The “drag story time” component of a Mardi Gras event for queer families, held at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium on Saturday, was cancelled after a Christian group threatened to protest the event.
Community group Rainbow Families – which connects lesbian mums, gay dads, and their children – organised the reading event, as well as a tour of the aquarium, as part of the “Mardi Gras+” program. It’s the fourth year it has run it.
“Join one of Sydney’s favourite drag queens for drag story time … with the amazing sea creatures!” the event description said. “The aquarium will be offering $10 entry to rainbow families between 9am – 9.30am where families will have exclusive access to the aquarium and all its wonders…”
The tour was to be followed by a drag story time reading at 10am.
“Drag story time is an opportunity for children and young people to explore their love of books and reading in a fun, and inclusive family-friendly environment,” the description continued. “It’s a joyful way to introduce children to concepts of creativity, and freedom of self-expression.“
But in an email sent to parents on Wednesday morning from Rainbow Families executive officer Ashley Scott, participants were advised that “the same online Christian group that has been harassing us for a couple of weeks has allegedly planned to come to the aquarium to protest our drag story time”.
“For everyone's safety and to diffuse the situation given it's in a public space – we have cancelled the drag story time element and will instead enjoy a great morning exploring the aquarium for as long as we like, with our community.
“To ensure everyone's safety, we'll have Sydney police and Dykes on Bikes in attendance, so the entire situation will be secure. … We have organised some rainbow-themed snacks to be available in the dugong area of the aquarium.
“If anyone is feeling uncomfortable about attending given the potential for a bit of a scene – we completely understand and will happily refund your tickets.”
NSW Police confirmed on Saturday that “there was police tasked to attend but [it] would be inaccurate to say this was a ‘strong’ presence. Nil issues.”
On a since-deleted webpage on the Rainbow Families website advertising the event, the organisation said that the police presence was required “due to an infestation of recent online pests”.
“Our community safety is always the most important priority for Rainbow Families,” it said. Rainbow Families did not name the Christian group.
Speaking to GSN following the event, Rainbow Families’ Scott said more than 300 people attended and protesters did not show up. He said Rainbow Families would continue to host story time events.
“I ran one of the first drag story time events in Australia about eight years ago and have been running them ever since.
“We're committed to finding safe, secure spaces where we can run these events that will exclude protesters,” Scott said.
Some families sought refunds for the event, he said, but the majority attended.
Critics of drag story time events argue that drag performers are sexualised and have no place in front of children.
Proponents acknowledge this can be the case in nightclubs, and that some drag names are sexualised in nature, but say this does not apply at drag story time.
It comes after Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, earlier this month cancelled a drag story time event at Rockdale Library in Sydney’s south for the Mardi Gras TV broadcast following “hateful and offensive” backlash.
The ABC said it was considering how it could safely host it going forward.
In another matter, police were called to Marrickville Library earlier this month after a group of men linked to the Christian Lives Matter group allegedly attempted to disrupt a story time event.
Witnesses said a group of men tried to gain access to the event at the library but claimed to participants that they were “just looking for books”.
Police were called to the scene when four or five men left but continued to bang on the windows from outside of the library.
Video footage showed police confronting some of the men inside the library and asking them to move on.
No arrests were made and no public order incidents were reported.
Marrickville Library put on the event and paid for the drag performer, Scott said. The event was a partnership with the library and Rainbow Families. There was no charge for using the space, he added.
In a further matter, the Hills Shire Council passed a motion, also this month, that rejected any encouragement or facilitation of events like drag story time.
The motion passed with the support of 10 councillors, including two Labor councillors, while one Labor and one Greens councillor were against it.
Sponsored by Liberal councillor Jerome Cox, the motion did not impose a ban on drag story time events within the area or in council-run venues. But it does clearly state the council's position against sponsoring such activities.
Hills Shire Greens councillor Mila Kasby, who voted against the motion, defended drag story time as non-sexual and age-appropriate.
“The council resolution is offensive to the LGBTQI+ community and all who support equality,” Kasby said on social media.
“The resolution is likely to be hurtful and lead to feelings of exclusion and isolation by members of the community.
“I am so ashamed to be a member of a council which passed this terrible and hurtful resolution.
“Councils should be making it clear that homophobia and transphobia will not be tolerated, not perpetuate outdated and harmful misinformation.”
Editor's note: Ben Grubb pays a $50 annual fee for access to Mardi Gras membership discounts.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: [email protected]
