A well-known church in Dallas, celebrated for its LGBTQ activism, sparked controversy Sunday by hosting a drag-focused worship service in which a guest performer suggested violence against Donald Trump supporters.
The Cathedral of Hope, part of the progressive United Church of Christ denomination, held its second annual Celebrating the Art of Drag Sunday, a service that aimed to “bless and affirm” drag as an art form.
The featured guest preacher was Reverend Brooke Dooley, youth director for the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Dooley, who performed under the drag persona “Brock Bottom,” is also associated with Friends Congregational Church in College Station.
During the service, Dooley made repeated comments about fighting Republicans and “sacrificing” or killing anyone who admitted to voting for Trump.
“If any of y’all voted for Trump, please don’t tell us,” Dooley said from the stage, jokingly asking a crowd member if he supported the former president.
When the person answered, Dooley replied, “Okay, ’cause I will kill [the audience member].”
The drag performer also joked about travelling to Austin to “fist fight Greg Abbott,” the Republican governor of Texas, adding that Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, “wouldn’t stand up” to fight.
Videos of the event were captured by the Texas Family Project, which later posted them on Twitter/X.
The footage sparked a wave of criticism as it circulated online.
Many viewers questioned the church’s stance on inclusivity, asking whether the violent remarks overshadowed the congregation’s mission to “proclaim Christ through faith, hope, and love.”
In a statement on its website, the Cathedral of Hope said it organized the drag service as an “act of defiance” against bills introduced in the Texas Legislature that target drag performers and transgender people.
“We want our children to be safe and supported,” the church’s online statement reads, citing examples of drag in library story hours, theatre, and music as evidence that such performances can be “family friendly.”
Following the worship service, the church hosted a “Drag Brunch” fundraiser, offering food and live entertainment.
Video from the brunch showed alleged members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Lonestar Royal Court receiving applause at the altar, including one individual dressed in a purple animal costume and bondage gear.
The Cathedral of Hope has long championed progressive causes, celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility in 2024 on Easter Sunday and maintaining advocacy groups for racial justice and transgender rights.
One ministry, “Hope For All Colors,” focuses on racial equity, while the church’s Transgender Advocacy Group works to promote acceptance and support for transgender people.
Critics, however, argue that some elements of Sunday’s event crossed a line.
They point to Dooley’s threatening comments and mockery of Abbott’s disability as proof that the church is straying from its principles of love and compassion.
Supporters maintain that the provocative humour was intended to highlight the dangers of anti-LGBTQ legislation.
While Cathedral of Hope officials have not publicly commented on Dooley’s specific remarks, their website reaffirms the church’s aim to create “a just world for all” in alignment with United Church of Christ values.
As debate over religious expression and LGBTQ rights intensifies, many Texans continue to watch how faith communities, including this Dallas church, respond to the political and cultural tensions affecting the state.
