It’s time to talk, and listen, about drag story time events for kids, says the organizer of the Sarnia Speaks series focused on inclusion and understanding.
It’s time to talk – and listen – about drag story time events for kids, says the organizer of the Sarnia Speaks series focused on inclusion and understanding.
The latest talk in the series – set from 6:30 to 8 pm on Feb. 8 at the Sarnia Library Theater – features Susan Chamberlain of The Book Keeper, Diversity Ed’s Crystal Fach and at least two people who read at drag story events.
“What we’re just telling people is come with an open mind,” said Sarnia Speaks founder Danielle Catton. “These are human beings with stories and experiences.”
Recent Drag Queen Storytime events at The Book Keeper in Sarnia led by Amanda Villa have drawn what’s been described as a small, albeit intimidating, group of protesters.
Protests seem to be based on misinformation and fear, said Catton, who started Sarnia Speaks in 2016 to share and foster empathy about things such as mental health and identity.
“I just want people to be able to learn straight from the folks that are impacted, the folks that are actually doing these drag story times,” she said, noting these protests have not been restricted to Sarnia.
“I think it’s important to give folks that platform to share their stories, and hopefully dispel some of the myths that are circulating right now.”
There are security plans, said Fach, who’s helping Catton organize the event.
That step is being taken after masked men dressed in black set up to protest at November’s Drag Queen Storytime event at The Book Keeper, prompting organizers to call police.
People with security backgrounds will be at the doors for Sarnia Speaks, and there will be an emergency exit plan, Fach said, “which I hate even having to do at an event, but here we are.”
The big message for attendees is to ignore potential protesters, who Fach said aren’t interested in engaging meaningfully anyway, and not to let fear be an obstacle.
“I really think this is going to be a great event,” Fach said. “We’re going to make sure that whatever is happening outside is taken care of and managed in a safe way.”
Speakers will not be dressed in drag at the talk, but there “as people — because that’s what they are” — to share who they are and why they do what they do, they said.
“It’s a really hot topic right now that needs some discussion and light brought to it.”
The Book Keeper’s first Drag Queen Storytime since November’s protest, meanwhile, is set for Jan. 28 at 10:30 am while a “love rally” is also planned for 9:30 am As part of the rally, people are encouraged to show up with signs and flags in support, said Chamberlain
“The community response has been overwhelmingly positive” since November’s protest that didn’t stop the event, she said, but noted the protesters vowed to return in greater numbers.
She’s expecting hundreds of people for the love rally counter-protest, showing “positivity and love and acceptance,” she said.
The monthly story time events have been “wonderful” since they started last year and are planned indefinitely, she added,
An event making signs in support is also planned Jan. 25 at Diversity Ed at 6 pm, Fach said.
“We want to show them the support they always show us,” they said.
Villa is already booked on Feb. 8, so can’t attend the Sarnia Speaks talk, Fach said.
“But they’ve been spearheading drag story time with The Book Keeper here in Sarnia-Lambton, and their voice is so important too in this,” said Fach, noting Villa is a teacher and community advocate.
“They’ve worked really hard to create a safe space at The Book Keeper to have drag story time.”
Villa was also reading at The Book Keeper out of drag for a weekly story time event on Friday, Chamberlain noted.
The hope this year is to also host other Sarnia Speaks events, potentially on body positivity and other topics, Catton said.
“The purpose of Sarnia Speaks has been to give marginalized voices and marginalized stories a platform to share and … educate through storytelling,” she said.
“Just to have those stories shared, we think there’s something to be learned from that.”
Details about the story time talk, as well as future sessions, are at sarniaspeaks.org.