As the Island revs up for Pride weekend, controversy sparked over the location of the Drag Brunch, an annual part of the festivities celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community on the Island.
The situation caused a stir between two Oak Bluffs businesses, one saying a chance to elevate a queer-owned establishment is being stifled, while another said it is maintaining an annual tradition with its own Drag Brunch.
This year, the Martha’s Vineyard Pride Committee selected Black Joy Kitchen, a Black- and Queer-owned restaurant in Oak Bluffs operated by Chef Ting, to host the Drag Brunch on Sunday, June 14. Chef Ting told The Times that she was “incredibly proud” to have been chosen, especially since it’s the first time an establishment owned by a queer person or a person of color was picked.
However, Chef Ting said she was shocked when the former host of the Drag Brunch, Red Cat Kitchen in Oak Bluffs, announced its own event to be held on the same day before Black Joy could. Chef Ting was asked to wait to make the announcement until the committee was ready to release a full schedule.
“Instead of it being a true celebration … he completely robbed us of the joy,” Chef Ting said, referring to Red Cat Kitchen owner Ben deForest.
She said the situation caused confusion and said it was a missed opportunity for collaboration.
Sofie Green, who chairs the Pride committee, said she’s wanted to work with Chef Ting for years to elevate a queer space and the opportunity arose after the Black Joy Kitchen location was secured last year.
“When there was an opportunity to work with Black Joy, I jumped on it,” Green said. But she said the Drag Brunch situation “kind of got out of hand” and had initially seemed to upset the Red Cat operators, saying she was confronted about the decision.
Green felt a different type of event at the Red Cat, like an after party, would’ve been more appropriate.
DeForest denied the notion that Red Cat was trying to hijack the Drag Brunch with a competing event. DeForest said he set up his own Drag Brunch to continue an annual tradition that’s occurred at his restaurant for four years, though he did say he thought the committee would back his restaurant hosting the event again. Ultimately, deForest said the committee was free to choose who they wanted, as he was free to host a Drag Brunch.
“We wish Black Joy all of the success and … couldn’t be happier for them,” DeForest said, adding Pride was about inclusion.
Timothy Lee, the Red Cat bar and operations manager, said there was a push by Pride organizers to have the Drag Brunch be hosted by a queer-owned business this year. While Red Cat isn’t queer-owned, Lee said he is gay and there are several people on staff who are a part of the LGBTQI+ community. Additionally, while there has been some confusion, Lee said Pride has continued to grow on the Island, and it made sense for two Drag Brunches for a “synergistic effort.”
“It’s just meeting that demand,” Lee said. He also said Red Cat’s show is sold out, and he’s been directing people toward the Black Joy brunch.
Lee said there are some other events for the queer community, like a Halloween drag show that happens in the fall at Red Cat, but they are sparse on the Island outside of Pride weekend.
At Black Joy, Chef Ting said preparations are going well for Drag Brunch. But she was critical of the “rift” the Drag Brunch situation caused, particularly since the “gay community on this Island is so small.”
“Especially on Pride, we should be celebrating queer businesses, and there’s not very many of us,” Chef Ting said. “As an Island we say we value diversity and we have to act like we value diversity.”