Wilson Gavin’s friend lashes conservative duo amid drag queen storytime ban push

A friend of Wilson Gavin has lashed out at a family values activist for pushing for a ban on drag queen storytime for children in the wake of the young man’s death.  

Mr Gavin, 21, was found dead on Monday in Chelmer, south of Brisbane’s CBD, after he and about 15 activists demonstrated a reading at a city library. 

His parents and two sisters released a powerful and eloquent statement overnight expressing their respect for the ‘unwavering strength of his convictions’.    

But as a funeral was being organised, activist Lyle Shelton, the former director of the Australian Christian Lobby, pushed a petition calling for the event to be canned.

Mr Shelton has repeatedly tweeted the petition, started by fellow family values activist Wendy Francis, calling on Brisbane City Council to ban the event. 

Mr Gavin was found dead in Chelmer, south of Brisbane’s CBD, on Monday morning. His friends have remembered him as a ‘glorious troublemaker’ and ‘genuinely irreplaceable’ 

When commentator Peter Ford asked Mr Shelton about the timing of his campaign – given the young man hasn’t been laid to rest – he admitted he hadn’t sought permission from Mr Gavin’s family.

‘That’s a reasonable point and no, permission was not sought by me,’ Mr Shelton tweeted. 

‘What is being done to children in Australia by activists is so egregious it needs to be taken on. 

‘There is not good time & there has been too much silence for too long.’

Mr Gavin and friends at the University of Queensland’s Liberal National Club were protesting ‘drag queens for not for kids’ the day prior to his death. Drag queen storytime involves two performers reading to children with their parents, described as a way to encourage inclusion and tolerance.  

The petition Mr Shelton is backing claims ‘the sexual nature of drag queen entertainment is inappropriate for children’ and ‘the use of our public libraries for such events is a divisive practice rather than inclusive.

In a separate blog post, Mr Shelton then took aim at the two drag queen performers involved, saying Mr Gavin did ‘nothing wrong’ in his protest and describing the performances as ‘dangerous’.

Lyle Shelton, the former managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, was criticised by one of Mr Wilson’s close friends

His blog post sparked a furious riposte from human rights activist Drew Pavlou. ‘How dare you try and use my friend Wilson’s death for political gain @LyleShelton,’ Mr Pavlou said, before describing him in an unpublishable way.   

Mr Shelton told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I don’t respond to incivility. Several of his (mr Gavin’s) friends, who are also known to me, have expressed gratitude for the support I and others have offered Wilson.’ 

Mr Shelton has since tweeted that ‘there are many of us who believe the best way to honour (Wilson) & his grieving friends is to back their campaign.’ 

The petition remains live on the Brisbane City Council website and has more than 3500 signatures. An alternative petition, calling for the event to continue, had a little more than 3900 signatures at the time of publication.  

Mr Gavin died on Monday morning, hours following social media blowback over his demonstration. He was housesitting for Liberal senator Paul Scarr, a family friend, over the weekend prior to his death. 

Mr Gavin will be laid to rest at a private service. His family released a lengthy letter to the media on Thursday, in a statement hailed on Twitter as ‘brave, respectful and empathetic’. 

It can be read in full below.