DESTINY CHURCH LEADER BRIAN TAMAKI FACES COURT ACTION FROM DRAG QUEENS

Drag performers have filed a $2 million defamation action against Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki after protests against their library storytime events.

Sunita Torrance and Daniel Lockett, known by their performing names Coco and Erika Flash, filed the claim at the High Court in Auckland this morning.

The legal claims against Destiny Church include allegations of breach of contract, conspiracy to injure and unlawful means conspiracy, and defamation.

Destiny Church has protested at LGBTQI+ events in the past months.

Torrance arrived at court this morning alongside her barrister Christopher Griggs to file the claim.

Torrance said they were forced to cancel their tour after protests and threats from Destiny Church members.

”Our rainbow story time was a hit,” Torrance said, who spoke of a “crusade against us and our act“ which has been “badly impacting on my business”.

Torrance’s performing partner Erika Flash has moved to London as a result of the threats and cancellation of shows in New Zealand.

”This is not just about business, this is about hate speech versus free speech.”

Torrance said they are suing the defendants for a total of just over $2m plus costs.

Entertainment company Haus of Flash Limited said the breach of contract relates to the cancellation of shows they were booked to perform, which were allegedly cancelled due to Tamaki and Destiny Church members.

An Upper Hutt drag king storytime was cancelled this week after opposition from Destiny Church.

Haus of Flash gave examples of statements allegedly made by Tamaki and Destiny Church members, including that drag queen story time was “like the wolf dressed as granny waiting for [Little] Red Riding Hood”; “foul predator behaviour”; “grooming” and “targeting our innocent kids with their filth”.

Destiny Church has already faced court action for anti-LGBTQI+ protests. Tamaki’s grandson-in-law Ford O’Connor pleaded guilty to vandalising the Karangahape Rd rainbow crossing in March.

Three people were charged over defacing the Gisborne rainbow crossing after Destiny Church members protested outside a planned drag queen reading event in March.

Torrance and Lockett have created a Givealittle page to help raise funds for the court action.

A spokesperson for Tamaki and Destiny Church said they would release a statement today.

Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021, as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.

2024-06-26T22:45:35Z dg43tfdfdgfd