A new political ad targets North Carolina Democratic U.S. congressional candidate Jamie Ager for hosting a family-friendly festival featuring drag performers at his family farm, prompting a backlash from LGBTQ activists that included a demand for one performer to stop and a separate demand to be removed from the Blue Ridge Pride event as Election Day approaches.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has begun running ads based on: Breitbart News reported on October 16 It was revealed that Ager’s family business, Hickory Nut Gap Farms, hosted a festival in May 2019 that promoted children’s activities and featured the Beer City Sisters, a drag-related group that describes itself as “a 21st-century order of nuns dedicated to spreading universal joy and atonement for the sin of shame.”
Names used by members of the organization include “Sister Anita Felchin” and “Sister Helen Bader.” The ad also highlights a $5,000 donation disclosed in Ager’s campaign finance filings to Blue Ridge Pride, an organization whose vision is to create “a vibrant, inclusive community for all LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in WNC.” [Western North Carolina] Experience belonging and live with dignity, fairness, hope and joy. “
North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP) shares ad on social media that Ajay faces Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcomb Located in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
The 30-second ad opens with a warning that it’s “not suitable for children,” before an AI-generated description of Ager declares, “You know what we need more of in Washington, D.C.? Barn dances!”
The narrator continues: “Jamie Egger hosted the Drag Queen Barn Dance, which featured dominatrix nuns and Helen Bede performing with children in his barn. Last month, Egger wrote a check to Blue Ridge Pride, the family-friendly festival featuring Divine Holborn and Will Pond.”
“Jamie Egger talks on TV just like you and me, but he’s dancing with them/them,” the narrator concludes.
Hickory Nut Gap exclusively promoted Beer City Sisters ahead of the event in a Facebook post on April 11, 2019.
“Perhaps the most gracious of all our guests, we are honored to have Sisters of Beer City, All Souls Abbey, join us!” the farm wrote.
The post describes the performers as “selfless nuns” whose mission is to “promote and celebrate diversity, social awareness, universal joy, and eliminate the shame of guilt.”
“The sisters serve our local communities through advocacy, education, outreach, and philanthropy through self-expression and irreverent humor! They look great doing it!” the farm adds.
As reported by Beer City Sisters in May 2019 postalriceMembers of the group used nicknames from the ads at the time of the event.
After the release of the new Republican ad, individuals associated with the drag community began responding on social media.
Sister Domina Trix identified in notice as Tara Schlayer, issue a cease and desist notice Targeted the North Carolina Republican Party on social media for using the performer’s name and likeness without permission.
“Everything and everyone in this video is a 100% fake AI-generated video,” the notice said.
“You are hereby instructed to immediately cease and desist from using my name, likeness, and any AI-generated video or moving images depicting me without my express permission,” Schreier wrote. “Your use of my identity in fabricated news footage is unauthorized and misleading.”
“I ask that you immediately remove this content from all platforms, cease any further use or distribution, and refrain from creating or publishing any similar material using my identity,” the notice continued.
“If this abuse continues, I reserve all rights to pursue available legal remedies. Please consider this formal notice and confirm compliance immediately,” Schreier concluded.
Nova Jynah, also known as Ethan Lane Fletcher, also responded Advertisements in social media videos criticized its use of artificial intelligence and said “you had to waste our clean water” to create it.
Divine Holborn seems to be dismissive of the controversy on social media; share One colorful image asked, “Who has a barn in Asheville that we can use for our dance?” and suggested a “Jamie Egger win party?”
Will Pond also responded Writing on Facebook: “If anyone wants to come to The Odd or Banks Ave dressed in business attire and play the part of Congresswoman Jennifer Balkcom, I’ll buy you a drink (or a snack).”
“This rat with no lips and all teeth just started doing something she was destined to lose. Let’s come together as a community and show her who we really are because she wants to spread misinformation, spread fear and paint a target on our backs,” Pound continued.
Blue Ridge Pride, an LGBTQ organization mentioned in the ad, also sent a letter to Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom requesting its removal.
“One of your recently aired ads used the Blue Ridge Pride logo and made false claims about donations to Blue Ridge Pride,” Blue Ridge Pride Board Chair Madison Root wrote.
“While the attack ads themselves are gimmicky, the use of artificial intelligence to generate lies is shocking,” Root continued. “Blue Ridge Pride is a 501(c)(3) that holds itself to the highest standards in maintaining bipartisanship. Unlike local politicians, we do not accept funding from any source, including the politicians themselves. We have not retained any funds from Jamie Ager.”
“Your ad may be considered defamatory and should be removed from the air immediately,” Root added. “Please let me know when the ad will be properly removed.”
Blue Ridge Pride also issued a press release on October 23 confirming that Ager had applied to sponsor its 2026 Pride Festival, but his application was denied and the accompanying funds were returned.
“Representative Jennifer Balkcom has made serious allegations that Jamie Ager made donations to Blue Ridge Pride. As a 501(c)(3) member, Blue Ridge Pride adheres to the highest standards when it comes to donations,” the statement read.
“While Jamie Ager did apply for sponsorship at Pride 2026, his application was rejected and the accompanying funds returned. Pride is a sacred space for LGBTQ+ expression, not a platform for political candidates.”
The group also discussed the use of artificial intelligence in advertising.
“Unlike these politicians, we don’t rely on artificial intelligence to produce events that don’t happen. We personally work hard to make Pride and all of our annual events worth talking about,” the statement continued.
“Join us for another year of growth, community programming, and queer joy! As a reminder, early voting is now through October 31st, and Election Day is November 3rd!”
Hickory Nut Gap’s Facebook post since the ad started circulating Promote Beer City Sisters are on lockdown. The 2019 “Farm Fantasy Festival” event page displays a notice saying, “The publishing permission for this event has been closed. The posts you see are posted by the host, or were posted before the permissions were changed.”