Drag Queen Barbados | A children’s story moved due to a demonstration

The City of Sainte-Catherine was forced to move the location of a storytelling activity for children held by the drag queen Barbada on Sunday due to a rally opposing it held in front of the library, under heavy police surveillance. . Counter-protesters supporting the LGTBQ+ cause also came.

“We made the decision to move the location of the story to ensure the safety of the participants and so that they can enjoy the activity for which they had registered,” confirmed the director of communications for the municipality, Amélie Hudon. . The final location of the activity, kept “secret”, was communicated to the twenty or so families who had registered.

On social networks, an invitation to protest against the holding of the activity has been circulating for a few days. “Drag queens have no place in our schools. Their place is in establishments 18 years and over! Let’s oppose, ”read the poster, which was notably promoted by François Amalega-Bitondo, known for his anti-vaccine activism during the pandemic.

More than a hundred people – some opposing the activity and others supporting the cause – showed up on Sunday morning. Signs displaying “let the children discover themselves” or “the culture drag queen is not for children” were seen in the crowd.

As for them, the counter-demonstrators called to extinguish “fascism”, playing music and also chanting several slogans. “The wind from the right will not pass,” read a sign from the Montreal Antifascist collective, which had gone there for the occasion.

Everything took place under a heavy police presence. Patrolmen from the Roussillon Intermunicipal Police Board separated the two groups in rows throughout the rally. Agents from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) were also called in to surround the demonstrators. Demonstrators in the midst of an altercation had to be controlled by the police using irritant gases. Some arrests were also made, was able to see The Press. The crowd finally dispersed by late morning.

“We find it regrettable”

Amélie Hudon, she says that the City of Sainte-Catherine “has received many more favorable than unfavorable comments”, even if the municipality admits having received “some” comments of “dissatisfaction”. “On Facebook, we had a lot of comments from all over Quebec. It happened in several types of networks,” she said, estimating at “twenty” the number of complaints forwarded to the authorities.

“It was really a unique activity. We are very proud to have held this activity which promoted tolerance, diversity and an inclusive society, free from discrimination. We find it unfortunate that people want to disturb a child-friendly event. There has been a lot of misinformation about the nature of the activity,” Ms.^me Hudon.

The City says it is not currently planning any other activities with Barbada. “If there were other story hours, whether Barbada or other guests, the City will definitely monitor the situation. We will always value the safety of its citizens as a priority, ”concluded the spokesperson.

Youth and diversity

For the director general of the Interligne organization, Pascal Vaillancourt, it is “worrying” that “these people are making themselves heard more and more loudly”. “They are still fairly minority groups, but the extent of their voices on social networks and in the public space is growing. It seems that since the pandemic, homophobic or transphobic comments are more present, ”he says.

The reality, continues Mr. Vaillancourt, is that “the art of drag has become much more democratized in recent years”. “People who demonstrate against it, I think they don’t know that at all. It’s a character, drag. It’s art. And the show that is done at Mado is not the same that is done at the library. The goal is precisely to put these children in touch with diversity,” he explains.

“If the demonstrators had had a story hour like that in their youth, I think we wouldn’t be here,” concludes Pascal Vaillancourt, whose group calls on governments to “better fund community organizations”. who “do popular education” and who fight against prejudice against LGBTQ+ communities.

For now, the night service of Interligne’s LGBTQ+ helpline will be able to continue to operate for some time, thanks to donations totaling $98,000. The service threatened to close on March 31.