By Heather Michon
Correspondent
Fluvanna County law enforcement is investigating a threat of violence that forced the postponement of a ‘drag queen brunch’ scheduled for last Saturday (Feb. 22) at Lake Monticello’s Bunker Bistro.
Officials with the Lake Monticello Owners Association (LMOA) received the threat on Wednesday (Feb 1.9) and immediately reported it to the Lake Monticello Police Department.
By Thursday, LMOA and RocDun, the management company that runs Bunker Bistro, decided to postpone the event so the LMPD and sheriff’s office could conduct a full investigation.
The Drag Queen Brunch sold out shortly after being announced in early January. Featuring Richmond-based drag queen Alvion Arnell Davenport and three other performers, the show was a fundraiser for the JD Dickinson Memorial Foundation.
The foundation grants scholarships to Fluvanna students.
“The Lake Monticello Police are working with the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies on this investigation, classifying it as a hate crime,” the LMOA said in a statement issued on Thursday. “All efforts will be made to identify the person or persons responsible for the threat and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Two residents had raised concerns about the event at the Jan. 28 Board of Directors meeting and LMOA was aware there was online chatter about holding a small protest in front of the Bistro the morning of the event, but overall, reaction to the event had been mostly positive.
That changed on Wednesday.
While they did not share any details about the nature of the threat, they felt they had no choice but to take it seriously. “In making this decision, the safety of our residents and guests is our top priority.”
The event has not yet been rescheduled, but organizers say to stay tuned.
“This is extremely frustrating,” said organizer Amanda Pace Dickinson said in a Facebook post, “but please know that we will not let hate win!”
