War of words rages on as Drag Story Time protest looms

Organizers who are planning a protest against the Drag Story Time event for kids at the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library on Saturday appear to be gathering at the Unity Centre this evening to prepare for an upcoming demonstration.

In a public post made to social media earlier this week, Unity Centre member and protest organizer Timothy Coderre laid out some of the protest’s details he and several others at the former Sister Mary Clare Catholic School on Glen Avenue will be discussing tonight.

“We will check our inventory for usable signage, and brainstorm on other short phrases for other new signs,” his post reads. “Feel free to make your own but l hope to knock off a few and see if we can utilize Steve's balloons to increase our visual impact.”

“It might also be good to determine who will speak on our behalf, and reign [sic] the message in to a few main talking points, and exercise restraint so that we reflect a peaceful demeanor, and impede any false media reports to undermine our message.”

Drag Story Time organizer Ashley Aikens-McIntosh says she would have been much more open to having a discussion with the group at one point in time and share her thoughts on the issue with them.

But that ship appears to have sailed.

“I would have loved the opportunity to sit down and tell them my story and help them understand that this is no threat to them,” she says. “The current me, however, knows the wealth of material that is out there, and it’s all at their fingertips.”

“I can’t help but think it is a choice to remain blind to it at this point.”

“Their lives don’t need to change – they’re happily who they are. The LGBTQ+ community isn’t trying to convert kids to being trans or gay. We’re trying to keep your already trans or gay kids safe and alive.”

Coderre, however, doesn’t see it that way.

“These programs are organized to advocate tolerance for the LGBTQ community, but why target children who are innocent and view everyone the same?” he questioned in his post.

“Why have drag queens that are club entertainers read to them in full drag costume, that is meant for adult entertainment?”

“There is an underlying concern that children are being indoctrinated into a sexualized mentality that would influence their moral compass or skew their boundaries.”

Aikens-McIntosh wants to reiterate that there is nothing sexual happening at Saturday’s story time.

“Some members of our society have a really hard time differentiating between ‘sexuality’ and ‘sexual.’ Sexuality is gay, sexuality is straight, sexuality is who you’re attracted to, or who you have a crush on.”

“Might some of the stories have sexuality in them? Yes.”

“But any story that has a mommy and a daddy, two mommies, a love interest, or something like Beauty and the Beast for example – all of those stories touch on sexuality. Because at its heart, sexuality is simply who you’re interested in.”

Coderre infers in his social media post that the story time event could potentially confuse young children.

But Aikens-McIntosh doesn’t understand what exactly she would be confusing the kids about during her stories and activities.

“The grownup who’s reading the story likes to play dress-up – that’s not confusing. People like to play dress-up. Kids like to play dress-up,” she says.

“A story that might have two mommies or two daddies – is that confusing? I’m going to argue it’s not, unless you’re teaching your children intolerance. The only way it’s confusing is if you’ve taught your children that it’s wrong.”

“We’re reminding children that families come in all shapes and sizes. I don’t think love is confusing at all.”

As SooToday's David Helwig reported Monday night, city council not only supported the Drag Story Time unanimously, but they encourage children and their families to participate in the event.

Aikens-McIntosh says she has been overwhelmed with the level of support she’s received from city council and community members alike.

“I see true equity as a journey, and we’ve had several steps along that journey, and this is another really good step in the right direction to getting true equity and meeting the needs of everyone in the community,” she says.

“We’re not quite there yet to be honest, but this is 100 per cent a step in the right direction we need to be going to elicit real change.”

In response to the Unity Centre’s plans for a protest, pride supporters Amanda Zuke and Linsay Ambeault have created a group called ‘Support Drag Storytime,’ calling on locals to join them “in fighting back against hatred and intolerance,” according to their Facebook page.

When asked about the possibility of a protest against her story time, Aikens-McIntosh feels for the kids who may be subjected to the denouncement of who they are as human beings.  

“It’s absolutely horrifying for a child, which is why that show of support is so important,” she says. “Having to sit your child down and explain to them that we are not always able to fully express ourselves is a harsh reality.”

Coderre sees it differently.

“Is the LGBTQ community oppressed? They have the same rights as everyone else,” his post reads.

The Drag Story Time event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library this Saturday.