A drag queen has spoken out after relentless disruption from protestors picketing outside storybook events touring UK libraries.
The Drag Queen Story Hour UK tour has been running all Summer at hundreds of libraries across the country, and has sparked ongoing protests ever since its first date in Reading.
The tour has been led by drag queen Aida H Dee, real name Sab Samuel, and came round full circle on Wednesday, August 24, when Aida attended libraries to read to children in Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley.
Drag Queen Story Hour has been opposed from the outset by protesters who have accused the event of ‘grooming’ and ‘sexualising children’, with some events being relocated or shut down.
READ MORE: Police on scene at first day of Drag Queen Story Hour UK in Reading
Nevertheless, the tour has reached over 1,000 children across the country.
Speaking about the impact of the tour Aida has said: “I never had a role model as a child. Nobody told me H from Steps was gay. Nobody told me Alan Turing was gay. LGBTQ kids don’t get given the needed asset of a role model. I’m being the role model I wish I had when I was their age.
“If these hateful people didn’t exist, then I would just be this fun, fabulous, Story Hour drag queen. Children across the UK have extremely enjoyed my Story Hour and I am so happy this tour has been such a success.
“These aggressors outside libraries think I am sexualising children. It is, in fact, these aggressive people that have used the words ‘sex’ and ‘sexuality’ more than I ever have or even would in my Drag Queen Story Hours,. So if anyone is sexualising children, it’s them.”
Drag Queen Story Hour has been opposed by Michael Manoel Chaves, a conspiracy theorist who runs the ‘Mad Mix Conspiracies’ Telegram channel.
Mr Chaves has protested outside every story hour in the South.
At the first event in Reading, Mr Chaves attempted to perform a citizens arrest on Sab Samuel and a number of people attempted to storm the event shouting obscenities.
The backlash led to police being present at all events to keep the peace.
READ MORE: Covid and protest concerns assessed as Drag Queen Story Hour hits the UK
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported from the protest outside Woodley Library at 1pm.
Among those objecting to the event was Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Corbyn’s car was surrounded by police, with officers questioning the driver over vehicle offences. Approximately 25 police officers were on the scene.
There was a series of verbal exchanges between protesters and supporters of Aida, with one protester being arrested for swearing.
A man from Bracknell said: “Drag queens is a sexual hobby, and I don’t think that should be around children.
“Children should be allowed to be children. They should have their freedom of mind, until they’re of an age when they can decide whether they want to start going around those things.
“Not being introduced to them by people who want to influence them one way or another.”
Meanwhile, Jessica Brown, 20, from Didcot, said: “I saw one protest in Didcot where the protesters had kids aged 12 and 13 with them, which I really didn’t think was ok.
“The protesters are saying the LGBTQ+ community are grooming kids, but they’re the ones with kids shouting slurs. I thought I’d come here and show my support.”
Councillor Prue Bray (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh), Wokingham Borough Council executive member for childrens services said: “This event says that it’s ok to be a little bit different.
“Unfortunately at these events there are protesters suggesting we’re trying to groom children, that there’s some sort of sexual element, which there clearly isn’t.
“We’re here to support the event and make sure it goes off as well as possible.”
The last event will take place in the Channel Islands on Thursday, August 25.
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