Dressed in their finest frocks and feathers, hundreds of supporters of a queer arts venue turned outrage into song and dance.
The snap protest on Saturday came days after a LGBTQI pop-up performance company Divine Playhouse was ejected from a historic Sydney church that had been previously used as a hostel and other theatre groups.
Led by cabaret artist Victoria Falconer, the colourful crowd belted out Madonna's Like a Prayer and Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club among others.
But with provocative shows such as Sunday Mess: An Unholy Brunch, the short-lived experiment that opened its doors in July was promptly shut down.
A war of words ensued with radio shock jocks and politicians weighing in including NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has been critical of previous arts festivals, and competing petitions gathering thousands of signatures.
Mr Minns, a practicing Catholic, said it was hard to believe the former church was an appropriate venue for daring performers with photos on social media showing drag nuns and pig suits.
"There are millions of (other) venues across NSW and Australia," he noted.
But Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who spoke at the Saturday rally, vehemently disagreed.
"His statements sent a signal to the very groups that were trying to shut it down. His words validated their actions," she told AAP.
"It sets a very dangerous precedent."
View this post on Instagram
Lawyers acting for the landlord sent a notice of breach to the queer arts events group Heaps Gay on the lease, claiming its "offensive trade has caused … grievance and disturbance."
An obscure 1842 NSW law was cited as grounds for the eviction after conservative Christian groups including Fit for the Kingdom and the Prodigal Sons held protests outside the building.
There were also calls to scrap government funding to the queer arts project which the premier said he'd investigate further.
The heritage-listed church on Kent Street in Sydney's city centre, built in 1858 and deconsecrated in 1932, had been vacant for two years with the site owned by billionaire developers Anthony El-Hazouri and Charbel Hazzouri.
Mr El-Hazouri reportedly said the queer arts group was promoting hate speech by mocking Christian beliefs through their performances.
NSW arts minister John Graham dubbed the eviction "a step backwards for Sydney" and advocated for "a tolerant and inclusive state."
But Ms Faehrmann the government had been weak in taking a strong stance.
"When it's politically convenient, the premier will stand by the LGBTQI community, but when they're subjected to harassment, including from the conservative media, he's not prepared to stand by them.
"It's a test of his leadership and commitment," she added.
The arts events company on the lease, Heaps Gay, suggested it was mulling a lawsuit against the development company Revelop for unlawful discrimination.
