Pennsylvania
Small-town Pennsylvania drag show goes on despite angry local protest: ‘Not in this community!’
A pair of drag queens sashayed peacefully into a tiny Pennsylvania town Saturday after hundreds of residents campaigned to shut down their show for allegedly violating anti-pornography laws.
The show went on after conservatives in sleepy Millersburg, Penn., a Susquehanna River village with a population of just 2,541, erupted last month when local group Pride in the Valley announced a “Drag Dinner” fund-raiser in a storefront coffee shop.
“We thought it was fantastic, we would come again,” said attendee Nancy Rose who came from Sacramento, Pa. to the event, where potential protests failed to show up outside the Peace of Mind Cafe.
Drag queens Sarabesque and Sedusa were billed as the “sickening entertainers” at a $25 adults-only soiree at the 34-seat lunchroom on Millersburg’s main street.
Three days later, an anonymous opponent launched an online petition demanding “visual barriers” to block the cafe’s plate-glass windows during the gender-bending acts, citing a local ordinance outlawing any “performance which is pornography” where children can see it.
“The content of a drag show is inherently sexual in nature and has no business being exhibited to minors in Millersburg or anywhere else,” the appeal — which racked up 773 signatures — read.
“Not in this community!” wrote petition signer Jason Morrison.
“Take your sick social agenda and go bankrupt.”
On Dec. 20, opponents faced off at a hastily called meeting of the Millersburg Borough Council — where boosters claimed cross-dressing as a form of high art and detractors damned it as a sign of societal collapse.
“Would you send a petition to Shakespeare?” demanded Pride in the Valley organizer Heather Holloway, local news station WGAL Harrisburg reported.
“This is a battle between good and evil,” countered an unidentified resident.
After an hour of debate, the six-member council voted 4-2 to let the show proceed with no screens required.
The victory spurred Pride in the Valley to book three additional Drag Dinner seatings on Saturday and Sunday, all of which promptly sold out.
Protest leader Steven Blayer, pastor of nearby Hillside Christian Fellowship, said he accepted the council’s decision.
“Just because other places allow these types of shows, doesn’t mean Millersburg has to do it,” Blayer told the weekly Citizen-Standard newspaper.
“But I feel really good about our community coming together with disagreements and walking away in a spirit of peace.”
Peace of Mind Cafe owner Krystle Shearer told the Post she was happy the event went off without disturbance.
“I really love this community,” said said.
“Everyone is welcome, it’s ok for people to disagree.”
The Pennsylvania Beef Council recently launched the inaugural Pennsylvania Beef Trail with menu tastings at two highlighted trail stops in Berks County.
Held in May to celebrate Beef Month, the event brought together Pennsylvania Beef Council leadership, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, local restaurant partners, beef producers and community members to celebrate Pennsylvania beef, local food businesses and the culinary creativity found across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Beef Trail highlights restaurants across the state serving standout beef dishes nominated by consumers. Hosted on the Pennsylvania Beef Council website, the trail features an interactive map designed to help Pennsylvanians discover delicious beef dishes by region and plan their own beef-inspired dining experiences.
“The PA Beef Trail is a celebration of everything that makes Pennsylvania beef special: the farmers who raise it, the restaurants that prepare it and the consumers who love it,” Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release.
“Launching the trail during May, which is Beef Month, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the connection between agriculture, local businesses, and the meals that bring people together.”
The celebration featured two stops on the trail: Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown and Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville.
Attendees sampled a variety of featured beef dishes, including pit beef sliders, sausage sandwiches, smoked chuck roast tacos, and Golden Arches flatbread from Saucony Creek Brewing Company, as well as beef pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and The Luther from Deitsch Eck Restaurant.
The launch event also underscored the role of beef in Pennsylvania’s agricultural identity and local economy. By highlighting restaurants that serve creative, consumer-loved beef dishes, the trail encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses while recognizing the farmers and producers behind every plate.
“Pennsylvania beef has a story that stretches from pasture to plate,” Kylie Lusk, director of consumer affairs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release. “The PA Beef Trail gives consumers a fun, interactive way to explore that story while discovering restaurants and dishes they may not have tried before. We’re excited to see people use the trail throughout the year to support local restaurants and celebrate beef across the Commonwealth.”
The inaugural PA Beef Trail features 73 stops across Pennsylvania, showcasing a wide variety of dishes, from burgers and brisket to short rib, oxtail ragu and other creative beef-forward menu items. Organized by region, the trail makes it easy for consumers to find nearby stops or plan a road trip around Pennsylvania’s beef destinations.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council encourages consumers to explore the trail, visit participating restaurants, and share their experiences on social media.
To view the interactive map and explore the full PA Beef Trail, visit www.pabeef.org/pa-beef-trail.
President Trump is visiting the Lehigh Valley next week.
Mr. Trump will speak at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania, Tuesday at 2 p.m. Macungie is roughly 10 miles from Allentown.
Mack Trucks is a 1.7 million square-foot facility in Macungie that assembles heavy-duty trucks for North American and export markets, according to its website.
“Mack Trucks are a symbol of America’s manufacturing strength,” Rep. Dan Meuser said in a Facebook post about Mr. Trump’s upcoming visit to Pennsylvania. “Their Lehigh Valley operations are a pillar of the local economy, employing Pennsylvania workers and driving the nation’s trucking industry.”
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Mr. Trump visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, multiple times. He’s also visitied during his second term.
In December 2025, Mr. Trump said in a speech in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, that he was “crushing” inflation and called affordability concerns a “Democratic hoax.”
One week later, Vice President JD Vance aimed to calm the affordability concerns at a Uline facility in Alburtis, about 13 miles southwest of Allentown.
Tickets are available for Mr. Trump’s visit to Macungie next week on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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