A prominent Phoenix drag queen, Michael Browder, has been charged with sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy whom he met via a dating application, according to a report. Browder, known by his drag persona Aubrey Ghalichi, is a well-known figure in the Phoenix Pride Festival community. Court documents disclosed that Browder allegedly admitted to having intimate contact with the minor and claimed he believed the boy to be around 18 or 19 years old. The 13-year-old, who claimed to have posed as an adult on an online dating platform, arranged for two adult men to meet him for sexual encounters, as revealed by the court records. One of the men was identified as Browder, who was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Browder was interviewed by Phoenix police on September 16 and allegedly confessed to meeting and having sexual contact with the minor. He told investigators that the victim’s apartment was dark to the point where he could not ascertain the victim’s age. The incident has led to the removal of Browder from the Phoenix Pride Festival lineup, which has condemned the alleged crime as ‘reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for.’ Organizers stated that while Browder has not been convicted of a crime, his removal is based on the information currently available and the responsibility to ensure a safe and affirming environment for their community. His attorney has declined to comment on the case, and the second man mentioned in the allegations remains unidentified and uncharged. The case has sparked discussions around age verification and online safety, particularly in the context of dating applications and the potential risks of meeting strangers online.
Additional reports highlighted similar incidents, such as a convicted Minnesota sex offender who is accused of posing as a high school student on a football team and a Venezuelan man who posed as a teen in an Ohio high school and pleaded guilty. These cases underscore the broader concerns about the misuse of online platforms and the potential for predators to exploit young individuals. Despite these concerns, the Phoenix Pride organizers have emphasized their commitment to inclusivity and safety, acknowledging the gravity of the situation while standing by their decision to exclude Browder from their events.