LYNDONVILLE, Vt. (WCAX) – Cobleigh Public Library hosted a Drag Story Hour – a time when drag performers read stories to children – Saturday morning. But not everyone approved.
“I don’t agree with it so…They have the right to feel how they feel I got the right to feel how I feel,” a local named Lance said.
Dozens of people stood outside of the library to protest and express their opinions as well.
“The sign pretty much says it all…It’s a real simple statement,” a local named Lance said.
Lance did not want to give his last name on camera, but he says he is a local in the area, and others like Mark Saffian of New Hampshire say they don’t agree a Drag Story Hour at a public library.
“Well, I heard about this Drag Queen Story Hour at a public library and I think those things should never mix,” Mark Saffian of New Hampshire said.
Saffian says he believes these sorts of events are harmful to children.
“I came by to stand up and support the innocence of these children that I think are going to be distorted and hurt, they’re seriously harmed today,” he said. If these people, they want to dress how they want to dress, they want to act how they want to act, they can do that on their own time and their own free will, they’re own way but they should not be doing that to children who really have no control over how that’s going to affect them.”
But counter protestors say they don’t see any harm in the story hour.
“While there are many drag performers who do have some more adult performances, they also of course can tone that down and just read stories to children which is what it is, so we came here to protest the protesters,” Lyndonville resident Faeryn Thalia said.
Thalia says she wants everyone to feel appreciated.
“I just think it’s important that every child in general, every kid feels loved and feels important and while I understand they’re saying that’s not what’s happening, all we’re trying to do is genuinely just show love to everyone and there’s is so limiting and it excludes many children,” she said.
AJ Gonzalez of Massachusetts agrees.
“I feel like it’s the same thing as anyone dressing up in a … I don’t know giraffe or dragon outfit like they’re not a furry just cause they’re wearing a little outfit like they’re just having a little bit of fun and sharing that with kids, so I don’t know what the issue is really,” AJ Gonzalez of Massachusetts said.