The City of Sainte-Catherine was forced to move the location of a storytelling activity for children held by the drag queen Barbada on Sunday due to a rally opposing it held in front of the library, under heavy police surveillance. . Counter-protesters supporting the LGTBQ cause also came.
“We made the decision to move the location of the story to ensure the safety of participants and so that they can enjoy the activity for which they had registered,” confirmed the municipality’s communications director, Amélie Hudon. . The final location of the activity, kept “secret”, was communicated to the twenty or so families who had registered.
On social networks, an invitation to protest against the holding of the activity has been circulating for a few days. “Drag queens have no place in our schools. Their place is in 18+ establishments! Oppose us,” read the poster, which was notably promoted by François Amalega-Bitondo, known for his anti-vaccine activism during the pandemic.
More than a hundred people – some opposing the activity and others supporting the cause – showed up on Sunday morning. Signs reading “let the kids find out for themselves” or “drag queen culture is not for kids” were seen in the crowd.
Meanwhile, the counter-protesters called for “fascism to be extinguished”, playing music and also chanting several slogans. “The wind from the right will not pass,” read a sign from the Montreal Antifascist collective, which had gone there for the occasion.
The whole thing took place under a heavy police presence. Many patrol officers from the Régie intermunicipale de police Roussillon separated the two groups into rows throughout the rally. Agents from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) were also called in to surround the demonstrators. Demonstrators in the midst of an altercation had to be subdued by the police using irritant gases. Some arrests were also made, La Presse noted.
Amélie Hudon, she says that the City of Sainte-Catherine “has received many more favorable than unfavorable comments”, even if the municipality acknowledges having received “some” comments of “dissatisfaction”. “On Facebook, we had a lot of comments from all over Quebec. It happened in several types of networks, “she said, estimating at “twenty” the number of complaints transmitted to the authorities.
“It was really a unique activity. We are very proud to have held this activity which promoted tolerance, diversity and an inclusive society, free from discrimination. We find it unfortunate that people want to disturb a child-friendly event. There has been a lot of misinformation about the nature of the activity,” Ms. Hudon persisted.
The City says it is not currently planning any other activities with Barbada. “If there were any other story times, whether it’s Barbada or other guests, for sure the City will be monitoring the situation closely. We will always value the safety of its citizens as a priority, ”concluded the spokesperson.