'Move forward with love': Jimbo speaks out after shop refuses to put drag queen's photo on a cake

Jimbo, a contestant from the first season of Canada's Drag Race, is speaking out after an ice cream storein Windsor, Ont., turned down awoman's request to feature an image of the drag queen on a cake.

Jimbo is the stage name forJames Insell. If the London, Ont.-born entertainer could walk into the shop and giveone message to the staff at T.Bear's Creamery, it would be:"Happy Pride."

The incident during June Pride Monthcould also serve as an educational moment, Insell said.

It all started when the woman phoned T.Bear's to order thecake with Jimbo's likeness on it. The store said no, citing concerns over the nature of the photo. The woman said she was offended by the owner's alleged comparisons between drag queens and pedophiles.

"This is a great opportunity for this T.Bear person to get their head out of their cake and into what's happening in the world and right now," said Insell.

T.Bear's Creamery has sinceposted an apology to its website, saying the storeregrets "anything we have said that may have been offensive or miscommunicated."It also saysit values every person "regardless of background or life choice."

Theapology goes on to say it does not permit the use of "sensual" photos on their cakes.

"He's referring to the act of someone dressing in something different than the social norm would be so he's sensualized a man dressing as a woman," said Insell.

"That's certainly an aspect of drag, but drag is also a part of performance and self-expression and identity."

For Sydney Brouillard-Coyle, Trans Wellness Ontario'seducation co-ordinator, the cake rejection comes at a time when hate crimes are steadily rising toward marginalized communities.

It's all about educating. It's all about celebrating.- James Insell, who goes by drag queen stage name Jimbo

"It's important that when there's smaller incidents, such as what's happening with T.Bear's, those types of things can't fly under the radar," said Brouillard-Coyle, adding this incident is "one step closer" to an actual hate crime.

"It's those smaller acts of discrimination ... and it's important for us to bring awareness to those. So people are aware that these types of things are happening and how to challenge them when they do happen."

The store's apology, posted to its website, doesn't go far enough to stemthe pain that people throughout the LGBTQ+ community are feeling over this incident, said Brouillard-Coyle.

Trans Wellness Ontario hasextended an invitation to T.Bear's Creamery to "have a conversation" to better understand the challenges that people in the community face.

"That actual groundwork in order to ensure that harm doesn't happen again is an essential part of their apology," added Brouillard-Coyle.

Insellhopes this situation sparks people to become educatedand celebrate all that the LGBTQ+ community has to offer. One positive from this situation is it's prompted so many in the community to stand in solidarity with them, the entertainer added.

"It's all about educating. It's all about celebrating," said Insell. "I'm so proud of everyone that stepped up to say, 'Hey, you're [the store's owner] off the mark here with your thoughts and you got to change your narrative.' So I think it's been awesome."

When asked how the community can move beyond this incident, Insell said people must not be afraid to speak up about instances of discrimination, no matter how big or small it may seem.

"We move forward with love."

CBC reached out to T.Bear's Creameryfor comment but it did not immediately respond.