Who is Yara Sofia? Video shows little girl tipping drag queen baring fake breasts at Michigan bar
A little girl was filmed tipping a drag queen baring her synthetic breasts during a 'family-friendly' event at a Michigan gay venue. The child was seen passing a bill to 'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Yara Sofia at Hamburger Mary's in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The child, whose age has not been disclosed, is seen sitting on the knee of an adult woman and tipping Sofia. The performer walks around the bar wearing a pair of large fake breasts hanging outside of her costume. Yellow pasties covered her nipples. The video was shot back in 2021 at a branch of the LGBT bar and restaurant chain in Grand Rapids.
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The video was initially posted by TikTok user DavidLovesDragOk. It was later shared on Twitter by 'Libs of TikTok', with the caption, "This is what a “family-friendly drag show” in a bar looks like". There have long been concerns over children being brought to sexualized shows in the name of supporting LGBTQ equality.
This is what a “family-friendly drag show” in a bar looks like pic.twitter.com/oTnLmdEkaZ
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 16, 2022
Who is Yara Sofia?
Yara Sofia is the stage name of Gabriel Burgos Ortiz, a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality. Born on May 8, 1984, Sofia is known for appearing on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 3, eventually winning Miss Congeniality. She also appeared in 'All Stars' Season 1, where she was partnered with Alexis Mateo. Sofia completed 'All Stars' Season 6 in 2021. The same year, she released her debut single 'Jiggle!'.
Sofia was born in San Juan, Ortiz, and raised in Manati, Puerto Rico. She began her career at a local San Juan gay nightclub Krash. This is where she won her first gay pageant title 'Miss Road to Diva' in 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan in 2006.
Sofia appeared in the music video 'Queen', along with other 'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestants, in 2012, for the New York City-based girl group Xelle. She was also seen in the music video 'Werqin' Gurl'. She appeared for an episode of the 'Game Show Network' show 'Skin Wars' in May 2016.
Sofia appeared as a performer in 'Queens United' in 2017, a benefit show created by Phi Phi O'Hara to raise money for people affected by Hurricane Maria. She co-hosted the 'Tucking 101: Now You See It, Now You Don’t' at RuPaul's DragCon LA in 2018.
In recent times, New York City has been spending huge sums on sending drag queens into its public elementary schools. Over $200,000 has been dropped on appearances since 2018.
Events called Drag Queen story-hours have performers read story books to children at events held in schools, libraries, bookstores, fairs, parks and other public spaces. Drag Story Hour NYC made as many as 49 appearances at 34 public schools in New York City in 2022. According to supporters, the shows are innocent and harmless. Conservatives, on the other hand, say the events often feature age-inappropriate vulgarity.