Family storytelling at a local pub is being hit by protests and counter-protests after a right-wing group has taken issue with it being led by a drag queen.
The storytelling sessions over brunch at The Honor Oak pub have been going on for over a year and are ‘age-appropriate’, however, a right-wing group are set to protest there this Saturday claiming that any performer with ‘adult content’ on their social media posts should not be allowed to perform for kids.
The planned protest by Turning Point UK has led to a planned counter-demonstration by other groups supporting the right for drag queens to run storytelling sessions, saying the right-wing group are attempting “to foster the pernicious myth that the events are… in some way sexual”.
Despite the controversy, the event this Saturday led by drag act That Girl will go ahead.
‘Drag Story Hour’ will run from 11 am – 12 pm on Saturday (February 25) and organisers say it will be a ‘fun’ and ‘age-appropriate’ event designed for children aged 0 to 10.
Charlotte, the landlady at the pub told the News: “The Honor Oak has and always will create a space where everyone feels safe. We appreciate all the support we have received from the community and further afield, it means a lot to everyone here at The Honor Oak.
“As a landlady, I have a duty of care to provide a safe environment for all my patrons.
“So on Saturday, we are going to do what we do best, which is have fun, dance, sing and sparkle.”
When approached by the News, Turning Point UK, said: “After being contacted by concerned Londoners we decided to organise a protest outside The Honor Oak pub during one of their ‘Drag Story Events’.
“Unlike what our opponents have suggested we have no issue with most traditional pantomimes or age-appropriate drag performances at family theatre shows. This has been a tradition in British theatre and the purpose of said drag performances has been to poke fun at the fact the characters are men in women’s dresses.
“However, we have taken issue with Honor Oak’s ‘Drag Story Hour’ as the drag queens leading the session are largely adult performers. A quick look at the content they post on their public social media will confirm this, which is a massive safeguarding issue.”
They said their main concern is what the children will see if they search for the performers on social media after the show and have planned a protest to stand against the event.
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“Even in the unlikely scenario the ‘Drag Story Hour’ is age appropriate for children, after the performance, these kids – most of whom now have access to social media – will look up the performers online and be exposed to adult content, which is unacceptable,” the group told us in a statement.
“Likewise, we wouldn’t be happy with and would oppose people such as Cardi B, Frankie Boyle or any host of other adult performers having sessions with kids. Our protest will be attended by a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds who are opposed to children being exposed to adult performers,” they added.
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Their plans to protest have been met with a counter-demonstration by the southeast London branch of Stand Up To Racism, who wrote on social media that they “reject the far right’s attempts to foster the pernicious myth that the events are… in some way sexual”.
“They are story-telling sessions for parents and children with no sexual content,” the group wrote.
That Girl said she will be leading the session as someone who ‘champions self-acceptance, inclusion and diversity,’ and added that she is no different to a ‘clown in a pretty dress’.
She explained: “Drag story time is an opportunity for children and families to enjoy family-friendly stories in an environment and with a reader that champions the principles of self-acceptance, diversity and inclusivity. We are fostering a love of stories and I’m just a clown in a pretty dress facilitating that.
Following the news of these plans, the event is still going ahead with security ‘should anyone need it,’ That Girl wrote on social media.
“If you feel safe and able to attend, our event is set to be a display of joy and queer solidarity and we are sure it will be a great day,” she added.
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