Fall River, Massachusetts Pride committee member Sean Connell and local officials told the Boston Globe that drag queen story hours aren’t going away in 2023, despite local protests stirred up by national, radical right-wing political rhetoric.
“We’re going to keep holding these events, despite the hostility, because we deserve to have our stories told,” he told the Globe. “To make sure that people understand that we’re not going to back down. We’re not ashamed of what we’re doing. We’re not going back into the closet.”
Connell was responding to recent incidents in the area and specifically on Dec. 10, 2022, when “dozens of masked individuals had crowded the library entrance, shouting at attendees and attempting to enter the building, and accused Connell and other organizers of grooming children.”
Reports the Globe:
The clash represents the latest in a pattern of increased hostility around drag story hours, a popular offering at Massachusetts libraries, which have become an issue in the nation’s culture war. But despite aggression from the hard right, Connell said Fall River’s pride community intends to keep hosting the programs — as soon as January, even if it means relocating — to help normalize LGBTQ families and support queer children.
And as the events continue, Connell and Fall River officials are preparing for the number of protesters to grow. December’s was the 14th drag story hour held at the library, but only the second to draw the ire of far-right activists. Connell said the first time was in November, but only four picketers showed up — a fraction of the December crowd. …
In the weeks since, some residents have taken to social media to voice support for the performers and pledged to counter any future protests. But Connell said the community’s overall response has been mixed.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan wrote that the protesters “who are not from Fall River, traveled here to disturb an event.” But Connell said some locals, including commenters on that post, have seemed “thankful the Nazis were there,” even if they did not participate in the protest themselves.
Fall River’s next drag story hour is slated to take place Jan. 14 — Connell will be reading as her drag persona, Ms. Gloria — and although the committee is anticipating another morning of conflict, Connell said it has no plans to cancel.
“Going forward,” stated the mayor in his Facebook posting, “we will work with the organizers, the library and our public safety officials to keep everyone safe if protestors return. No matter what, we will continue to practice tolerance, respect and love for our neighbors here in Fall River.”
Read the complete Boston Globe story here.
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