UpRising Bakery & Café, a Chicago-based bakery known for its gluten-free and vegan sweet treats, has announced its permanent closure due to a series of violent and abusive attacks. The bakery owner, Corinna Sac, cited the backlash and harassment her business received after hosting a family-friendly drag performance in July 2022 as the primary reason for the closure. According to Sac, the bakery’s windows and doors were smashed, and the business was graffitied with offensive messages the night before the event. Since then, Sac has endured eight months of “horrific attacks, endless harassment, and unrelenting negative misinformation” that has made it untenable for her to continue operating the business.
The blowback against UpRising Bakery & Café is not an isolated incident. In 2022, at least 124 anti-drag protests occurred in the US, with the majority of them starting in June of that year, according to LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization GLAAD. These protests came after months of escalating anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric that falsely labeled queer and trans people as “groomers” and accused drag performers of being sexual predators targeting children. This disinformation narrative has been amplified by popular right-wing social media accounts, such as Libs of TikTok.
The attacks against drag have also evolved from mere rhetoric to legislative reality. Tennessee recently banned public drag performances in the same legislative session as it prohibited gender-affirming care for minors. Meanwhile, Texas Republicans have filed a bill that would allow minors to sue drag queens for “harm” experienced by viewing their art. The interplay between rhetoric and legislation is complicated, with each fueling the other. A Florida-based neo-Nazi leader even told NPR that the anti-drag fervor has been a boon for recruitment into their ranks.
For Sac, the closure of UpRising Bakery & Café is a devastating loss. The bakery was known for its award-winning baked goods and its commitment to inclusivity, hosting LGBTQ+-affirming events before the backlash began. However, the hate and harassment directed at Sac and her business ultimately made it impossible for her to continue. The closure of UpRising Bakery & Café is a grim reminder of the harm that anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence can cause, and the urgent need for greater protections and support for the LGBTQ+ community.