News / henleaze library
Drag Queen Story Hour cancelled after protest sees police intervention
A Drag Queen Story Hour event has been cancelled for safety reasons after protesters surrounded the building.
Drag queen Aida H. Dee is currently touring the country and was due to appear at Henleaze Library on Thursday.
But protesters gathered outside the building shortly before the event was due to begin.
is needed now More than ever
One protestor held a placard with the words “stop grooming kids”, while another read “wake up! This is child abuse”.
A counter-protest gathered shortly after, with some holding LGBTQ+ flags.
Michael Chaves, an anti-vaccination leader, was also at the event and released a video of himself outside the library at the protest.
In a statement responding to the events, Bristol City Council said: “Drag Queen Story Hour at Bristol Libraries offer children a rich experience in story telling in an interactive way as well as an understanding of different communities.
“Lessons like this are how we can create a more inclusive society, and educate children about tolerance and difference.
“Unfortunately, it seems some adults need these lessons too. As well as unacceptable abuse online, some people have decided to protest at our libraries.
“We have put security in place and there’s a police presence to reduce the risk of threatening behaviour towards the artists involved, our staff, and the parents and children
“We will not tolerate any discrimination or abuse aimed at any community and will not stop striving towards creating a more inclusive society, that welcomes difference.”
Twitter page @covidradicals has also released a photograph of a flyer claiming to be one handed out by the counter-protest group #BristolAgainstHate.
It reads: “We are concerned that groups are spreading bigotry and hatred in our communities and we would like to express our support for Drag Queen Story Hour coming to Bristol libraries.
“Drag queen performance hours are age appropriate, featuring fun costumes, silly voices and children’s stories. Like all children’s entertainers, DQSH performers are DBS checked.”
This isn’t the first time Drag Queen Story Time’s events have been interrupted by protestors. On Monday July 25, a drag queen story time in Reading was met by demonstrations outside the building where the event was due to take place.
Main photo: David Anthony James
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