Gays Against Groomers(GAG), to counter protest the event. GAG is a group of queer-identified people who use their identities as gay or bisexual as a rainbow cover for the larger-right wing campaign against trans rights. They have ties to the proud boys.

Poster for a counterprotest to Heathen Brewing's event. It says "Come protest child exposure" and the caption below says "well...the second amendment, first amendment or men in womens' locker rooms won't get people to show up...maybe men exposing themselves to children will. Show up!"
Post on the Telegram channel announcing a counter-protest to Heathen Brewing’s drag event.

In one post shared to the channel, bigots petition the Clark county sheriff, John Horch in an email to

“Take whatever action that you deem necessary to stop this” in reference to both the event at Heathen

Brewery and another at Georgie’s Garage and Grill in Vancouver, WA on March 18th. Stumptown Research, an antifascist collective, also reported on several Proud Boys who repeatedlytargeted the brewery with online vitriol and threatened to protest the event.

Heathen Brewing said in a Facebook post on March 14th that the benefit brunch will be happening—but changed it from an all-ages to an 18+ event.

Facebook post from heathen brewing that says "Over the weekend our Feral Pub location in downtown Vancouver was vandalized with costly damage to our storefront. We support our community and choose kindness for everyone who visits our establishments. Heathen Brewing is an ardent supporter of various non-profits and charitable organizations.  
Drag Brunches is one organization that has used our facilities for their events. These past events have been monitored by staff and did not have inappropriate acts. Just know that I believe that we all have the right to be who we are without being judged. I have contacted the organizers of the event and they plan to require attendees to be 18 years and older. This change is for the safety of the participants, employees, and attendees. A GoFundMe was set up by one of our crew members in a kind and pro-actively thoughtful move. This money will not be spent on fixing the glass but rather on a project that promotes equality and love for all in our community. Thank you for your support and understanding in what has been a very difficult time with hard no-win decisions being made.
Much love,
Sunny Parsons"

ROBERT SANDS

Robert Sands writes for LCRW about metal nazis and other such nuisances.

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