Seasoned drag performer Miss Polly Filla has been the subject of online abuse, harassment and death threats after a video of their performance at a local high school was shared on Facebook.
On Friday, one of our journalists attended Castlemaine Secondary College for the annual Wear It Purple Day celebrations and Story Time with Polly.
A few hours later, the Castlemaine Mail posted a video of the entertainer dancing and lip-syncing.
This video was then shared by the Victorian Goldfields Community (Maryborough & Beyond) Facebook page. Over the next few hours, hundreds of homophobic and transphobic slurs, attacks, baseless allegations and death threats were posted in the comments.
This was Miss Polly Filla’s second performance at the school for Wear It Purple Day (an annual event celebrated in schools and organisations across the country to support LGBTQIA+SB young people). A seasoned entertainer, with 30 years performing as drag queen, Miss Polly Filla has a recent National Police History Check and a valid Working with Children Check.
The students, aged between 13 and 18, chose whether they wanted to attend the event and parent permission was required.
Also in attendance were half a dozen teachers, three members from Castlemaine Police and Mount Alexander Shire’s mayor – to show support for the schools’ LGBTQIA+SB young people.
After the video went viral on the Victorian Goldfields Community Facebook page, the site admins wrote a post stating that they had removed several hundred comments, suspended almost as many members, and permanently banned others.
“These have included accusations of grooming and paedophilia, blatant homophobic and transphobic slurs, personal attacks and name calling directed at fellow members, and other potentially defamatory or otherwise rule-breaking comments,” they wrote.
The page’s admins disabled comments, stating that they respected everyone’s right to express their views on the issue of drag queens performing in schools.
“Where we intervene is when debate crosses the line into personal attacks, name-calling, baseless allegations, potential defamation, bigotry, homophobic or transphobic slurs and vilification, threats, incitement, or other breaches of the group rules. Those standards apply equally regardless of which side of the argument somebody is on.
“In particular, calling people groomers or paedophiles without evidence is not simply expressing opposition to drag performances in schools. Those are extremely serious allegations with potentially serious consequences for anyone being accused, and for those making the comments.”
The long-time performer posted a response online saying: “This behaviour is unacceptable for a very simple reason: people should not have to endure abuse, vilification or unsubstantiated allegations simply because they have become the subject of public debate.
Calling someone a “groomer” or “paedophile” without evidence isn’t robust criticism,” Polly wrote.
“It is an extraordinarily serious allegation capable of causing significant reputational, professional and personal harm.
“Homophobic and transphobic slurs don’t contribute another perspective to a discussion; they attack someone’s identity.
Threats and intimidation don’t strengthen an argument; they attempt to silence the person on the receiving end.
“When hateful rhetoric is repeatedly presented as simply another side of a debate, it risks normalising the idea that LGBTQIA+ people should expect to be publicly scrutinised, degraded or dehumanised whenever their existence becomes part of a contentious conversation.”
The Express spoke to Polly, who said they were exhausted from the responses to the video, which was shared on multiple Facebook pages including a Castlemaine page.
“I’m not upset. I’m angry,” Polly said.
“Wear It Purple Day is to help very vulnerable queer young people feel safe, seen and supported, and people going on a tirade on the posts with such vitriol, it’s a self fulfilling prophesy which proves why Wear It Purple needs to exist.”
“I have very thick skin, but this isn’t just about me. There are people out there that aren’t like me, whether it’s queer youth or older people struggling with their identity, how do you think it affects them, looking at all the hate in the world.”
The Midland Express and Castlemaine Mail would like to extend their sorrow and support to Miss Polly Filla for the abuse, vitriol and unsubstantiated accusations they have had to endure. This behaviour is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected.