Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Lennox and Addington County Library will kick off Freedom to Read Week on Feb. 18 with its first ever Drag Queen Storytime.
Held in partnership with Greater Napanee Pride, the event will be held at the Napanee branch, starting at 2 p.m. and feature Kingston native drag queen Tyffanie Morgan reading aloud a children’s book.
“The library is doing it as part of Freedom to Read week, which is an annual event that encourages Canadians to come out and re-affirm their commitment to intellectual freedom and it really ties in with the Drag Queen Storytime, especially given the scrutiny these events are under currently,” explains Nina Irvine of Greater Napanee Pride. “It just kind of pushes that freedom and freedom to express yourself and reading is so important and expressing yourself is so important and those two things can combine so well so it’s really good to kick off that week.”
A partnership between the local library and an organization like Greater Napanee Pride is a natural fit as both encourage people to be themselves.
“The library is one of the few spaces where we can exist without having to pay any money,” said Irvine. “You can go and spend a whole day in a library if you want to and you don’t have to spend a cent. It’s such an accessible, inclusive venue and just such a great community resource that we’re really excited to be building on.”
The storytime activity is the latest in the growing number of events Greater Napanee Pride has been hosting as they look to build a more inclusive community.
“The reception we’re getting is this is so needed and we’re receiving such a warm reception constantly,” said Irvine. “Every event we have we have new people coming out, we make new contacts with people who want to join the board so it’s really great because every time we get out there, we’re meeting more of the community. Every time we get out and meet one person, that’s one person who didn’t have that support before.”
Unfortunately not all the feedback to their events has been positive, but the group continues their mission.
“It’s the minority who are full of hate and just want to criticize,” said Irvine. “The majority are very happy that it’s here. I don’t see how it could ever be harmful to just accept everybody. Worst case scenario, more kids are just going to feel loved and accepted and that just seems really great.”
Later that same Feb. 18 evening Greater Napanee Pride will be hosting its third draw show event, this one titled Queen of Hearts. This event will be 19+ and will be held at the Strathcona Paper Centre starting at 7:30 p.m. It will feature the talents of Hilary Yaas, Bekka Blake, Mimi Osa and Tyffanie Morgan.
Tickets for the show are available at www.GreaterNapaneePride.com.