Gay conservative activist in ‘drag queen storytime’ protest video dies in suspected suicide, aged 21
The president of Queensland University’s Liberal National Club, Wilson Gavin, is believed to have taken his own life on Monday (13 January).
By Will Stroude
A gay conservative activist has been found dead in a suspected suicide, just hours after footage of his group’s protest against ‘drag queen storytime’ at an Australian library went viral.
21-year-old Wilson Gavin, who was president of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Liberal National Club, died Brisbane on Monday (13 January), The Daily Mail reports.
Queensland police and ambulance services were called to an incident at a train station in Chelmer, south Brisbane at about 7.07am, where they found a man with critical injuries, a state ambulance spokeswoman said.
The death of Mr Gavin, who was gay and had previously spoken in opposition of marriage equality, comes less than a day after a footage of young conservative activists protesting against a children’s storytelling event held by drag queen Diamond Good-Rim.
In the video, which was widely shared on social media on Sunday (12 January), protestors could be heard chanting: “Drag queens are not for kids”.
The incident generated international headlines and widespread condemnation online, including from star of The Veronicas, Jessica Origliasso, who branded it a “tone deaf ‘protest’ and fueled by bigotry.”
In a statement, drag queen Diamond Good-Rim, who could be seen in the video telling protestors to leave the library, said she was “deeply saddened” by news of Mr Gavin’s death.
“I’d really like to give my condolences and sympathy to the family and friends,” she said.
“The support that I have received today on social media has been phenomenal and I thank everyone for their support and kind words.”
Rainbow Families Queensland, who had organised Sunday’s drag queen storytelling event, also released a statement extending their sympathies to Mr Gavin’s family.
“Rainbow Families Queensland were informed earlier today that the leader of yesterday’s drag Storytime protest took his own life this morning,” the statement said.
“We are deeply saddened by this news and extend our sympathies to his family.”