Frank Carey, a Scranton drag performer who uses the stage name 'Chlamydia Berns,' has launched a fundraising effort to challenge what he calls a misleading Republican campaign advertisement that featured his photograph alongside Democratic congressional candidate Paige Cognetti.
Cognetti, the Democratic mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is challenging Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in the competitive 8th Congressional District. The dispute began when Bresnahan and the National Republican Congressional Committee ran an advertisement earlier this month attacking Cognetti's record and political affiliations. The ad featured a photograph taken at Scranton's 2025 Pride flag-raising ceremony, where Carey performed as 'Lady Lydia,' his family-friendly persona.
The NRCC advertisement described Cognetti as 'a member of the radical group trying to force grown men in girls' bathrooms and women's sports.' Republicans have repeatedly pointed to Carey's provocative stage name in defending the advertisement.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans say Cognetti bears responsibility for her associations, regardless of Carey's personal views on transgender issues.
'Paige Cognetti owes voters answers for her voluntary association with activist groups who are pushing sex change surgeries for kids and why she chose to appear with someone who refers to themselves as 'Chlamydia Berns' at an event with small children present,' NRCC spokesman Reilly Richardson told the Scranton Times-Tribune.
The Bresnahan campaign has used the controversy to argue that Cognetti is too far left for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, which includes Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike counties and portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties. Republicans maintain the advertisement accurately reflects Cognetti's political alliances and community involvement.
Carey said he supports Cognetti but did not intend to become involved in the congressional race when he performed at the Pride flag-raising ceremony.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and LGBTQ advocates say the Republican ad misrepresents both Carey and Cognetti. Carey has stated publicly that he supports transgender-identifying people but does not identify as transgender himself, noting he uses men's restrooms even while performing in drag.
'This was certainly never a situation I expected to find myself in,' Carey wrote on Facebook. 'But sometimes you have to stand up and say enough is enough.' He added: 'This Queen isn't going quietly.'
Democratic allies have sought to counter the narrative by highlighting photographs of Bresnahan attending events involving drag performers and LGBTQ-friendly organizations. In 2023, Bresnahan and his wife attended a fundraiser for the KISS Theatre Company in Wilkes-Barre, where Carey was then a member. Democrats have also circulated photographs of Bresnahan wearing bright pink heels at a breast cancer awareness event.
Carey has emphasized that drag performance and transgender identity are separate things. 'I know and support trans people,' he said.
What the Numbers Show
The NRCC advertisement was launched earlier this month as part of a broader Republican effort to define Cognetti before the general election. Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District has been competitive, with Bresnahan winning his 2024 race by a narrow margin in what is historically a swing district.
Carey's GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $2,000 for potential legal fees as of publication. The photograph used in the advertisement was originally published on the city's official social media accounts following the 2025 Pride flag-raising ceremony. Multiple local news organizations have requested comment from Cognetti's campaign; her team has repeatedly declined to address the controversy.
The Bottom Line
The dispute illustrates how cultural issues continue to play a role in competitive congressional races, particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania. Carey's fundraising effort signals potential legal challenges ahead over the use of his image without consent. Both campaigns have sought to weaponize or distance themselves from association with drag performers and LGBTQ advocacy groups depending on their electoral calculations. What happens next may depend on whether Carey pursues any legal action regarding the advertisement, and how voters in the 8th Congressional District respond to the broader cultural messaging from both candidates.