Drag queen draws huge crowd

Protesters line up outside Exeter Library to oppose program

EXETER >> The Exeter Community Library held its first-ever “Drag Queen Story Hour” Saturday and it was met with a wealth of both opposition and support.

The event featured drag queen Miss Amie Vanité and included stories, dancing and a craft for children.

The controversial program has been making the rounds at libraries across the country.

“We’re having a drag queen story hour. It’s a national thing,” said Mallory Hoffman, executive director of the Exeter Community Library. “We’re very excited for it. For us, it’s promoting kindness, tolerance, acceptance of people who might be different from you.”

By 1 p.m., a half-hour before the story hour was scheduled to begin, crowds had already formed in the library’s parking lot. While some had congregated outside

the building to oppose the event, others lined the edge of the library’s driveway to show their support to those attending the story hour.

“We’re here because we wanted to show our support for Miss Amie and the causes of love and inclusion. And we wanted to make sure that Miss Amie knows that we support what she’s doing,” said The Rev. Dr. Thaeda Franz of Wernersville. “As an interfaith, inter-spiritual minister, my understanding of God is that God includes everyone and that if God is love then that means everybody is welcome at the table, nobody is excluded.”

Others outside the library had a different take on the event.

“We’re showing our support against the program about drag queens and exposing our children to something they’re not prepared for,” said Bill Sutton of Shillington.

Sutton was joined by Lucy Ebling, who also expressed her opposition to the program.

“There are a lot of adults this day and time that don’t really know what’s going on,” added Ebling. “Parents might think they’re doing something trendy and new and they just see it as a fun story hour but if you go to the DQSH website that’s not what it is about at all. They clearly state that the focus of the story time is to indoctrinate the children and educate them on gender fluidity.”

As crowded as the library was outside, inside was equally packed. The room scheduled to hold the story hour reached capacity quickly and required library staff to limit entry into the room. Kids sat along the front of the room on the floor while parents were seated behind them and others stood around the edges of the room.

Officers from Exeter Police Department were also on the scene Saturday as a safety precaution for the crowds.

Police said despite the numbers, they encountered few problems over the course of the day.

“We’re here because this group that came to the library has been controversial at other libraries so just as a preventative measure we brought a few officers in just to keep an eye on the situation and just generally for the safety of the people attending,” said Exeter Police Sgt. Sean Fullerton. “We escorted one gentleman out, but other than that, sure people have been protesting on both sides but in a peaceful and orderly way.”

Writer Michelle Tea

started “Drag Queen Story Hour” in San Francisco in 2015, and events have spread across the country to cities including New York City and Philadelphia.

The Drag Queen Story Hour website described its events:

“DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine

a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.”

Although the event is the first-of-its-kind for Exeter Community Library, it is not the first to emerge in the area. Additionally, Miss Amie has also delivered story hours in Wyomissing and Sinking Spring.

Another “Drag Queen Story Hour” took place in Lansdale on Feb. 2. At that story hour, drag queen Annie Christ entertained children with stories and other activities.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Protesters could be seen outside the Exeter Community Library Saturday as it introduced its first Drag Queen Story Hour.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP A line of supporters formed along the entrance to the Exeter Community Library Saturday as Drag Queen Story Hour started.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Protesters made their voices heard Saturday outside the Exeter Community Library. Groups were opposing the library’s program, Drag Queen Story Hour.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Exeter Community Library’s Drag Queen Story Hour brought out both opposition and support Saturday. Supporters of the program stood along the driveway holding signs and cheering as attendees walked inside the library.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Drag Queen Story Hour packed an activity room at the Exeter Community Library Saturday. While the room was filled with attendees, outside the library was also crowded with protesters and counter protesters.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Drag Queen Story Hour at the Exeter Community Library stirred up some controversy Saturday. Here, a group of protesters express their opposition to the new program.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Miss Amie Vanite conducts the first Drag Queen Story Hour Saturday at the Exeter Community Library. The event was the first of its kind for the library and brought about both support and opposition.