A Massachusetts city council meeting turned contentious after a female pastor blasphemously described Jesus as a “drag queen,” while trans activists issued apparent threats of violence in support of a resolution making Worcester a sanctuary city for transgender and “gender-diverse” individuals.

The meeting, held on February 12, resulted in a 9-2 vote in favor of the resolution titled “Sanctuary City for Transgender and Gender Diverse People.” The measure prohibits Worcester from enforcing state or federal policies that may be deemed harmful to trans-identified individuals and ensures access to healthcare, housing, education, and employment without discrimination.

Critics, however, argue that the resolution defies federal law and puts vulnerable youth at risk. Nonetheless, approximately 200 activists and residents filled the room, many speaking passionately—some even singing—during the five-hour public comment period.

Among the speakers in favor of the resolution was Julie Payne-Britton, a pastor at the Hadwen Park Congregational Church, an affiliate of the progressive United Church of Christ. Wearing a clerical collar, Payne-Britton, who identifies as a cisgender lesbian, declared that Jesus Himself would be present in “full drag.”

“The Jesus I know would be dressed in full drag and serving face, or handsome as a trans man, or wrapped in the garb of a non-binary person who knows one gender is way too small to capture their gloriousness,” Payne-Britton claimed. “The Jesus I know would be at this mic with a trembling voice and a shaking body and tears that will not be held back crying, ‘Make this city safe for my child.'”

“The Jesus I know would be dressed in full drag.” The enlightened clergy have no problem with a state-established religion. pic.twitter.com/tMMxKCLT8G

— Sidewalk Steve (@Sidewalk_Steve) February 13, 2025

Her statement, which distorts biblical truth, was met with applause from activists but sparked outrage among faith-based communities who see it as a direct affront to Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ.

Another speaker, a blue-haired, white-gloved man in drag identifying as “Dee Dee Delight,” expressed fear over former President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders. These policies require federal agencies to recognize only two sexes—male and female—and prohibit transgender medical procedures for individuals under 19.

“I need the city to protect me because the federal government won’t. And if you think you’re afraid of Trump, you should see how afraid of Trump I am,” the speaker said.

Later, the same speaker made what appeared to be a direct threat against the city council, saying, “If you say you’re afraid of Trump and that’s why you don’t want the city to be a safe space for [trans] people, you better prepare for [trans] people to make this a very unsafe space.”

The rhetoric escalated when another activist, a black female speaker, warned the council about “strong, queer” transgender-identified people who “will collect you with the quickness.”

One more activist, donning a wig, screamed at the council, “How many of my friends have to die before you do anything?”

Others compared opposition to the resolution to Nazi Germany’s early book burnings, with one man arguing, “Let us remember that the Nazis burned books on gender sciences first. Now the administration has villainized and marginalized migrant workers, LGBT people, and even special needs, denying lifesaving and affirming care.”

These inflammatory statements come amid an intensifying national debate over transgender policies. Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, then-candidate Trump made it a campaign priority to “stop the chemical, physical, and emotional mutilation of our youth.” He promised to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding transgender procedures and vowed to pass laws prohibiting such practices nationwide.

Many faith-based organizations and concerned parents have championed these policies as a necessary step in protecting children and preserving biblical values. However, progressive activists and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups argue that such measures threaten their rights and dignity.

The events at the Worcester City Council meeting highlight the deepening divide in American society over issues of gender and religious conviction. For Christians, the pastor’s comments and the activists’ threats serve as stark reminders of the spiritual battle taking place in the culture today.