A rowdy scene unfolded outside Edmonton’s downtown public library Saturday morning as protesters and counter-protesters clashed over an event where a drag queen was invited to read to children.
Around 11 a.m., Felicia Bonée, with her pink hair and wearing a necklace and a long purple dress, was stationed in front of colorful Pride balloons, reading and singing to dozens of children and parents at the Stanley A. Milner Library.
Meanwhile, a crowd of about 50 people lingered outside at the corner of 100th Street and 102nd Avenue. One party opposed the library-sponsored event, suggesting it was unsafe for children. The other, sporting Pride colors and playing music, was there to support the LGBT community.
“A lot of hateful, angry people are emboldened by current political figures who seem to be somehow rising to power,” said Rob Browatzke, who attended the counter-protest. Browatzke co-owns Evolution Wonderlounge, a gay bar in Edmonton.
“They’re frustrated because they’re dying. This [cis-gender]white, clean world that they thought they were responsible for is not really the real world at all.”
The event, held Saturday morning, called Over the Rainbow Storytime, was part of the Edmonton Public Library’s summer program. The event description says it will be a family-friendly program suitable for preschool to 12-year-olds, featuring stories about diversity and inclusion, singing and “maybe even a little sparkle.”
Felicia Bonée, a local drag queen, reads to children and parents as part of the Edmonton Public Library’s Over the Rainbow Storytime event. (Gabriela Panza-Beltrandi/CBC)
However, Family Guy’s Family Law Reform is planning a protest outside the library before the event. Organizers say they are concerned the event will have a sexual nature, making it unsuitable for children.
“What we are opposed to is the indoctrination of our children into what could be considered sexual as well as political ideologies,” said Bradley Chalmers, host and member of Family Guy’s.
The group describes itself as an advocate for family law reform, according to its website. He has made several Facebook posts in recent weeks suggesting that drag queens will somehow manipulate, groom or sexualize children.
Word of the protest reached local LGBT advocates, who then organized a counter-protest.
“We all came together and decided that this is not going to be something we’re going to allow on our streets,” said Cale McIntosh, one of the organizers of the counter-protest.
Roma Schröter, another organizer, said the protesters’ beliefs were biased and they were spreading a stigma based on lies.
Word of the protest, organized by Family Guy’s Family Law Reform, which describes itself as an advocate for family law reform and made several transphobic Facebook posts before Saturday’s library event, reached local LGBT advocates, who organized a counter-protest. (Gabriela Panza-Beltrandi/CBC)
“They take away from an incredibly inclusive and charming event, frankly,” Schroeter said.
Justin Duvall was walking nearby with his wife and two daughters, Anna and Evelyn. They saw the crowd and eventually learned what the people on the corner were doing, so they went inside for a debriefing, Duvall said.
The family enjoys visiting the library, he said, especially because of the array of programs that can introduce his children to issues and start conversations.
“Having these events gives us an opportunity to be able to educate, first of all, our kids and normalize … what the spectrum is in terms of differences in sexuality and orientation,” Duvall said.
Duvall said the event contained no adult content when asked about the protesters’ concerns.
Anna and Evelyn told CBC News it was their first time attending an Over the Rainbow Storytime event and they really enjoyed it.
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