No plans to stop rainbow storytimes

A reading scheme in which drag artists teach children about acceptance will continue in South Taranaki.

A single complaint was made about the rainbow reading programme, which was held at Ha¯ wera and Eltham Libraries on October 10. The programme, organised by Flash Mob Entertainment and the South Taranaki Council, has sparked criticism in other parts of the country.

South Taranaki District Council’s libraries and cultural services manager, Cath Sheard, said making people from the Rainbow community feel welcome in the library is a small part of the work they do every day.

‘‘Rainbow storytimes are full of colour, glitter and drama, they provide a wonderful book-based experience for children of all ages.’’

Sunita Martin, from Flash Mob said the Rainbow Storytime events are designed to help teach children about acceptance with themes of family, love, friendship, being different, belonging and acceptance for both children and families.

‘‘We don’t talk about being gay or sexuality or anything like that.’’

The events have caused outrage elsewhere, most recently in Ka¯piti, where both critics and supporters flooded the Ka¯piti Coast District Council’s Facebook page with slurs, accusations of ‘‘brainwashing’’ and abuse after non-binary performance artist Olivia St Redfern read to children at Paraparaumu Library.