PERRY, Ga. — Events to celebrate Pride Month are happening all across Central Georgia but one show in Perry just got canceled after the venue received threats and pushback from the community.
Main Street Bar was planning to host a drag show on June 30, but after posting on social media, they got threats to shut the show down.
On Thursday, they announced the event was officially canceled on their Facebook page.
"Due to the negative feedback and threats Main St. Bar has received, we feel as though it is too big of a security risk to move forward with this event at this time. We would like to thank everyone that did show their support and love for us and this event. If you would like to support us in other ways, come out and see our live bands playing this weekend," the post read.
However, the drag show was moved to another bar, Friends on the Hill, in Warner Robins. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is 21+.
"Hatred will never win as long as the girls are involved!" drag performer Christina Leon said on Facebook.
The original event, Divas, Disco and Karaoke, promised visitors "a day full of fun, laughter, and amazing entertainment," according to the event page.
Management said they expected backlash, but they got more than what they expected.
Earlier in the week, some people shared the event and were excited to attend. However, in other Facebook groups, some said the people of Perry should protest and discourage the bar from hosting the show.
On Wednesday, the bar's owner filed a complaint at the Perry Police Department after her neighbor allegedly warned her some protestors may show up with guns, the owner said she wanted to have a record on file just in case something happened.
"Normally, we'd work that as a criminal incident, but since the victim didn't decide they wanted to pursue it, we did not," Perry Police Chief Alan Everidge said.
He says people are welcome to have their opinions, but the way some people handled it crossed a line.
"This is not the way to handle issues," he said. "We have to agree and disagree on some things, you can complain, you can boycott a business. But, in this case, a man said don't be surprised if someone was to come down there with a weapon."
Even though there was chatter of protests on social media, Everidge said no one had applied for a permit to protest.
Main Street Bar will still have live music events over the weekend, on Friday and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.