The Nelson Public Library is postponing a drag story time for children following pressure from a homophobic online backlash to the event.

Chief librarian Tracy Therrien said in a statement that misinformation about Saturday91裸聊视频檚 event spread on social media and included threats against the library.

91裸聊视频淲e recognize the rights of individuals to protest. When protests turn to threats and intimidation tactics aimed toward the staff and the story tellers, the safety of library patrons, public and the staff take precedence.91裸聊视频�

The story time was set to be hosted by two parents who are story tellers and, according to the library, each have professional experience working with children. The stories were also chosen by the children91裸聊视频檚 librarian.

Therrien, who declined to comment further when contacted by the Nelson Star, said in the statement Wednesday that the library will now consider new events in partnership with Nelson91裸聊视频檚 2SLGTBQIA+ community.

91裸聊视频淲e believe access to information is a fundamental right and strive to make our library space and services welcoming for everyone. We are proud to serve and support many at-risk and vulnerable populations, and do not wish to put anyone in a potentially dangerous or triggering situation due to threatening protests.91裸聊视频�

Drag story time events have previously been held in Nelson 91裸聊视频� in 2018 91裸聊视频� but right-wing politicians and groups have begun to rally against the readings for what they claim is the sexualization of young children.

The protests began in the United States but have spread to Canada and British Columbia. In December, an all-ages drag show held at a Kelowna restaurant between protesters and counter-protesters. But a drag story time at Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 library in January was .

While drag shows can include some explicit content, readings for young children hosted by performers are age appropriate, voluntary and include parents.

Birkley Valks, who was born and raised in Nelson, was one of the performers set to read at the event. A father himself, Valks said he was disappointed by the library91裸聊视频檚 decision but respected the need for caution.

91裸聊视频淪afety is the biggest concern for everybody involved. I just wanted to read stories to kids because I91裸聊视频檝e got two little ones and I thought that would be a fun time. It wasn91裸聊视频檛 meant to be anything more than that. 91裸聊视频� I just wanted to give back.91裸聊视频�

Nelson has a vibrant 2SLGTBQIA+ community that is celebrated annually with , which typically packs the downtown in September. But residents have also faced decades of discrimination that was documented in the movie released last year by local filmmaker Amy Bohigian.

Christopher Moore is among the people credited with founding Nelson91裸聊视频檚 Pride Parade, which faced community backlash and threats to participants when it was first held in 1996.

Moore wants the library to move forward with the drag story time, and said he hopes the online abuse is being investigated by the Nelson Police Department. Chief Donovan Fisher told the Nelson Star in an email that his officers are in communication with the library but did not disclose if an investigation is underway.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 like to see everyone come together and says this event is going to happen,91裸聊视频� said Moore. 91裸聊视频淎nd if people are going to disrupt it in any way, there will be consequences within the law. I mean, how different would it be if there was an Indigenous or Black event and people said, 91裸聊视频極h we don91裸聊视频檛 want that here.91裸聊视频� Those voices wouldn91裸聊视频檛 even be heard at all, so why are we hearing these voices [now]?91裸聊视频�

Valks said he hopes people opposing drag story time events make the effort to attend one themselves.

91裸聊视频淭his is just like taking our kids to Disneyland. People are stepping up in character, you91裸聊视频檙e having fun, it91裸聊视频檚 no different, it91裸聊视频檚 just in your community,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淪o I would say come and take a look and see for yourself. Are we that scary? I guarantee you, you will walk away going, 91裸聊视频楴o, they91裸聊视频檙e really not, and that was actually quite fantastic and maybe I91裸聊视频檓 going to bring my kids next time.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

The response to the library91裸聊视频檚 event reminds Moore of the inaugural parade. He thinks it is naive to think Nelson is an entirely safe and inclusive city, but that progress has been in the last 27 years. A screening of Queering the Interior last week in nearby Castlegar, Moore said, was a packed and positive event.

91裸聊视频淲e have come a long way, and we have a lot more to go.91裸聊视频�

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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