Drag Queen Story Time sparks protest outside Kelowna, B.C. library | 24CA News

The return of drag story time at Kelowna’s downtown library sparked a big protest Saturday morning, with a whole lot exhibiting up in help of each side.

The library hosted a drag storytime, that includes performer Freida Whales, the place she learn youngsters’s books to youngsters. However, not everybody accepted of the occasion, and people protesting towards it deemed the drag story time inappropriate.

“For the children, I think it’s a little over the top. I think it should be something kept in the nightclubs. None of us here are against the gay community,” mentioned protestor Harry Hough.

On the opposite aspect of the protest, drag queen allies got here out rejecting any damaging statements and continued to advocate for the occasion.

“I fully support drag queens reading to children. It’s just a performance art, it’s just like going to the theatre. The kids love it and it supports inclusion and diversity and I love it,” mentioned supporter Aden Withers.

Inside the library, a whole lot of kids have been excited for Freida Whales to start her studying and fogeys have been in full help.

“I think it’s just a cool experience. At the end of the day for them, it’s just seeing someone in a cool outrageous outfit like you would see in a Disney movie,” mentioned dad or mum Charlie Handsome.

The library says drag storytime is a part of its Community Reader Storytime collection, and the final time a drag queen was a part of it was again in 2019.

“What’s special about the event is it really showcases diversity and inclusivity and captures a segment of the population that’s not always looked upon positively or accepted by mainstream society. It’s our role as a library to represent and support all the members of society,” mentioned Okanagan Regional Library CEO Danielle Hubbard.

“In the two or three weeks leading up to the event, we’ve been inundated with public feedback. Much of it is positive, with people saying that they’re glad to see themselves represented at the library. We certainly have received negative feedback as well and I think the reason we hold the event is proven out today.”

As for Frieda Whales, the controversy surrounding the studying has solely made her extra common.

“I’m already booked for a lot more after this. The whole controversy actually got me quite a few more bookings, so thanks,” Freida Whales mentioned.

Police have been available monitoring the protest. While it was saved pretty peaceable, folks spent many of the day chanting their ideas on the storytime.

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