'Absolutely abhorrent': Melbourne library slammed over drag queen reading to children
A Victorian library has come under intense scrutiny following its decision to use a drag queen at an upcoming story time for young children.
Whittlesea Library, in Melbourne’s north, announced on Facebook that drag queen Annie Depressant would be reading to kids this Friday coinciding with International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT Day).
But the announcement was soon swamped with hundreds of comments lambasting the decision to use the services of the drag queen, who was also personally targeted by trolls.
“This is absolutely abhorrent... shame on this library,” one person wrote.
“Not having adult entertainers aka drag queens read to toddlers would be a good start,” another comment read.
“Yuck, don’t let this monster near any child in an educational setting,” another said.
One comment read: “That is revolting. That thing traumatises me... even as an adult”.
The library has since deleted the Facebook post but screenshots of it began to circulate online, fuelling more abusive comments, some accusing Annie as being a “pedophile”.
Annie Depressant said while she won’t back down from the event, which is still due to go ahead this Friday, the comments online had been difficult to handle.
“Part of me was bracing for negativity because it’s just the nature of doing something like this, but I didn’t expect the massive amount of negativity and backlash,” Annie told The Leader Community News.
‘There is nothing inappropriate about being a drag queen’
“I would like to remind them that I am a person, everything they are saying is being said about a real person and there is nothing inherently inappropriate about being a drag queen.”
Annie insisted there is nothing inappropriate about her events, adding she had a children’s check and no criminal history.
The event, Rainbow Storytime, is described on the library’s website as “a special storytime celebrating diverse families, identity and embracing who you are.”
Annie has previously read children’s books at Werribee Library where she said she received a positive response. She plans to expand her storytime right across Melbourne.
Whittlesea Library’s Public participation executive manager Lisa Dempster told Yahoo News Australia the library would not be commenting on the matter.
Just last year, a councillor in the US caused controversy after slamming a similar type of event.
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