Organisers of Bristol Pride have condemned the attacks and protests against a Drag Queen Story Hour event tour in Bristol which saw some of the readings for parents and children cancelled.
In a statement, Bristol Pride said that children ‘are not born with hatred, they learn it’, and supported the libraries for putting on the events to ‘showcase inclusion and diversity’.
A Bristol-born drag queen, Aida, was booked for her children’s story time hour at six libraries across Bristol over two days - today and yesterday - but a couple of events were cancelled because of protests and counter-protests outside.
Read more: Panto or 'grooming' - Bristol reacts to Drag Queen Story Hour protests
She pledged to return to Henleaze Library, where the first event of three yesterday was postponed. Another story hour event at Filwood Broadway Library was also called off this morning as protesters continued to gather outside the library shouting abuse at parents and children going in. Other events in Hillfields, Stockwood and Easton went ahead.
In a statement, Bristol Pride, which recently saw two weeks of events to continue to protest for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people, and celebrate diversity conclude with a march and one-day festival at The Downs to which thousands of people attended, said the abuse being shouted at children was ‘tired’.
“Just weeks after the city came together to celebrate Pride we are saddened to see hateful protestors attacking diversity and inclusion events at Bristol Libraries with tired homophobic and transphobic tropes,” a spokesperson said.
“We condemn these actions and support the libraries and performers who are using storytelling to showcase inclusion and diversity, bring joy and engage young people in reading skills.
“Children are not born with hatred, they learn it. They also can learn of inclusion and acceptance to grow up better adults than those that use fear and intimidation against parents and children to spread bigotry and hatred,” they added.
Each library event yesterday (Thursday July 28) was met with a gathering of protesters who claimed having a drag queen reading stories to children and their parents in libraries was ‘grooming’. Each protest was countered by a group of other protesters who said they were there to support the event and defend the parents and children, and library staff.
The issue sparked a heated debate on social media yesterday, with thousands of people commenting on Bristol Live’s Facebook page. The vast majority were supportive of the events, comparing it with Britain’s long tradition of panto dames and drag acts, including Mr Tumble on CeeBeebies.
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