Drag Story Time in Holland Postponed Due to ‘Planned Protests’

Pride as an event has been going on across the country for decades to celebrate the ability to be open and honest with who you love.

The first Pride parade happened in 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, and since the party has been spreading across the country to include members inside and outside of the LBGTQ+ community.

And while it felt like over the past decade people have become more and more accepting of the movement, pot stirrers on the internet have started a hateful new movement to silence those who try to express themselves with parades, festivals, and family friendly events.

While this year was the 20th year of Holland's pride festival, which was an overwhelming success, it doesn't mean their LGBTQ+ community isn't still fighting a group of people to hold events.

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In a post made to facebook, Out On The Lakeshore, which is a group who supports members of the gay community in Holland, announced that their previously scheduled Drag Story Time for tonight (Monday, June 26th) has to be postponed.

Here's the statement they released

It's disappointing to see this happening in 2023. The purpose of Drag Story Time is to allow Drag Performers to spend a little time with younger members of the community who may or may not have exposure to people in the LGBTQ+ community, while allowing them to also give back to the community as a whole.

I'd be less annoyed with these protesters if I saw them volunteering their time to give back to kids in the community, instead of getting in the way of those who chose to do it in their own way.

But unfortunately, internet trolls have turned neighbors against each other as they claim that these drag performers are "grooming" children by reading to them in colorful outfits and makeup.

I only have one thing to say to these uneducated people: if seeing a gay person makes you gay, wouldn't we all be by now? These performers are always appropriately dressed and kind, and nothing like you'd see at an adults only drag show.

I've seen more scandaly clad people on network TV reality dating shows than I ever have on a drag stage. So unless these people have already thrown away their TVs and internet devices, is this a genuine argument? I also don't see them chasing down organizations who HAVE been reported to assault children, so again I argue: is this genuine?

And here's a friendly reminder: this community event is not required. If you don't like it, don't attend. If enough people agree, then it will be cancelled.

While everyone is entitled to their opinion in this beautiful country of ours, harassing and threatening people who chose to live differently than you makes YOU the menace. This country was after all founded on our right to live our lives the way we want to as long as we aren't hurting others. So, from me to these protesters: shame on those who chose to harass others based on nonsense they read online.