Protest anticipated outside Vancouver theatre on day 1 of drag summer camp for youth

Workers at a theatre in Vancouver are rallying for support in anticipation of protests planned Tuesday over summer camp programming for children and teens.

Workers at a theatre in Vancouver are rallying for support in anticipation of protests planned Tuesday over summer camp programming for children and teens.

The labour union IATSE 118 says Carousel Theatre for Young People has been the target of hate because it’s offering a four-day drag summer camp for youth aged seven to 17, which is set to start on July 4.

For the first day of the camp, IATSE 118 is asking people to join its members outside 1411 Cartwright St. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for “a united front against those who would do harm to anyone in our theatre community,” according to a statement.

“We believe the presence of the Local, in both its official form as support for our workers, and as a group of informed and caring individuals, can easily present to those threatening the camp evidence that their actions will not be tolerated,” reads a release the union issued last week.

Since announcing its summer programming back in March, the theatre has faced backlash from people across the country—including the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, Maxime Bernier—and has hosted multiple fundraisers in order to hire additional security to be present at its events.

One online fundraiser that was organized last week in response to the planned rally has amassed more than $16,000 in a matter of five days.

“The threats have risen to the level of threats of physical violence to people, our members and structural violence to our employer, Carousel Theatre,” IATSE 118 wrote in its statement.