A children’s advocacy nonprofit in Rochester, New York, canceled a planned all-ages drag bingo fundraiser following community criticism, prompting debate among some parents and local advocacy groups over age-appropriate programming.
Story Snapshot
- Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester canceled an all-ages drag bingo after community outcry.
- Performer Ed Popil (“Mrs. Kasha Davis”) blasted the decision as “letting hate win.”
- The nonprofit said controversy risked overshadowing its mission to serve children and families.
- Local reports confirm the Aug. 17 event was pulled; no replacement was announced.
What Was Planned and Why It Collapsed
Local organizers scheduled an all-ages “drag bingo” fundraiser for August 17 at Penthouse at One East Avenue to benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester. Following online criticism from some community members who questioned whether a drag-themed event involving minors aligned with a child-protection mission, organizers and the nonprofit confirmed the event’s cancellation. CACGROC leadership communicated the decision to co-host Ed Popil by phone, citing backlash and concern that the debate would distract from core services to children and families.
Popil, a Rochester-based performer known as “Mrs. Kasha Davis,” condemned the move and argued his shows are tailored to the audience, including kid-friendly formats like story hours.Popil described the cancellation as a capitulation to hostility, while event organizers said they believed the opposition came from a “small but vocal” group. The nonprofit later posted that the decision was not made lightly and emphasized ongoing support for LGBTQ+ youth alongside its mission-first focus.
How Stakeholders Framed the Dispute
The nonprofit positioned the cancellation as risk management: mission alignment and community trust outweigh programming that could overshadow child-services work. Popil and allies viewed it as stigmatizing inclusive events and validating hostile pressure. Some Rochester-area parents and community members told local media that a child-advocacy group should avoid drag-branded, all-ages functions to prevent confusion about standards for minors. Local media documented consistent accounts of the timeline, the leadership call, and the organization’s subsequent inclusion statement.
The leadership role was variously described as “CEO” and “interim CEO” in local coverage, a minor discrepancy that does not alter the central facts. Reporting did not quantify the scale of backlash beyond social media reactions, leaving uncertainty about how widespread opposition was compared to a vocal subset. No alternate fundraiser was announced by press time, and the venue did not issue public comment in the cited coverage.
Why This Matters to Parents and Donors
Parents, donors, and community partners weigh program optics against mission integrity when minors are involved. A child-advocacy nonprofit faces heightened scrutiny on age-appropriate branding and content, even if performers pledge family-friendly material. The immediate impact includes lost fundraising, reputational friction with LGBTQ+ partners, and short-term mitigation of conflict around children’s participation. The longer-term effect could be stricter vetting for events that feature performers or themes perceived as polarizing in child-centered contexts.
What Comes Next for Child-Focused Nonprofits
Nonprofits in this space are likely to tighten risk assessments, set explicit age-appropriateness guidelines, and engage stakeholders earlier to prevent mission drift perceptions. Clear communication about event content, supervision, and branding can reduce ambiguity that fuels online blowback. Organizations will also balance inclusion commitments with a priority on services—ensuring fundraising vehicles do not eclipse child safety, healing, and support goals. Local outlets suggest CACGROC plans additional partner engagement to “better live out” stated values while focusing on core work.
Drag Queen Furious After His Event For Children Canceled #Consequences @marklevinshowhttps://t.co/sO0737MAHl
— TexasPatriot (@TexasPatriot203) August 10, 2025
Broader debates over parental rights, exposure of minors to adult-oriented branding, and institutional neutrality will continue to shape programming choices. Supporters of inclusion will press for visibility with well-defined standards; critics will advocate bright-line boundaries for kid-facing events. In the absence of quantified backlash data, leaders must read community tolerance accurately, protect donor confidence, and avoid controversies that consume staff time and overshadow services to vulnerable children and families.
Sources:
Drag Queen Furious After His Event For Children Canceled
Drag bingo fundraiser in Rochester canceled amid community backlash
CACGROC official statement on event cancellation and inclusion commitments
Drag queen condemns Rochester charity event cancellation; “We’re letting hate win”