Drag Queen Removed from Pride Parade Following Arrest

A drag performer was pulled from a Pride parade after revealing a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old whom he connected with via a dating app.

Identified as Aubrey Galich, but known as Michael Browder in real life, he was apprehended in September on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, as reported by court documents.

According to Phoenix police, the young boy claimed he pretended to be 18 and sought out multiple men for sexual encounters on two different occasions.

Although the boy did not provide the men’s names, investigators managed to retrieve one of their conversations from his laptop. This led them to Browder, referred to as a well-known drag queen in Phoenix.

During questioning on September 16, Browder reportedly confessed to having sex with the minor, asserting that he believed the boy was of legal age. He claimed it was dark in the apartment, making it hard to see the boy’s age.

Following his arrest, Browder was given bail set at $10,000, along with specific conditions for his release.

Subsequently, Phoenix Pride Parade organizers stated that Browder would not be performing at the event.

“In light of this situation and out of respect for our community, Phoenix Pride has decided to remove Aubrey Galich from this year’s lineup. We are actively updating promotional materials to reflect this change,” their statement clarified. “While some may still carry his name due to prior printing, rest assured he will not be part of the Phoenix Pride Festival.”

The statement also addressed misinformation circulating online, stressing, “It’s vital to note that this individual has not been convicted of a crime. Their removal is based solely on the information currently available to us and our duty to maintain a safe, positive atmosphere for our community.”

The upcoming Phoenix Pride Festival is scheduled for October 18th and 19th.