Drag queens boycott Pride event after finding out organiser is gay Reform councillor

Drag queens have boycotted a Pride event after finding out the organiser is a gay Reform UK councillor.

Daniel Burcham, who is planning for the event to take place in August, was elected to Norfolk County Council last month after winning the Attleborough ward with 49 per cent of the vote.

The row erupted after Mr Burcham posted a now-deleted advertisement on Facebook, which included images of drag queens performing from previous years.

Drag queens included in the advertisement had not given permission for their faces to be used.

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More than 10 drag performers subsequently announced they would be boycotting Attleborough Pride.

They accused Reform UK of “working against” the LGBT+ community.

However, recent polling conducted by More in Common revealed Reform UK is now the most supported political party among gay and bisexual men.

Reform UK attracted support from 25 per cent of gay and bisexual men, putting Nigel Farage's party six per cent ahead of Zack Polanski's Green Party.

Responding to the boycott, Mr Burcham told The Eastern Daily Press: “Sexuality does not automatically determine political beliefs, and no political movement has the right to claim ownership of an entire community.

“It is deeply disappointing that what should be a positive, inclusive community event has become so heavily politicised.”

However, one drag performer issued a warning about the impact Reform UK could have on the LGBT+ community.

The performer, who uses the pseudonym Stealia Jobs, said: “Small-town Prides are definitely necessary in this day and age – but it’s a question of morals.

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“This could change if he leaves Reform. But until something changes, we’re not going back.”

They added: “It just seems wrong to work with somebody who works with a party that actively campaigns against people like us... Why would I be affiliated with somebody who supports that agenda? It goes against everything Pride is meant to be.”

The decision taken by Reform-run councils to remove LGBT+ flags has also sparked a backlash from some corners of the community.

Zane Brightwell, 30, who has helped organise the local pride event for four years, said: “There is no pride without acceptance, and we cannot accept the mission Reform has... Not only that, said [councillor] is for the idea of Pride flags not being flown on government buildings, diminishing our fight and giving fire to the far-Right.”

However, Mr Burcham has defended the decision for the Pride flag to no longer fly at Norfolk County Council.

He said: “As a proud gay Reform councillor, I reject the suggestion that opposition to flying the Pride flag from county hall is somehow anti-gay.

“It is nothing of the sort.

“The Pride flag does not represent me, nor does it represent many other gay people, including some of my Reform colleagues and countless members of the wider public.”

However, council staff started wearing Pride badges and displaying rainbows on computer screens after it was announced the LGBT+ flag would no longer be on display.

Unison's Kris Holt said there was “a strong sense of disappointment” from employees and the flags policy felt like a “calculated snub” to staff.

Reform UK won control of Norfolk County Council after winning 40 out of 84 seats in the 2026 Local Elections.

Rupert Lowe's Great Yarmouth First outfit ended up securing nine seats, leaving Reform UK just short of controlling the council with an outright majority.

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