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Drag shows causes controversy in Perry and prompts complaint by bar owner

Main Street Bar's hosting a drag show this weekend, but since posting invitations on social media, they've been getting threats to shut the show down.

PERRY, Ga. — Pride month festivities are still happening across Central Georgia including downtown Perry.

Main Street Bar is hosting a drag show this weekend, but since posting invitations on social media, they've been getting threats to shut the show down.

Management said they expected backlash, but they got more than what they expected.

Last Friday, the bar's public Facebook page shared an invitation to a drag and karaoke show happening this upcoming Sunday.

Some people shared the invite page, excited for what the event offers. However, in other Facebook groups, some invited the people of Perry to protest and discourage the bar from hosting the show.

Four days later, on Wednesday, the bar's owner filed a complaint at the Perry Police Department.

After her neighbor allegedly warned her that some protestors may show up with guns, the owner said she wanted to have a record filed of the incident.

"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 people handled it crossed a line.

"This is not the way to handle issues," he continued. "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."

Everidge said he expects his department to "police the city as normal" this weekend.

Even though there's been chatter of protests on social media, he says no one has applied for a permit to protest.

The bar owners said despite the threats and intimidation they're facing, the show will go on, and they will celebrate Pride in Perry for the last weekend of June.

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