Inclusivity Under Threat at LGBTQ+ Store in Austin
In the vibrant city of Austin, something was missing for Tk Tunchez, who more than a decade ago noticed a lack of community spaces for LGBTQ+ people. This realization drove Tunchez to create Las Ofrendas, a store that caters to the LGBTQ+ community and people of color, enhanced with a monthly marketplace named Frida Friday. Over the past fourteen years, her venture has flourished, often hosting pop-up shops featuring DJs and drag performers and a popular monthly drag show, ‘Legendary’.
A Shocking Threat
One such joyful event was scheduled for June at the Brewtorium Brewery but was abruptly disrupted by an emailed bomb threat. Tracked to a Russian IP address, it read,”We have placed a pipe bomb at 6015 Dillard Circle, Austin. F*** you drag queen s*** bags,” a seismic shock for a busy Tunchez who maintains Las Ofrendas and Frida Friday single-handedly. Over 100 patrons were in attendance for the performance, and upon receiving the threat, Tunchez understandably feared for their safety.
Response to the Threat
Despite the arrival of the Austin police, their lack of urgency showcased a worrying dismissal of the severity of the affair. Tunchez reported their unwillingness to communicate directly with her, their refusal to provide an all-clear after a one-and-a-half-hour search yielded no bomb, and a dismissal of a request for a bomb dog search unless the business covered the costs, thereby allegedly disregarding their safety concerns.
Hate Crimes Rising Against LGBTQ+ Community
Sadly, this experience is not isolated. The city of Austin’s crime data dashboard has shown an increasing trajectory of hate crime occurrences since tracking began in 2017. While the city hasn’t specified the motivating factors behind these hate crimes, a worrying nationwide trend manifests itself in data. Last year, a report by the Anti-Defamation League and LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD revealed that within 11 months, there were more than 350 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents, many of which had been directed at drag performers, with Texas experiencing the highest number of reported incidents of any state.
Hate Legislation Adds Fuel to the Fire
Tunchez notably attributed the escalating hazards against the LGBTQ+ community to the anti-LGBTQ+ laws implemented in Texas. In 2023, legislation passed Senate Bill 12, constricting ‘sexually oriented performances’ in public and businesses, essentially criminalizing drag performances. In September, a federal judge deemed SB 12 unconstitutional, although the animosity it engendered seems to have only risen.
Community in the face of adversity
While naturally shaken and fearful for her safety, Tunchez remains determined to perpetuate inclusivity through Las Ofrendas by promoting ‘Queer joy’. A call to arms has been sent out to the community, with Tunchez urging for volunteers to support her endeavors physically. She also highlights other practical means of showing solidarity, such as patronizing LGBTQ-owned businesses and supporting drag performers outside the shows.
A Haven for the LGBTQ+ Community
Tunchez envisions Las Ofrendas as an entity more significant than a store. Instead, it is an embodiment of the sense of community that she finds lacking in her city, a loving and safe container that people can fill with their own stories.
