From ABC15 News: Phoenix Pride has removed a drag performer from their scheduled appearances at this year’s Phoenix Pride Festival, scheduled for October 18th and 19th.
ABC15 confirmed through court records that 35-year-old Michael Browder was arrested in September for two counts of sexual conduct with a minor after an investigation began in June of this year about a 13-year-old victim.
The 13-year-old told investigators in a forensic interview he posed as 18 on an online dating application and arranged for two adult men to meet him for sex at different times, according to court paperwork.
Records say the 13-year-old victim told police he did not know the identity of the two men he contacted, but Phoenix Police were able to recover one of the online conversations from the 13-year-old’s laptop.
A police officer recognized Bowder as “a known Phoenix drag queen,” and he was interviewed by police on September 16.
During the interrogation, Browder reportedly admitted to meeting and engaging in sex with the victim, but claimed he wasn’t aware of the victim’s age because it was dark in the apartment. He claimed that he thought the boy was 18 or 19 years old.
As of Monday evening, Browder was still being held on a $10,000 bond, but the report notes that if he bails out, the judge said he must “wear an ankle monitor and is not allowed near children, or to possess weapons, drugs or alcohol.”
“Phoenix Pride has removed a drag performer from their scheduled appearances at this year’s Phoenix Pride Festival, scheduled for October 18th and 19th.
ABC15 confirmed through court records that 35-year-old Michael Browder was arrested in September for two counts of sexual… pic.twitter.com/vCeTXTuelD
— RFW Jr. (@RobertFWhorton) October 7, 2025
Disgusting‼️
Arizona drag queen charged with sexually abusing 13-year-old boy.
Michael Browder, who performs under the name Aubrey Ghalichi, was charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. pic.twitter.com/m9Kf4p0HKU
— Lance (@LanceMahan56338) October 7, 2025
A Phoenix drag queen is facing charges as he is accused of meeting up with a 13-year-old for sex. #abc15 https://t.co/NLGJD9uJYt
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) October 6, 2025
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