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#IStandWithQueens: Twitter rallies around Aussie drag queens following university club protest

"There were library staff members crying, family members were distraught."

Diamond and Queenie

Drag queens Diamond and Queenie have found themselves in the spotlight today following a protest by members of the UQ's Young Liberals. Source: Instagram, Facebook

Support has poured in for two Queensland drag queens .

In a video posted to social media on Sunday, a group of protesters from the can be seen chanting "drag queens are not for kids" at the family event, which was organised by LGBTIQ+ organisation Rainbow Families and held at Brisbane Square Library.

"Today the UQLNC took a stand to defend LNP values against a corrosive gender ideology," the club wrote on Facebook following the event.

According to Ipswich-based drag queen Diamond, who co-hosted the family storytelling event with LGBTIQ+ advocate Johnny Valkyrie, also known as Queenie, the event was disrupted towards its conclusion.

"We'd almost finished and were doing a craft activity with the kids," Diamond told SBS Pride.

"Then we heard the door slam open. They charged in while infants were on the ground, chanting that drag queens are not for kids."

The protesters were quickly removed from the public library, but continued their protest outside in clear view of the families in attendance, according to Diamond. 

"I don't care if they're protesters," Diamond said. "They're allowed to protest. They could have done it outside, they could have done it through the window, but don't storm in and terrify the children. It's an act of hate, it's terrifying."

After trying to confront and reason with the protesters, Diamond returned to the library, where Queenie was attempting to distract the kids.

"There were library staff members crying, family members were distraught, needing support. It was really upsetting," she told SBS Pride

"It was an open invitation event. Yes it was held in a public library, but it was in a private room. I wasn't pushing it on anyone. People had a choice to be there and were thoroughly enjoying it. I've done it quite a few times and it's been so well received, it's appalling."

Support floods in

As footage of the protest circulated on social media, members of the public were quick to jump to the defence of the drag storytelling event, with the hashtag #IStandWithQueens trending in Australia.

“Bigotry is alive in Brisbane today,” Jess Origliasso from The Veronicas , sharing a video of the confronting incident.

“This morning a good friend of mine took her daughter along to a children’s story telling event by two gorgeous Drag Queens, when a screaming group of UQ (University of Queensland) young Libs stormed the event, causing chaos and distress to children and everybody there."
She continued: “I am absolutely furious. Our world is in need of love & healing, now more than ever. What they did today was add to the bigotry, division and trauma young children are left to face in today’s society.

“Do you know what’s not for kids? Deliberately distressing and terrifying children and their carers.”

Diamond told SBS Pride that the support since the incident has been "overwhelming", with a number of high-profile Australians, including Origliasso, reaching out to the drag queen personally over social media.

Not only that, but the seasoned queen insists that she's now more determined than ever to make the family-friendly children's event a regular occurrence.

"I've done them before and now I'm definitely doing it again," she said.

"The kids love it."

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4 min read
Published 13 January 2020 11:25am
Updated 13 January 2020 2:56pm
By Samuel Leighton-Dore


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