Wildly varying views of free speech, public spaces, inclusion, tolerance, sexuality—and children’s stories—intersected vehemently Saturday morning in the streets and parking lots outside the Lansdale Public Library, as drag queen "Miss Annie” hosted a well-behaved reading hour inside for local kids.
While protesters and supporters made their cases outside—sometimes playfully, sometimes prayerfully, sometimes profanely—inside the library, the scene was far more serene, albeit just as crowded.
Parents toting toddlers queued up and jammed into the library’s community room. Miss Annie—big, tattooed, and demurely attired in a red-and-black patterned belted dress with a poufy do that transitioned from platinum through purple to black—read from the books
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems and
Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman, which are books about individuality and acceptance, and the kids colored project pages with crayons and snacked on juice boxes and pretzels.
"I think it’s a great activity for kids,” said Kathleen Dennis of Lansdale, who attended with her friend Joe Ochotny from Ambler, and her son Rowan, 1 year old. "It’s all about acceptance, and I want my son to grow up to know that he can be different, and it’s OK.”
Ochotny said he came "just to support the day. I think this is something that is good for the community, to have this exposure and see different walks of life.” Outside, Dennis said, "I love how everybody is out there, chanting, just nothing but love.” Added Ochotny, referring to supporters outnumbering protesters, "the numbers on either side of the road say a lot.”
Similarly, Stephen and Betsy Rivera came to story hour from Pottstown—"about 45 minutes, not too bad”— with children Trey and Morgan, 4 and 3, "to teach our kids acceptance,” said Betsy Rivera. "I’m glad to see there’s more people on this side, the supportive side."
Ironically, the advance publicity and furor over Drag Queen Story Time spread the word so far so fast that the crowd convinced library directory Tom Meyer to add more story sessions to accommodate every visitor. "There are three shows now, there’s been so much demand,” Meyer said.
"I’m completely overwhelmed by the number of people here,” he said. "This is way bigger than I expected, both inside and out. But we were prepared for it. And I think this reflects very well on Lansdale, all the love that’s been shown and the support for the event.”
Meyer said, "The protesters are welcome to their views, too, and they’re welcome to be out here. But I can just say I think there’s way more people here in support than against it, so that’s a great thing for Lansdale.”
