Montreal Borough will host Drag Queen at Children’s Storytime Fall

A Montreal borough has reversed its decision to cancel a story-reading program for children and announced that a prominent drag queen would be hosting the event.

St-Laurent borough Mayor Alan DeSousa said in a statement on Aug. 2 that officials met with Sebastien Potvin, who performs as Barbada de Barbades, and approved two story-reading events on Nov. 5 at two libraries: the Bibliotheque du Boise and the Bibliotheque du Vieux-Saint-Laurent.

The borough had previously cancelled Potvin’s July story-time for children.

Officials stated that the November event is part of the fall program of the Borough, which also includes several cultural and library activities.

In some states of the United States, laws are being passed to prohibit children from attending drag shows or events.

In June, Arizona Senate Republicans revealed plans to draft legislation that would prohibit children from attending drag performances.

“It crosses the line when kids are subjected to these drag shows,” a June 14 joint statement from the Arizona state Senate majority team said.

Arizona State Sen. Vince Leach (a Republican) said that the main purpose of the legislation was to prevent children from engaging in inappropriate behavior.

“Impressionable young people are entering a room and being exposed to things which are disgusting, distasteful, and wrong,” he stated.

In June, Texas State Representative Bryan Slaton promised that he would introduce a bill banning drag shows at minors’ expense in Texas. After a drag-show event aimed at children was organized in Texas, there were widespread questions about its legality.

The incident led Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis suggested that child safety laws be used to safeguard children from drag performances.

” It used to be that kids were off limits… everyone agreed with this,” DeSantis stated at a June 8 press conference. “Now it just seems like there’s a concerted effort to be exposing kids more and more to things that are not age-appropriate.”

In New York City, a councilwoman pushed back against Drag Queen Story Hour, following a report that shows the city has been paying more than $200,000 for drag performers to appear in New York City public schools since 2018.

“I’m considering raising funds to schools in my area that are implementing Drag Queen Story Hour,” Vickie Paldino told the New York Post .. Paladino represents Queens on the New York City Council.

” We are taking hundreds and thousands of dollars from the pockets of hardworking New York taxpayers to fund a program that teaches little kids about gender fluidity. Not. On. My. Watch.”

Potvin, who has been hosting storytelling events since 2016, has appeared as Barbada on the reality show “Call Me Mother” on OUTtv, and hosts the children’s show “Barbada” on Radio-Canada’s streaming service ICI Tou.tv.

Allan Stein and Jannis Falkenstern contributed to this report.

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