Lyons says library drag queen event 'should not have taken place'

Gordon Lyons said the event was "not appropriate for children" and "should not have taken place"

Communities minister Gordon Lyons has said a drag queen storytelling event in east Belfast was "not appropriate for children" and "should not have taken place".

The event, hosted by EastSide Partnership, took place at Holywood Arches Library on Friday, and featured two drag queens.

Social media footage shows a number of protesters voicing their opposition to the drag queens reading stories to children.

In a statement EastSide Partnership said the drag queen storytelling event is one of their "longest running events and returns every year based on the positive feedback from those who attend and engage with the event".

Lyons said the event had "compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all as set out in the Libraries NI policy".

He added that he has "directed" his officials "to liaise with Libraries NI to ensure that policy is faithfully implemented".

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had attended a "report of a small demonstration at the Holywood Arches area of east Belfast" on Friday, shortly after 13:40 BST and "engaged with those present".

"Two people were escorted from the building to further ensure that there would be no breach of the peace," the PSNI added in a statement.

"At this stage, no offences were determined to have taken place."

EastSide Partnership said that during the recent drag queen storytelling event it was made "aware of an incident outside of the event venue".

"To ensure safety and to minimise disruption we worked with local authorities to manage a safe exit for our attending families, staff and artists," the statement added.

"EastSide Arts Festival is committed to continue to develop a diverse, inclusive, safe, accessible and welcoming festival programme that celebrates and reflects all aspects of the community."

TUV assembly member Timothy Gaston had written to the Communities minister in relation to the event, asking whether he considered "this an appropriate use of Libraries NI premises".

"In my view, it most certainly is not," he added.

Sab Samuel, also known as drag queen Aida H Dee, is the founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, Sab Samuel, also known as drag queen Aida H Dee, who is the founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK, said the event is like "any other storytelling you might see in a library only with a little bit more magic".

Drag Queen Story Hour has been going on for eight years, Mr Samuel said: "The problem we are facing is, why is this being made political and who is gaining from making it political in the first place?"

DUP assembly member Peter Martin said: "I think the issue with this particular event and Drag Queen Story Hour, if we accept that drag is a form of adult entertainment then I don't think the context of a library and children is the right place for it."

He said: "It is a lot closer to the sort of gender ideology debate that we are having at this time, grown men who are dressed as women, some might say in overtly sexual dress."

Mr Samuel said there is policy on what drag artists should wear during story hour and that it is not sexualised content.

He said: "I think a lot of people are concerned that you have performers going out there in some sort of clothing or costume which is maybe not suitable and that just isn't the case, that isn't happening."

Martin said the DUP's opposition to the event is that it is "not appropriate" for children.

He said: "If people want to be this way, that is fine, so if you have adults who want to live their life in this way that is fine but it is not right for five-year-olds as it is confusing."