A café with… Barbada | We have to talk to each other

A gray December morning. The snow has not yet fallen on downtown Montreal. But it is enough to enter the lodge of Barbada to forget the gloomy weather.

Around us, boas, wigs and multicolored sequins piled up to the ceiling. The famous drag queen took over an hour to prepare for the interview. It was worth it: she is flamboyant. At the top of his game.

Business is going well, very well even, for Barbada, which will reach majority in February. When Sébastien Potvin gave birth to her, he had no idea that, 18 years later, everyone would tear her away.

She is called upon to host weddings and corporate events. She holds the helm of a youth program on Tou.tv. And then, in November, the ultimate consecration: he was asked to interpret the Star Fairy in the Santa Claus parade.

We are a long way from the days of Lana St-Cyr, Guilda or even Mado Lamotte, when “transvestite” shows remained an almost clandestine phenomenon, confined to gay bars in Montreal. Propelled by hyperpopular reality shows, the art of drag is democratizing like never before.

“These programs have given us credibility with the artistic community and the population in general. They allowed us to get out of the ghetto, to get out of the Village”, rejoices Barbada.

But all is not rosy in the kingdom of drag…

Paradox: the normalization of the drag phenomenon is accompanied by an intense campaign of demonization.

As a result, it has never seemed so dangerous to be a drag queen. In the United States, at least, where violent attacks are on the rise, fueled by rhetoric straight out of the homophobic mothballs of the 1970s…

At the time, self-proclaimed “family advocates” accused homosexuals of being a danger to children. Today, they denounce the “grooming” of drags. The term may have changed, but the speech is essentially the same.

As we know, the culture wars that are tearing Americans apart tend to spill over to this side of the border. “The context is different in Canada,” says Barbada. The debate is less polarized. The fact remains that often, when the United States has diarrhea, here, we make wet farts… ”

In Quebec, we already hear it, this retrograde discourse which associates drag shows with pedophiles without the slightest proof. “I believe that there are adults who want to impose their sexual fantasies on small children,” said a Montreal radio columnist in November about the “story hours” hosted by Barbada in libraries.

It’s so far from reality. But to understand it, we still have to talk to each other. And listen to yourself a little, for a change.

Barbada has been hosting story hours in libraries since 2016. Basically: she tells stories promoting openness and self-esteem to children aged 3 to 8. Sometimes she scares them a little. At first. But it never lasts.

It was American drag queens who opened the ball in 2015. They present themselves as “clowns, but prettier”. The objective: to promote diversity and tolerance among toddlers.

“My librarian friend saw this and said, ‘We have to bring this to Quebec.’ He knew that I worked with children, that I was an elementary school teacher. He said to me: “Are you tempted?” »

It tempted him. Since then, Barbada has been in high demand in libraries – and not just on the island of Montreal. “I’m pretty sure I was the first drag queen to set foot in Saint-Colomban! »

But for some time, she worries a little, all the same. Days before we met, heavily armed Proud Boys had marched past an elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, to protest a reading activity hosted by a drag queen.

This was not the first story hour disrupted by far-right militiamen in the United States. And that’s without counting the massacre of five people during a drag show in a Colorado Springs bar on November 19.

“It obviously worries me for my colleagues in the United States who have to go through this,” said Barbada. She deplores the political recovery that feeds all this hatred. “Tennessee wants to criminalize the art of drag in front of children. Montana is considering doing the same. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has questioned whether parents who drag their offspring to drag shows should be reported to child protective services…

That wind is starting to blow here. In June, the City of Dorval received a flurry of complaints after announcing a story hour with Barbada. Internet users have accused the municipal authorities of playing into the hands of pedophiles…

It was the first time since 2016 that Barbada’s story time sparked controversy. The activity took place, despite death threats. “We must not give in. Do not cancel the activities and give reason to the detractors, otherwise, they will do it again, the next time. »

Shortly after this affair, the borough of Saint-Laurent canceled Barbada story time in its libraries. “They were afraid that what had happened in Dorval would be repeated. They never took the time to talk to me before making their decision. »

When they bothered to call him…they changed their minds. The activity finally took place.

Bottom line: stop believing what you read on social media, says Barbada. “People are misinformed about what’s going on in story time because they’re based on biases. However, this is precisely what we are trying to break, prejudices! »

Drag queens can have different styles and audiences. Yes, some of them have a style, let’s say, very sexualized. But they are not the ones who perform in front of toddlers. “There are drags whose art is perfectly adaptable for a more family audience. »

This goes for all artists. “If Lady Gaga visited an elementary school, there aren’t many parents who would demonstrate with their AK-47s. However, what Lady Gaga does on stage can be extremely provocative. It’s the same with drags. »

Barbada easily recognizes this: despite the ongoing democratization, the art of drag will probably never be for everyone. “You have every right not to like it. But, she said, that doesn’t give you the right to ask for the cancellation of story hours in libraries.

I would add this: if you refuse, in the name of freedom of expression, that old vaguely racist or homophobic children’s books be shelved, you should refrain from demanding the censorship of the Barbados story hours. You should defend free speech at all times, even when it’s not your business.

“You know, the parents who say ‘leave our children alone’… I’ve never tried to talk to their children, underlines Barbada. There are plenty of other children who want to listen to me. And a lot of parents are open to that. If this is not your case, perfect: leave your children at home! »

But don’t prevent others from living this experience. And above all, educate yourself a little.

“We have to talk to each other. Understand the values ​​behind it. Values ​​of openness and acceptance. Yes, the vehicle is different, it is a bit out of the ordinary. But it seems to me that no one can be against saying to children: “Be whoever you want. Be yourself. Find yourself. It might take some time. Maybe you’ll realize you’re no different. But maybe you’ll also realize that you’re that person, who likes something different. You have the right.” »

Precision :
This text has been amended to clarify in which corps of the Canadian Armed Forces Barbada was an Officer.