Video of drag queen spanking Burbank mayor sparks anti-LGBTQ hate

After video of Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony’s spanking at a drag queen event was shared by a social media page known for stoking anti-LGBTQ fury online, he said the torrent of hatred had grown strong and fast.

Anthony told The Times in an interview that despite his decades-long career as a professional entertainer and comedian, people are only now taking issue with his “wild and crazy antics” because the LGBTQ community is involved.

“Suddenly, now that I’m associating with homosexuals, I’m no longer worthy of a mayor,” he said. “No one had a problem with me before, or any of the shenanigans I got into as a public official, because they found it hilarious and heartwarming and (considered me) a man of the people who behaves outside the norms of our stifling democracy. »

The video, which was filmed over the weekend and posted online by Armenian American podcast WiseNuts, shows Anthony being spanked by a drag queen at a Drag Queen Bingo event. The podcast page, which also shares content from the “Leave Our Kids Alone” movement that claims to oppose teaching students about gender and sexuality, added hashtags such as “#embarrassing,” “#beaman » and “#clownshow”.

The video was also boosted by the TikTok page releaseswhose posts sparked threats of violence against their subjects, including threats and disruptions of drag queen story times and bomb threats against an Oakland school holding a recess for students of color.

Since the video was posted, Anthony said, other city council members, city employees and community members have received hate phone calls from people outside of Burbank.

“We have seen a huge amount of hate speech,” he said.

The video sparked backlash from other political figures and members of the public.

“This is a prime example of the humiliation a man will submit himself to in order to please the degenerate alphabet-worship crowd,” wrote state Assembly candidate James Clarke in a commentary on Instagram, using a derogatory term for the LGBTQ community. and its allies. “He demeans the honor of elected office every time he appears in public. »

Burbank resident Joel Schlossman criticized Anthony’s behavior during Tuesday’s city council meeting.

“Something is wrong when the mayor says if you have an opinion and you don’t agree, you’re a member of a hate group,” he said. “There are people in this city who have morals and who care. You can’t be an asshole when you go home and come here and put on a suit and think you’re big and powerful.

The Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, who hosted the drag-themed fundraising event, released a statement condemning the “sensationalist and inaccurate use of our event as political bait to promote an agenda of fear, d homophobia, transphobia and bigotry.

TikTok Libs had posted that the spanking took place “in front of children at a Democratic campaign event.” The event was open to people 15 and older, but no one under 18 actually attended, according to Santa Clarita Valley Democrats.

“Lying about children, the nature of the event or those present to gain political influence is shameful and sick,” the organization said.

Anthony, who is running for a seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said he didn’t think he would receive this level of criticism if he didn’t run for higher office.

“There’s a huge anti-LGBTQ contingency running through Southern California, and I’m publicly fighting against it,” he said. “The movement to create a backlash against me is a distraction from all the good we have done here in Burbank. We passed Burbank’s first-ever gun control ordinance, first-ever tenant protection and rent control ordinance. We’re making great progress and it’s the work I do that excites people.