The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) recently ruled on a complaint brought by Drag Queens Diamond Good-Rim and Johnny Valkyrie against Lyle Shelton, stirring discussion within the LGBTQ community. The case emerged from a Drag Queen Story Time event in Brisbane Square Library in early 2020, where Diamond and Johnny performed for children and parents. However, the event took an unexpected turn when members of the University of Queensland’s UQ Liberal National Club disrupted it with loud chanting, unsettling attendees.
In response to subsequent blog and social media posts made by Lyle Shelton, Diamond and Johnny took legal action in QCAT. The tribunal’s decision, delivered by QCAT member Jeremy Gordon, has garnered attention for its content. Gordon found that the posts by Shelton did not meet the criteria for vilification as defined by Queensland law. The Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 deems public behavior inciting hatred, contempt, or ridicule on the grounds of sexuality or gender identity as unlawful.
Of notable significance to the ruling is Gordon’s assertion, repeated throughout the 78-page document, that a “substantial proportion” of drag queens are neither transgender nor individuals with homosexual sexual orientation. This claim has sparked surprise and controversy, given the long-standing association between drag shows and the LGBTQ community. Many have questioned the evidence upon which Gordon based this conclusion, particularly in a context where drag queens have historically been predominantly transgender or gay individuals.
QNews is poised to engage with QCAT to explore the basis for Jeremy Gordon’s perspective, aiming to clarify the factors that led him to his assessment that certain drag queens do not align with traditional assumptions about their identity and orientation. This case raises vital discussions about the complex interplay between drag culture, LGBTQ representation, and legal definitions of vilification within Queensland and beyond.