UPDATE: Fox News has updated its original online story incorrectly claiming that a visiting minister made certain comments during a sermon at the church with an Editor’s note acknowledging the inaccuracies. The Editor’s note reads:
A previous version of this piece attributed quotes to guest preacher Rev. Dooley that were spoken by another drag performer, not affiliated with the church. This piece has been updated to clarify that Dooley did not perform at the drag brunch and did not make any of the comments attributed to the performer at the drag brunch.
ORIGINAL POST: OK, everyone. Settle down, and let’s get something straight (so to speak):
NO — regardless of what Fox News or Texas Family Values is telling you, no pastor at Cathedral of Hope during the church’s “Celebrating Drag” service on Sunday, Feb. 16, threatened to push Greg Abbott off a cliff or kill Trump supporters.
CoH Senior Pastor the Rev. Neil Thomas did not say anything like that, nor did the Rev. Brooke Dooley, associate pastor for youth and young adults at Friends Congregational Church in College Station, who was the guest preacher the service on Sunday.
Rev. Dooley DOES perform as a drag king, and Rev. Dooley WAS in drag on Sunday when she spoke at the CoH service. But, to reiterate, neither Rev. Dooley nor Rev. Thomas made ANY kind of threat against ANYbody.
Nevertheless, Fox News earlier today (Tuesday, Feb. 18) posted a “news article” blatantly lying about the service at the church, under the headline “Drag show at Dallas church features drag ‘pastor’ who said ‘I will kill’ Trump supporters.”
Rev. Thomas today issued a written statement addressed to Fox News addressing the fallacies in the “news article.” Thomas said:
“Your article contains several errors but most importantly attributes comments made at a Drag Bruch by a local drag artist, not affiliated with the church, to Rev. Brooke Dooley who was our guest preacher.
“On no occasion did Rev. Dooley advocate for violence against Trump supporters and Republican politicians. Rev. Brooke Dooley did not, as you state in your article say, ‘If any of y’all voted for Trump, please don’t tell us. Or do, and … do y’all sacrifice? Could we start?’ Rev. Dooley did not ask a crowd member if “he voted for Trump?” or follow up with “Okay, ’cause I will kill [the audience member].
“Rev. Dooley did not make a joke that he went to Austin with some other drag queens to ‘fistfight Greg Abbott.’ Rev. Dooley did not say the governor ‘wouldn’t stand up and fight me.’
“These comments were made, not at Cathedral of Hope but at a Drag Brunch later that day and were part of a comedic routine. Drag is a performance and often contains irreverent comedy.
“Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ does not condone any kind of violence and understands that these comments, again not made as part of our worship service, were said ‘tongue in cheek.’
“We would respectfully request that you remove these comments from your article, attributed to Rev. Brooke Dooley immediately. If this is article is not corrected, we will pursue a claim of defamation.”
Rev. Thomas ended with “Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation, and I look forward to your response.”
So. At a drag show at The Rose Room later on Sunday, emcee Cassie Nova made some comments targeting Greg Abbott and Trump supporters. The comments were JOKES, part of a comedy routine, nothing any reasonable person would take seriously as any kind of threat. (And, for the record, back in 2020, even hard-line Republicans were making jokes about Abbott and his wheelchair.)
Now, you may be wondering what brought Cathedral of Hope’s “Celebrating Drag” service and the drag brunch at The Rose Room to the attention of Fox News. Well, apparently, members of a right-wing religious group called the Texas Family Project decided to attend the service at the church, and then they went on to Rose Room for the drag brunch show.
And then they posted video online.
All in the name of Jesus and to protect children and traditional values, of course.
— Tammye Nash
No surprise here, much like the current occupant of the White House, Fox News routinely lies and promotes propaganda designed to enrage and scare their viewers! Thank you to the Dallas Voice for printing the TRUTH!