A DRAG queen defied protestors to read to children in a storytime session at Falmouth Library this afternoon as rival factions faced each other on The Moor.

Aida H Dee The Storytime Drag Queen read to children with their parents at a sold out storytime session as protestors and supporters gathered outside. Despite protestors opposing the session Aida said she felt very warmly welcomed and her appearances in Cornwall had already broken records.

This is her third appearance in Cornwall today with other storytime sessions taking place at St Ives and Penzance Libraries today where protestors also gathered. Her tour of Cornwall libraries continues until the third of August.

Falmouth Packet:

Aida at an earlier story time session
 
Aida told the Packet: "In all honesty, Cornwall has given me the warmest welcome I've ever had."

The same group of around 20 protestors who had gathered outside earlier reading sessions were outside on The Moor this afternoon, facing a larger group of about 50 who came out to show their support for the session. The anti group refused to speak to the Packet saying the media "twisted their words" but the signs expressed concerns that the reading sessions by Aida was "child grooming".

 

Those opposing the story time session said they wouldnt talk to the media as it twisted their words.

Those opposing the story time session said they wouldn't talk to the media as it "twisted their words".

 

It is an allegation Aida totally rejects, saying: "This has been said to queer people since the 1970s and 1980s.

"Those people are the victims of misinformation. They actually truly believe what they say and truly think what they are doing is the right thing.

"What they are doing is a protest, but Pride is not just about protesting it is about education and celebration. Nothing they are doing out there is either celebrating anyone or educating anyone and that's the difference between what I am doing and what they are doing."

She added: "If it wasn't for the hateful people, I would just be this fun storytelling drag queen telling stories and that's the goal of what I do. I am just reading stories. It's not about having to provide a role model because they should already be there."

One of the supporters of the storytime sessions, Max, told the Packet he was on his way home from work when he saw the protest sign 'We are not homophobic but stop Drag Time Story hour' which really riled him up.

"As a young queer man, these processes that we have now which were so liberating for so many children, especially kids who don't know where they fit in society, seeing that representation is extremely important."

 

These three Falmouth mums who attended the storytelling session said the atmosphere inside was great

These three Falmouth mums who attended the storytelling session said the atmosphere inside was great

 

Three of the mums that attended the sold out session with their children said it had been a great atmosphere inside and they had really enjoyed it.

Falmouth mayor Steve Eva, who was in attendance, said: "I attended a part of the storytelling by the drag artist and as far as I could see all the children were having lots of fun.

"On completion of the storytelling, I asked the parents if the children had a good time and every one of them was delighted with the hour.

"Asking the library staff, they also said it was a success."

The sessions Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH), Drag Queen Storytime, and Drag Story Time are children's events first started in 2015 by author and activist Michelle Tea in San Francisco with the goals to "inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others."

Cornwall Council Leader Linda Taylor said: “There is so much going on in Cornwall’s libraries with activities to suit every age group to get children engaged, listening and learning whilst having a lot of fun.

“Drag Queen Story Hour is one example.  These events offer children a rich experience in story telling in an interactive way. Developing reading skills and an understanding of different communities provides children with a positive start in life that in turn can reduce inequalities.  The events are being held as part of a national tour of libraries and institutions including the British Museum, and they demonstrate that Cornwall’s libraries are inclusive, vibrant, and wholly positive spaces open to everyone. 

“One parent who attended one of yesterday’s sessions has fed back to say ‘The Drag Queen Story Time event was fabulously joyous. Colourful, amusing and very engaging, brilliantly delivered by a performer that clearly knows the audience they are working with. My 7 year old absolutely loved it’.”