Prominent drag performer Michael Browder, known as Aubrey Ghalichi, has been removed from the lineup of the upcoming Phoenix Pride Festival following his arrest on charges related to sexual conduct with a minor, law enforcement officials and festival organizers confirmed.
Browder, aged 35, faces two counts of sexual misconduct stemming from a lengthy investigation that commenced in June, as per court filings reported by ABC 11.
The investigation revealed that Browder was one of two individuals who engaged in sexual activities with a 13-year-old boy they had met through an online dating platform, according to the legal documents.
Law enforcement discovered conversations on the minor’s laptop that connected him to Browder, whom officers identified as a “well-known Phoenix drag queen,” as per the court records.
During questioning on September 16, Browder reportedly admitted to having sexual relations with the teenager but contended that the dim lighting in the alleged crime scene prevented him from accurately determining the minor’s age, as indicated in the court documents.
He asserted that he believed the young boy was actually 18 or 19 years old.
The minor also revealed that he had been posing as older on the dating app.
In light of the situation, Phoenix Pride announced the removal of Browder from their performances at the festival scheduled for October 18 and 19, and stated that they were in the process of taking down his name from promotional content.
The organization expressed, “The alleged crime is deeply troubling and wholly opposed to the values we uphold at Phoenix Pride.”
Nonetheless, the Pride committee emphasized, “It is crucial to note that this individual has not yet been found guilty of a crime. Their removal stems solely from the information available to us and our duty to maintain a safe and inclusive atmosphere for our community.”
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Browder has been placed on a $10,000 secured appearance bond.
If released, he will be required to wear an ankle monitoring device, avoid minors, and is prohibited from having weapons or consuming drugs and alcohol.
