Over one hundred people gathered today in Swindon’s town centre for a peaceful protest in support of Drag Queen Story Hour, following a recent debate surrounding the event.
Organised by Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, the event featured drag queens reading children’s books to kids however, some members of Patriotic Alternatives South West raised concerns about the appropriateness of the event and whether it was suitable for children.
Despite the controversy, today’s protest was a peaceful demonstration in support of the event and its message of acceptance and diversity.
Many parents and children were in attendance, including 32-year-old mother-of-two, Sarah James, who said she wanted her kids to learn about acceptance and diversity from a young age. “It’s important to teach our kids that everyone is different and that’s okay,” she said.
“Drag queens are just people expressing themselves and spreading joy through storytelling. What could be more innocent than that?”
The event also drew support from local group Swindon Humanotarian Aod Part ership, with chair Mike Bowden saying, “Swindon is a diverse and inclusive community, and we support events that promote acceptance and understanding.”
Despite around 40 police being in attendance, the protest was a peaceful and powerful statement in support of Drag Queen Story Hour and its message of love and acceptance.
