Drag Queen Story Time sells out, despite critics

Friday’s event, called Drag Queen Story Time, will teach local children about gender diversity, acceptance, love and literacy.

Tickets sold out within a day of going on sale and there is a long waiting list.

It has been organised by local LGBTQ charity Liberate, and aims to celebrate inclusion and to let children see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where can people can present as they wish.

A drag queen called Aida H Dee, who is on the autism spectrum, will be talking about a range of issues including gender fluidity, and giving youngsters ‘glamorous and unabashedly queer role models’.

The event has caused debate on Twitter, with some people singing its praises, writing that it will show young people that the world is a very diverse place and it should not be an issue.

Others have called it ‘creepy’, ‘wrong’ and a ‘huge shock’, and they questioned why Guille-Alles Library, as a centre of island learning, was playing host.

Deputy Neil Inder tweeted: ‘We’re heading down a very dangerous path.’

Deputy Barry Brehaut was surprised that the children’s storyteller had recently tweeted: ‘13 Jager bombs in 25 seconds!’

Tom Canham is the founder of Drag Queen Story Time UK and he said they want to teach children to embrace their individuality and spread of message of tolerance.

‘The idea is that if you are introduced to difference in a positive way, you will react to it in a positive way.’

‘By providing representation of diverse individuals, who are proud of who they are and successful in what they do, we’re able to give young people role models to look up to.

‘The way it works is we go into schools, libraries and nursery groups and read short stories, they’re all children’s books, and it’s not just gender themes, there are also themes of race and disability and we offer more feminist takes on the traditional fairy tales.

‘The mums and dads all love it as well, it’s a very family-friendly and community-based event.’

Asked what he thought about the Twitter comments Mr Canham gave a cheerful, optimistic response.

‘No child is born with feelings of negativity or hate, those are learned behaviours and we want to counteract those negative thought processes that society instils, and if we teach just one youngster in each session to be more accepting, I’ll call that a success.’

Adam Bayfield, from the Guille-Alles Library, said the Drag Queen Story Times sessions were fun, playful, celebrated diversity, and involved professional performers who are experienced working with children and are fully DBS-checked.

‘Both sessions sold out quickly, and we look forward to welcoming those families to the event on Friday.

‘We believe it is important for libraries to provide a safe and trusted space for all members of the community to discuss complex ideas, to explore issues around identity and ultimately to enable communities to work together to create a more tolerant and inclusive society.’

Education, Sport & Culture is responsible for the public grant paid to the library, but it is operationally independent.

In its three years of running Drag Queens Story Time has taught 12,000 pupils around Britain through reading, singing, comedy and dancing.

It is estimated that nearly half of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans pupils are bullied in Britain’s schools and frequently or often hear slurs.

One of the missions of the initiative is to foster an environment where young people can feel confident in speaking out on this type of bullying.