Reading event was no drag at Central Library

Drag queen duo aim to teach children a lesson in equality

A drag queen duo held Dundee’s first Drag Queen Story Time event in the city’s Central Library.

Niko Cavanagh, 17, and Amy Hoult, 21, were at the library under their stage names of Kat A Clysmic and Hyperia.

There have been similar events in Glasgow and Fife, but this is the first of its kind in Dundee and both drag queens are keen to do more.

Together, they read a selection of stories, including Heather Has Two Mummies, with the children, played a game of Duck Duck Goose and helped the youngsters try on a variety of colourful wigs.

The show aimed to teach young people about inclusion and diversity.

Niko said: “I am so glad that we had the opportunity to do this. It was great to see the children enjoy themselves so much.

“Even though there are a lot of laws in Scotland supporting equality, there is still a lot of hate crime towards drag queens and the LGBT community.

“Hopefully we can see a reduction in that in the future by showing it is OK to be gay, a drag queen, or whatever.

“Drag is for everyone. We don’t want to force our ways on the children, but we hope they see it’s OK.”

The room was packed, with about 20 children and their parents staying all the way to the end. After the final story a large queue formed so some of the youngsters could get photos taken with

We don’t want to force our ways on the children, but we hope they see it’s OK

Hyperia and Kat A Clysmic. Amy said: “We didn’t expect so many. We thought with it being the first one in Dundee we’d be lucky to get 10 kids here.

“When I was younger it was difficult to let people know who I really was, so hopefully events like this can let children know they can be themselves.”

Parents and carers who brought children all praised the performers.

Emma Smith is a childminder and brought four children, aged between three and 12, to the show.

She said: “I think it was amazing. It’s great to show that everybody is welcome and for the kids to learn about inclusiveness and acceptance. Just because someone looks different, it doesn’t mean they are.

“It’s all very well being taught that at a young age, but to actually meet drag queens shows them that. It makes them more real.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. At the library are, from left, Hyperia, eight-year-old Abbigael Clark, one-year-old Emily Cross and Kat A Clysmic.