I am disgusted I say, so let me say it again..........
I am disgusted!
Not just an American phenomenon any more, but the sanctimonious and just plain nasty people have to interrupt Drag Queen library readings. Even in Canada.
If they don't like their kids exposed, keep 'em away, but damn, it's happening a lot...........
THE BIG READ: ‘Drag Queen Storytime’ has sparked a new chapter of hate in Ontario
Fuelled by conspiracy theories and emboldened by a growing far-right movement festering online, protests against family friendly drag events have been erupting in cities across Ontario, and the country, for months.
They’ve appeared in big cities like Hamilton and Ottawa, northern communities such as Sault Ste. Marie, and even small-town Midland and Elora. And it’s not just angry talk. The Brockville Public Library held a storytime event in December that was met with an arson attempt and bomb threat. The protests have escalated to the point that Ontario’s NDP recently put forward a private member’s bill in an effort to help keep LGBTQ+ community members safe at public events.
In many cases, the protesters screaming outside public libraries are the same far-right groups that fought loudly against vaccine mandates during the so-called “Freedom Convoy.” But now that mandates have been lifted, they have seemingly turned their attention to drag storytime events — convinced that the performers are dangerous pedophiles trying to groom children.
But the escalating anger really isn’t about drag, or just about drag. It’s part of a broader attack on the rights of the queer community — and the idea, however false, that those rights somehow pose a threat to kids and the family unit.
“We had about a decade of gay rights and especially rights for queer and trans youth which is something that historically hasn’t really been addressed,” says Cameron Crookston, a University of British Columbia lecturer who has been studying drag culture for close to a decade. “It’s more about the idea that if gay people get more rights that’s somehow going to hurt children or hurt the family unit. This is the same argument, but the target has slightly shifted now because drag is really popular, really visible.”
So, since moving back to Canada, I attended one of these Drag Queen readings at a local library last year. Not a single protestor. No parent got up and left with their kids. Everyone clapped. Good time had by all.
So, yesterday, Geri and I were going to go to another Drag Queen reading at a local library. Except this time there wouldn't be one. As we approached the library there were police vehicles all around the library and right away we knew the event was shut down. I pulled over and asked one of the officers, and sure enough, they got a bomb thread. Likely not real. But they have to take any threat seriously where kids are involved.
No news yet this morning on local news about this incident: was it a punk getting his jolly? Or some sanctimonious and self-righteous type. I just hope we can get to the day where readings like these ones will become so regular no one will care to be upset any more.
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