Friends of the Saenger Inc (Friends of the Saenger Center for the Arts)

On December 23rd, 2025, the Pensacola Saenger Theatre will host the long-running national tour of Murray & Peter Present: A Drag Queen Christmas, hosted by Nina West and featuring a wide cast of other popular drag queens from around the country.

Due to the current political climate, local conservative religious groups have become emboldened to launch a full-blown panic campaign over the show, claiming that it violates an abstract "moral truth" their religious practice requires.

Despite the fact that the show is 18+, does not feature any nudity or sexual obscenity, and requires a ticket purchase to attend, they claim that the show is a public "pollution" of the minds of our youth with "dangerous" ideas about gender and sex.

Despite the fact that they could always have advocated to book their own Christmas event at the Saenger before the show was announced, or to host a separate event at an alternative venue after it was, they claim that it is the responsibility of everybody else to make them feel better about their personal failure to act.

Despite the fact that A Drag Queen Christmas has gained national merit for its quality and value, resulting in the financial success for continued renewal year after year, they claim that "nobody wants to see it" simply because they themselves do not have the taste for it.

Despite the fact that the show is on track to be sold out, bringing 1,641 attendees to spend their hard-earned American dollars at the Saenger as well as myriad businesses nearby downtown, they insist that the significant injection of money into our community is worthless compared to their hurt feelings.

Despite the fact that ASM Global, the entertainment management company the City of Pensacola pays $150,000 annually to bring talent to the theatre, facilitates ALL of the events at the theatre - 110 per year on average - they claim that the entire contract with ASM Global should be cancelled over this one single show.

In other words, they believe that members of LGBT+ community do not have the same constitutionally guaranteed rights as they do, and they would sooner destroy the Saenger in its entirety before they let us enjoy an evening of popular entertainment.

Pensacola's LGBT+ community showed up and made many sincere and powerful statements at multiple forums at City Council to push back against this movement to violate our right to free speech and the separation of church and state. In the face of angry, aggressive, and astonishingly un-American sermons from the public pulpit, our local drag queens, LGBT+ leaders, friends and family joined together to defend our community and share their stories of belonging and self-worth resulting from their personal experiences with drag.

The reality is: if you don't like it, don't buy a ticket!

And we won that battle! Affirming our constitutional rights, the City of Pensacola has agreed that the show must go on, and the Pensacola Police Department will provide the public safety resources to ensure a smooth and safe event.

...but that hasn't stopped the protesters from using violent rhetoric. They're sore losers - and faced with a decisive defeat, they have made this message very clear: if you participate, they will make sure you feel unsafe and unwelcome.

The math is simple: at ~$1,363 spent on management services per show, if all 1,641 attendees made an additional donation of just over $0.83 each, every penny of taxpayer dollars spent bringing A Drag Queen Christmas to the Saenger will be recovered.

It SHOULD NOT BE and IS NOT our responsibility to pay the same taxes twice to host this event in our own public venue, but if their argument comes down to taxpayer dollars, let's take away their only reason to protest.

Donations to this campaign will go to Friends of the Saenger, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1980 with the sole purpose to support general theatre operations and maintenance for the past 65 years. 100% of all donations directly support the theatre; Friends of the Saenger does not compensate any of its members.

This is an opportunity for the LGBT+ community of Pensacola to respond with our own clear message: we will not be forced to observe your religion, we will not be scared by your threats of violence, and we will fiercely defend our constitutional rights.

If you are attending the show - or simply wish to support free speech, religious freedom, and the LGBT+ community - please consider donating $1 to Friends of the Saenger, and share this fundraiser with your friends and family.

Together, we can stand up to Christian nationalism and political violence, and do it just the way they like it: with our wallets.

Every holiday season, our city glows with light, laughter, and celebration. But too often, those celebrations center around just one story or one tradition—leaving many people feeling like they’re watching from the outside. I want to change that.

My dream is to host an All-Inclusive Holiday Drag Story Time at the Saenger Theatre, where every tradition can shine. This one-of-a-kind event will bring together drag performers who represent and celebrate the heart of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Kwanzaa—four beautiful traditions that all share messages of love, community, and hope.

✨ Here’s the vision:

The Saenger’s grand stage transforms into a joyful, glittering celebration of inclusion.

A dazzling Christmas queen tells a story of kindness and giving, celebrating the joy of love and the spirit of peace on earth.

A radiant Hanukkah performer shares the miracle of light and resilience, showing how we can all find brightness even in dark times.

A powerful Eid storyteller embodies the beauty of faith, generosity, and unity, celebrating the shared values of compassion that connect us all.

A vibrant Kwanzaa performer brings the principles of unity, creativity, and self-determination to life with color, rhythm, and pride.

Each story, each look, and each performance is designed not to mock or mimic—but to honor and celebrate these holidays in an inclusive, family-friendly, and educational way.

This event will be more than entertainment—it will be a living, breathing example of what community can look like when everyone is seen and celebrated. We’ll show that drag is about joy, expression, and connection—and that the holidays are stronger and brighter when we celebrate them together.

The funds we raise will go toward:

Renting the historic Saenger Theatre

Fair pay for our diverse cast of drag performers

Culturally respectful costumes and set design for each holiday

Accessibility services (ASL interpretation, sensory-friendly spaces)

Free or discounted tickets for families who couldn’t otherwise attend

This isn’t just about glitter and glamour—it’s about representation, education, and love. It’s about showing children and adults alike that faith, identity, and joy can coexist beautifully.

When the lights go up at the Saenger, I want every person in that audience—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, celebrating Kwanzaa, or simply curious—to see themselves reflected in the magic on stage. Because no matter who you are or what you celebrate, you deserve to feel the warmth of the season.

Help us make this dream a reality. Let’s fill the Saenger with laughter, light, and love—for everyone.