Glasgow business facing backlash after planning drag-themed events

GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – A Glasgow business has sparked a heated debate within the community following its announcement of a two-day drag-themed event scheduled for June.

Initially promoted in a local Facebook group, the event was set to take place at Hall Place Bed & Breakfast on June 29-30. However, due to intense backlash, the event has now been canceled.

Ruth Julianne Ratliff, the primary organizer and financier of the event, decided to cancel after witnessing the escalating negative reactions.

“With the way the rhetoric was going within just a matter of 48 hours, and we were well over 30 days away from this event, I couldn’t take that chance,” Ratliff said.

Ratliff, a transgender woman, described many of the comments as “sick accusations” and labeled them as “baseless.”

“I was accused, and my performers as well, of being child groomers, child molesters, sick, twisted individuals looking for their next kink. How is a person that is fully clothed, lip-syncing while they are dancing in full attire, looking for a sexual kink? Or looking to molest a child or groom a child?”

Sharla Emmers, the owner of Hall Place, had never hosted a drag event before but believed it would appeal to the local LGBTQ community.

“We just got excited because it was something different and was going to be entertainment, but it was also an opportunity to have fun and embrace people that are a little bit different than us,” Emmers said.

Both Emmers and Ratliff said the event was intended to be family-oriented and clean. Emmers stipulated that the event remain appropriate for all ages, and Ratliff agreed to these terms.

“We knew that we were going to be in an area that has churches in the vicinity, and we did not want to do anything that would be vulgar or in any way considered to be a snub to their way of life,” Ratliff said.

Hall Place maintains a small parking area behind its building but primarily relies on a parking lot next door owned by Glasgow Baptist Church. This week, Emmers received a call from someone identifying themselves as affiliated with the church.

She said the unnamed person implied her use of the parking lot is a “privilege” and said “privileges can be taken away.”

“That was the gut punch,” she said. “I can’t operate in the same capacity that I have been if an important aspect of my business is removed.”

Adding to the challenges, the Glasgow Kiwanis Club has also informed Emmers that they will no longer hold their twice-monthly meetings at Hall Place due to the planned event.

“They have three ministers in their organization, and they’ve decided they need to change locations for that reason,” Emmers said.

The Glasgow Kiwanis Club declined to comment on the decision when asked by WBKO Investigates.

Despite the event’s cancellation, the controversy has ignited discussions about inclusivity and acceptance within the Glasgow community. Some residents have expressed disappointment over the cancellation, viewing it as a missed opportunity for cultural enrichment and community unity.

“I feel like we need to be a mature responsible community,” said Kalee Gapinski. “We need to learn the true meaning of love thy neighbor. People in the LGBTQ+ community are everywhere, even in secret but they hide in fear for reasons like this. If you don’t like something, don’t attend or interact.”

Others, however, believe the cancellation was necessary to uphold community and moral standards.

“It damages the integrity of our entire community that the majority of our friends and neighbors value,” said Eli Jolly. “What will be next? As a new father, my hope is to be able to raise my family up in a good community that’s not brainwashed by immoral, disgusting, and unnatural acts or philosophies.”

Emmers said she remains committed to fostering a welcoming environment, though she fears the uncertainties her small business may face.

“We definitely will continue to work together in creating a loving and safe space for everyone,” she said. “But what does that look like now? I don’t know. I don’t want to lose locals’ business.”

The calls she received at Hall Place were all from people with reservations linked to religious beliefs, Emmers said. As a Christian, she said she believed she was doing what God wanted her to do by offering a safe space for all people to be loved and acknowledged.

“I’ve had a lot of trepidation myself. Am I in danger? Is my home in danger? Am I going to come in and find a lot of vandalism? Are the guests that I have coming in and out of the house, that have no idea what’s going, are they in danger?” Emmers said.

Ratliff expressed a desire for change in community attitudes. She has decided to leave the community out of fear of retaliation or further ridicule.

“Ultimately, I would like to see that this changes the minds of people in Glasgow and they realize this is not an acceptable behavior pattern and they put forth the effort to change that themselves.”

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