Arizona Drag Queen Charged in Shocking Sex Crime with 13-Year-Old Boy

Michael Browder, a 35-year-old Arizona drag queen who performs as Aubrey Ghalichi, stands accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy, adding to the mounting evidence of instability within this troubled demographic.

Authorities arrested Browder, a familiar face at Phoenix Pride Festival, after he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the minor, whom he met through an online dating app, according to court documents cited by ABC15.

Browder faces two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Michael Browder performs under the name Aubrey Ghalichi.@mikeyb810/Instagram

Police released him on a $10,000 bond with strict conditions, including GPS monitoring and a ban on contact with children.

Michael Browder, aka, Aubrey Ghalichi, appears at the 40th annual Phoenix Pride Festival in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 6, 2021. Browder has been charged with having sex with a 13-year-old boy whom he met via a dating application, according to a report. **(Monica D. Spencer/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)**

Court records reveal Browder admitted to Phoenix police on September 16 that he had sex with the boy but claimed he believed the victim was 18 or 19.

"It was dark in the victim’s apartment to the point that he was unable to ascertain the victim’s age," Browder told investigators, per court documents.

Michael Browder, a Phoenix drag performer who goes by Aubrey Ghalichi, was arrested in September and charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, according to court records. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

The 13-year-old, whose identity remains protected, confessed to posing as an 18-year-old on the app and arranging sexual encounters with two adult men, including Browder.

Investigators identified Browder, described as "a known Phoenix drag queen,"after recovering incriminating chats from the boy’s laptop.

Phoenix Pride swiftly removed Browder from its October 18-19 festival lineup.

Browder admitted having sex with the boy, but claimed he thought he was older, court docs said.@mikeyb810/Instagram

Organizers issued a statement condemning the alleged crime: "Out of respect for our community and in alignment with our values, Phoenix Pride has removed Aubrey Ghalichi from this year’s event lineup. It is important to emphasize that this individual has not been convicted of a crime. Their removal is based solely on the information currently available to us and our responsibility to ensure a safe and affirming environment for our community."

The organization stressed the act was "reprehensible and entirely contrary to what Phoenix Pride stands for."

Police have yet to identify or charge the second man allegedly involved with the minor.

The investigation, launched in June, continues as authorities probe the full extent of the encounters.

This case underscores a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, raising urgent questions about the mental stability of those who reject biological reality.