To say fans of Sharon Needles, the most recent winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” were disappointed at PrideFest is probably an understatement. To say PrideFest President Scott Gunkel was disappointed might be the understatement of the year.
Gunkel released an open letter late last week apologizing for Needles’ no-show at the scheduled meet and greet and expressing his outrage at the disrespect shown to the community. “We promise you this type of disrespect for our community will never be tolerated at PrideFest Milwaukee,” he wrote.
Fans paid a $50 flat fee for festival admission, entrance to the PumpWorks Dance Arena VIP platform, and a meet and greet with Needles herself. Needles was also set to perform and host the evening at the dance arena. According to the letter, she performed two numbers, left and failed to turn up for the meet and greet.
Despite the outcome, PrideFest and Gunkel did their best to make it right: Fans were refunded the entire $50. Gunkel says he personally met with each and every person refunded. But for a festival already struggling to stay in the black, the gesture is even more powerful.
Update: Read the follow-up to this article.
