In response to a petition signed by hundreds of Christian employees and others, Google recently removed a “Pride and Drag Show” from its list of company-endorsed LGBTQ+ events in California. The petitioners claimed the event, which was scheduled at the LGBTQ+ bar Beaux in San Francisco, undermined the Christian faith. They found the act of drag artist “Peaches Christ” to be “provocative and inflammatory,” according to CNBC. The petition emphasized that such an act could be seen as an assault on the religious beliefs and sensitivities of Christians.
Initially promoted as a grand finale to a month of celebrations, the event’s removal from Google’s official roster of annual activities demonstrates an acknowledgment of the concerns raised in the petition. The performance by “Peaches Christ” was highlighted in the petition as a pointed and offensive affront to Christian religious beliefs and sensitivities.
In response to queries, a Google spokesperson explained that the event was removed because it had not undergone the company’s “standard events process.” While Google has long supported and celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with Pride events often featuring drag artists, this event, in particular, did not follow the established procedure, being organized and shared by a single team.
The spokesperson, Chris Pappas, did not confirm whether the decision to pull down the public event was influenced by the petition. Pappas reiterated Google’s pride in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and clarified that the event was removed due to procedural irregularities. He mentioned that while the official team event had been relocated, the performance would still proceed at the intended venue, allowing interested employees to attend.