A well-known drag queen has been yanked from the upcoming Phoenix Pride Festival after being charged with having sex with a 13-year-old boy, according to police and event organizers.
Michael Browder, who performs under the name Aubrey Ghalichi, was charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor following a months-long investigation that began in June, according to court documents obtained by ABC 11.
Bower was one of two men who met the young teen for anonymous sex after hooking up on an online dating app, according to court documents.
Police found messages on the teen’s laptop that led to Browder, whom officers recognized as “a known Phoenix drag queen,” the court documents stated.
Browder spoke with investigators on Sept. 16 and allegedly confessed to having sex with the boy — but claimed it was so dark in the alleged victim’s apartment “he was unable to ascertain the victim’s age,” according to court records.
He told cops he believed the 13-year-old was actually 18 or 19. The young teen also said he had pretended to be older on the app.
Phoenix Pride later announced that Browder had been pulled from performing at its Pride festival set for October 18 and 19.
, and were working on removing his name from promotional materials.
“The crime alleged is one that we find reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for,” the organization said, while removing Bowder’s drag persona, Aubrey Ghalichi, from promotional material.
However, the Pride team stressed, “It is important to emphasize that this individual has not been convicted of a crime. Their removal is based solely on the information currently available to us and our responsibility to ensure a safe and affirming environment for our community.”
Browder was ordered held on a $10,000 secured appearance bond. If released, he must wear an ankle monitor, stay away from children and is barred from possessing weapons or using drugs and alcohol.
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