January 13, 2020
Watch: Gay Student Who Went Viral for Protesting Drag Event Dead of Apparent Suicide
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A young gay man who recently went viral for a video clip of him protesting drag queen story time at an Australian library has died of an apparent suicide, according to a report from BuzzFeed.
Wilson Gavin, president of the University of Queensland's conservative Liberal National Club, came under fire after the video footage of him protesting the event went viral over the weekend. BuzzFeed reports Gavin died early Monday morning in Brisbane, Australia. He was 21.
In the clip, which made its way on Twitter, Gavin and a handful of other young people can be heard yelling, "drag queens are not for kids" at Brisbane Square Library Sunday morning. They were protesting an event where drag queens read kids books to children. BuzzFeed reports the video earned hundreds of thousands of views and the protest made headlines. A hashtag #IStandWithQueens in support of the local drag queens began to trend.
Federal MP Trevor Evans, Queensland's first out MP, lashed out against the group, calling them "ragbags," according to the Brisbane Times.
"The conduct of those protesters was appalling and it is really important they are called out for that," Evans added.
Gavin's friend Solomon Sankari, who knew Gavin from the Australian Monarchist League, told BuzzFeed he was a "very smart young man."
"Well-liked by all he met. Intelligent, funny and caring. A genuinely nice soul. It's a shame he's gone. Massive monarchist. He had a great passion and love for the Royal Family," Sankari added.
BuzzFeed notes Gavin was openly gay and campaigned against same-sex marriage in 2017 when the issue was up for a postal survey.
Watch Sky News's report on the demonstration below.
