Resistance to Drag Queen Story Time came to the Vancouver suburbs on January 14, when about 20 protesters gathered at a rally against the event at the Coquitlam Public Library.
About 200 dissidents met the protesters outside the library, and a planned reader, local drag queen Connie Smudge, arrived at the event to cheers and fanfare. Smudge created a persona in Vancouver, including his series of YouTube videos titled Storytime with Conni Smudge. One of his children’s books that Smudge reads is called “Drag Queen Hips Swish, Swish, Swish.”
This was the second Drag Queen Story Time hosted by the Coquitlam Library. That first event was his August 2022. Library He manager, marketing and communications, and Storytime spokesperson Sam Wink said when asked for comment, Epoch he declined to speak to The Times.
Chroy J. (just wanted to name the first letter of his last name) came to the protest with a gay flag against groomers, saying he felt obligated to bring the US movement to Canada. He believes the events of his drag his queen story his time act like a gateway for his drag to explore sexuality and perversion in children, but his community supports it. he said no.
“The library has sexual material for children, and we put drag queens, synonymous with burlesque, in the library and read books with the children,” he said in an interview.
Croy J. cited kids giving money to performers in front of neon signs at the June 2022 Drag The Kids To Pride drag show in Texas. these kinds of events.
“Where do you draw the line?” he asked. “If anyone could tell me where the line between a drag queen story and pedophilia is, I would gladly pack my bags and go home. It’s a journey and it’s turned gay ideology into a cult so people don’t realize it.”
Darryl Flash, a supporter of Story Time for drag queens, disagrees. Mr. Flash, who describes himself as “gay” and “Catholic,” said exposing his children to his queen of drag allowed him to embrace diversity and difference without growing up in insecurity. Told. And those who confuse religious views with the innocence of reading stories miss the point.
“This has nothing to do with sexuality. It has nothing to do with sexuality as many heterosexuals do, so we need to be clear on our priorities,” he told the Epoch Times. Told.
“The problem here is demonizing sex, right? We express it in a way and we don’t talk about it. If you don’t name things, this is an area that crosses that bridge a little bit: A child’s brain works better when placed in an environment that stimulates creativity.”
Debra Soh, a neuroscientist in Toronto who specializes in gender and gender identity and is the author of The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths about Sex and Identity in Our Society, believes that children are often exposed to sexual themes and concepts. should be protected from touching.
“I think it’s good to have kids accept others and be open minded,” Thor said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“At the same time, the fact that these types of events are being pushed so strongly in educational and so-called family events is a concern to me. I don’t want my children exposed to it.”
It speaks to the “ideological and political nature of these events,” she said, many of which are “essentially sexually inappropriate.”
But parents and others who share her philosophy are often labeled as hateful and transphobic, she said, and many are embarrassed and silent when they should have voiced their concerns.
Soh says parents who are against Drag Queen Story Time and concerned about inappropriate content in school libraries are speaking out at school board meetings to draw attention to the issue. says it’s a good thing.
“It’s the only way to really make changes, especially given the current state of affairs favors this type of event and the availability of these materials so quickly,” she said.
In November 2022, the Kitsilano Neighborhood House in Vancouver will host a storytelling event by Drag Queens, a non-profit charity “intended to provide an opportunity for everyone in our community to come together and participate.” Similar protests occurred when it was held. website. Of particular concern to protesters was the background of one of Drag’s Queens reading to the children, and the image associated with the performer’s profile.
The Epoch Times reached out to Connie Smudge for comment, but did not receive a response.
Jeff Sandes is a freelance contributor for The Epoch Times based in the Vancouver area.