A council has been accused of “encouraging bullies” after postponing three drag queen reading events at its libraries.
Author Aida H. Dee, known as “The Storytime Drag Queen,” should read Rochdale, Middleton, and Heywood.
Rochdale Council said it was postponing the shows where protests were taking place in other areas but declined to specify why.
Opposition Council Andy Kelly said the Labor Party-led council should “stand up for difference”.
The UK’s Drag Queen Story Hour initiative was launched seven years ago with the aim of “inspiring a love of reading while teaching deeper lessons about diversity”.
Recent events in Norfolk, Reading and Bristol have been disrupted by protesters who have claimed it is sexualizing children.
A Drag Queen Story Hour representative said he was “disappointed” that he was not consulted before the decision was made.
In a statement, he said the council “let us down,” as did the children and their families, who were “excited to attend.”
He said organizers “agreed with the council’s concerns about potential protesters,” but added that many councils and libraries held the event despite protests.
He said the decision to postpone the shows would cause “long-lasting damage” to “an already marginalized community”, adding: “If these libraries across the country can host.” [the readings]Rochdale too.”
Mr Kelly, the leader of Rochdale’s Liberal Democrats group, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had “received dozens of messages about it, all from mothers who wanted to bring their young children”.
“Rochdale is the borough that brought us Norman Evans, arguably the original storytelling drag queen, and we should be proud of diversity and champion differences in our borough,” he said.
He said if people “don’t like storytelling drag queens, don’t buy a ticket,” adding, “And don’t even bother buying a ticket for Panto for Christmas.”
Rochdale Borough Council has not given a specific reason for the postponements, but a spokeswoman said it is a “strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights”.
She said the agency has held several drag queen story sessions at its libraries as part of the recent Rochdale in Rainbows program and the feedback has been “positive”.
She added that the postponements are “unfortunate,” but the agency will discuss alternative options with Aida H. Dee.
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