The organisers of a Pride event in Glasgow are experiencing a lashback after announcing they will not feature drag performers because they could cause offence.

Scotland's Free Pride event promises to offer access to all. However, some within the LGBTQIA+ community would disagree. 

Irish drag artist Panti Bliss is upset by the decision, blasting the organisers for their stance.

"It is NOT anymore an LGBT+ event, because they have decided to exclude proud members of the LGBT+ family. If they want to have a Trans Separatist Pride event, I'll wish them good luck with it, though be personally sad they chose to. But they don't own Pride. That belongs to all of us in the LGBT+ community and that includes "cis drag queens"."

But Free Pride says while everyone is welcome to attend their event, they will stick to a decision not to feature drag performers because they have become aware that some in the trans and non-binary* community might be uncomfortable with such performances.

Excerpt from Pantibliss' Facebook statement on Glasgow's Free Pride event

Read Panti's full statement on Facebook.

In a statement on its website, Free Pride wrote "The decision was taken by transgender individuals who were uncomfortable with having drag performances at the event. It was felt that it would make some of those who were transgender or questioning their gender uncomfortable. It was felt by the group within the Trans/Non Binary Caucus that some drag performance, particularly cis drag, hinges on the social view of gender and making it into a joke, however transgender individuals do not feel as though their gender identity is a joke. This can particularly difficult for those who are not out and still present as the gender they were assigned at birth."

Not Pride Glasgow

The people behind Free Pride say they established their event as an alternative to Pride Glasgow, which they describe as over-commercialised and de-radicalised.

Pride Glasgow has distanced itself from the Free Pride event on Twitter.

Can we just say again We have not banned drag performers from our event, an alternative event called Free Pride has full statement on our FB

— Pride Glasgow (@prideglasgow) July 22, 2015

*Non-binary - gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine.