DUP MINISTER GORDON Lyons, whose department oversees public libraries, has said that a recent drag queen storytelling event in a Belfast library “should not have taken place”.
He claimed that the event “compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all”.
The event was held on Friday in the Holywood Arches Library in east Belfast and was organised by the regeneration charity EastSide Partnership.
The event was part of its Eastside Arts Festival and featured two drag queens, one of whom provided sign language interpretation.
“Drag Queen Story Time champions individuality and inclusivity amongst its young audiences, featuring singalongs and dancing, this event is suitable for all ages and families,” said a billing for the event.
However, a number of protesters gathered outside the public library and the storytelling had to be cancelled early as a result.
In a video circulated on social media, the two drag performers can be seen being escorted from the library by PSNI officers and taken away in a police vehicle.
One of the drag performers noted that they were reading “Dear Zoo”, which is a pop-up animal book for toddlers.
They said that the protestors “would have been welcome” at the event and said they would “happily” meet the protestors.
A PSNI spokesperson said that officers “attended a report of a small demonstration and engaged with those present”.
“Two people were escorted from the building to further ensure that there would be no breach of the peace,” said the spokesperson.
They added that “at this stage, no offences were determined to have taken place”.
Lyons said the event did not fall within Libraries NI’s policy and that it was “not appropriate for children”.
“I understand that Libraries NI was not the organiser and that it was a venue booking made by Eastside Arts Festival,” said Lyons.
“This event should not have taken place and it has compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all as set out in the Libraries NI policy.”
Lyons also said he has “directed my officials to liaise with Libraries NI to ensure that policy is faithfully implemented”.
Eastside Partnership has said that its annual Arts Festival has developed over the past 14 years into a programme which is “inclusive, diverse and reflective of the interests and feedback from those who attend our events”.
It said that the “Drag Queen Storytime with BSL Interpretation” is one of its “longest-running events and returns every year based on the positive feedback from those who attend and engage with the event”.
“Over the years we have worked alongside the artists involved to ensure we provide a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for families to listen to age-appropriate stories.”
A spokesperson said that it has been “made aware of an incident outside of the event venue” on Friday.
“To ensure safety and to minimise disruption we worked with local authorities to manage a safe exit for our attending families, staff and artists,” said Eastside Partnership.
The statement added: “EastSide Arts Festival is committed to continue to develop a diverse, inclusive, safe, accessible and welcoming festival programme that celebrates and reflects all aspects of the community.”
by SpottedAlpaca
35 comments
He’s a cunt.
“This event should not have taken place and it has compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all as set out in the Libraries NI policy.”
If I was in charge of the Libaries I would be asking So Minister Lyons you are instructing is to break the law by excluding a protected class from the libary, do you mind putting that in writing to me
The communities minister, whose recent statement led to a leisure centre being burnt out in June.
When was the last time someone from the DUP opened a book, let alone walked into a library
Men dressing up as women as part of theatre has been a part of British culture for well over 500 years. Once again the DUP is trying to destroy and dismantle a proud part of British heritage and culture in the form of cultural erasure.
So, to be more inclusive, we need to be less inclusive.
Gotcha.
What a cunt.
Aye and Jeffrey Donaldson has compromised the perception of a home as a safe place for children. Worry about your own back yard you cunts.
If you don’t want to see drag queens, don’t fucking go. Easy.
Is he going to outlaw Panto season too? Or the even- the Legendary May McFettridge?
This is coming from the man that at the height of violent riots in one of the most bigoted areas of the country, thought it was a good idea to dox the location of those who were being targeted on his government social media page.
I will never take anything this man says seriously again after witnessing that fantastic display of intelligence.
What would the DUP know about libraries? If they had their way, books would be burnt
Storytelling was compromised by the protesters.
the library was being inclusive, just not the kid they like.
But if we don’t ban certain groups, how can we be inclusive? /s
DUP are rich to talk about inclusiveness
Can we just ship the DUP to Alabama? They’d be so much happier there.
So the point he’s making is that being inclusive to drag queens is somehow fostering a non-inclusive atmosphere for some other group that he’s not naming?
That would be bigots right? He’s worried about bigots not feeling welcome in the libraries.
Worked on LNI for years. Libraries are some of the most inclusive places in this backwards little place. The only complaints we ever had were from hard-line unionist local “politicians”. If it wasn’t an event that someone from the other side was attending, then it was about certain books from time to time. Dinosaurs. Not surprising to see the DUP et all still complaining.
Says the man who directed a mob to burn down a leisure centre
Let me just get this clear–this clampet thinks being “a welcoming and inclusive space for all” means policing who gets to use a public service, but a public service being open to all is something unwelcoming and uninclusive? I knew that party was backwards but that’s taking several michaels at once.
I assume he’s standing outside the Grand Opera House holding a sign saying “Down with this sort of thing” during panto season
So libraries are made inclusive by excluding drag queens? Right. Got it.
When your mindset is so focused on the rejection and exclusion of others, that you consider just the existence of somebody or something you don’t like as excluding you. Insanity.
DUP minister says non-Christian immigrants compromise the intent of the Good Friday agreement to make Northern Ireland an inclusive space for Protestants and Catholics.
How is this absolute cretin STILL a Stormont minister? This waste of skin and organs endangered families and destroyed a leisure centre because of his ineptitude. I don’t understand why he is still in his post.
Does he understand what the word inclusive means?
DUP, those well known champions of inclusivity who stomp about every July to anti-catholic “tunes” and do nothing while effigies of people they dont like get burnt on bonfires.
Am I being silly but wasn’t this advertised, if someone wasn’t comfortable with it they could just not send their kid?
Is he still mad with library for corrupting kids with dinosaur books? I pity those DUP kids not having Dino books.
The DUP are talking about inclusivity?????
I’m sure he’s not bothered taking his kids to Florida to be around people that identify as a mouse, a dog, a duck and even a mermaid.
The guy should be up in court for incitement, let alone having resigned as a minister
So the two people were “threatening to disturb the peace” and were escorted away by police?
So all we have to do is a small protest and we’ll get events cancelled now?
Pathetic
It’s like panto dress up. And this representatives reaction tells you a lot about how they interact with the world, their inner fears and envy.
I mind when I was a wean, the school used to take us to a pantomime every year, where men in drag would be parading about on stage, and coming down and interacting with the audience.
Why is this a problem all of a sudden?
Does he understand the meaning of the term “Inclusive”?
Ah, the DUP with their classic “*We welcome everybody!*”* slogan.
**(massive disclaimers apply)*
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