Google Booed By Own Employees at Drag Show it Pulled Support From

A drag queen in San Francisco used the stage at a drag show to call out Google for withdrawing its official support for the event after a petition was signed by Christian employees.

Josh Grannell, who performs as "Peaches Christ" spoke out on TikTok about the petition which said "Their provocative and inflammatory artistry is considered a direct affront to the religion beliefs and sensitivities of Christians."

In the video, members of the audience are heard booing as soon as Peaches Christ mentions the petition at the "Pride and Drag Show" event on Tuesday. According to a report in CNBC, audience members booing included Google employees wearing Google-branded "Pride" T-shirts.

CNBC reported that Google had officially withdrawn its support for the event as a result of the petition, which complained that it did not meet the company's events guidelines and demanded an apology.

The company is still making a promise that it is helping support the LGBTQ+ community "with commitments to help fund and celebrate inclusive spaces that foster belonging for all."

Although not held on Google property, the event was one of several it had sponsored as part of Pride Month.

“We've long been very proud to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community," a Google spokesperson told The Messenger. "Our Pride celebrations have regularly featured drag artists for many years, including several this year.

"This particular event was booked by and shared within one team without going through our standard events process. The event organizers shifted the official team event onsite and the performance went on at the planned venue – and it was open to the public, so employees could still attend.”

"Well it was basically very similar to the event we did last year, so in many ways it didn't really feel any different," Peaches said on TikTok. "I'm sure it affected queer Google employees moreso.

"It was a real bummer to see this happen, but I also think this needs to be called out.

"If you are going to put a rainbow flag on stuff and march in the queer pride parade, but not support your queer employees and not take a stand against anti-queer sentiment, then you are not a real ally."

Pride Month 2023 has taken place with a backdrop of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the United States.

A city in Michigan was one of a few which banned pride flags, while vandalism at the Stonewall Monument in New York City was being investigated as a hate crime.

On Friday, the Supreme Court effectively voted that companies could discriminate based on a person's sexuality or gender identity, when it allowed a Colorado web developer the right to refuse services to a same-sex couple.