Corvallis Pride just acknowledged that they failed to adequately research Gia Gunn before booking her.
The public statement was made across their communication channels on Wednesday, September 2nd. The announcement also stated that she was removed from their upcoming Corvallis Pride Festival.
Gunn is a drag performer, musician, and television personality best known for competing on Season 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. That season originally aired on Logo TV, which is owned by Paramount.
She later returned to American television for Season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” in 2018. “All Stars” aired on VH1 at the time. The original American “RuPaul’s Drag Race” series now airs on MTV.
“We failed to do our due diligence in researching Gia’s past,” the organization wrote in their statement.
Local community members alerted Corvallis Pride to a history of ableist and harmful statements made by Gunn. Corvallis Pride said, “the organization needed to hold itself accountable for making inclusive contracting and artist-selection decisions.”
Ableism is prejudice, discrimination, or harmful treatment directed at people with disabilities. It includes denying people access to places or services, assuming that disabled people are less capable, or using disability-related words as insults.
“We honor our disabled community members and acknowledge the harms our initial booking may have caused for folks,” the organization wrote.
Rather than defend its selection, minimize the criticism, or silently remove Gunn from the schedule without public notice, Corvallis Pride accepted responsibility and announced the mistake.
This is not Gunn’s first controversy.
In 2020, Gunn received substantial criticism after calling COVID-19 a “hoax” and objecting to mask requirements during a livestream. “I think the whole mask thing is ridiculous,” Gunn said during the broadcast. “I honestly think this whole COVID-19 thing is a hoax.”
Gunn later tested positive for COVID-19 in 2021.
The earlier episode generated mass criticism from fans. Studies showed COVID-19 was particularly dangerous for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and people with underlying medical conditions.
Corvallis Pride traces its history to 2009 and was formerly known as PRIDE Corvallis. The organization hosts the Corvallis Pride Festival and describes its work as providing cultural enrichment, arts, education, and wellness opportunities.
(Photo: Pride Corvallis/Pride in the Park)
Dharma Krishna Mirza is Corvallis Pride’s director. Mirza earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree from Oregon State University, and was last known to be pursuing a PhD in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
This year’s main Corvallis Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 31st, at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Details about Gunn’s replacement, or if there will be one, have not yet been announced.
This article was written by K. Hewlitt at The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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