Manly Library demonstrators gatecrash story time protesting drag queen reading to children

Angry demonstrators have gatecrashed a library to protest a story time event hosted by a drag queen.

Protestors began rallying outside Manly Library, on Sydney‘s Northern Beaches, around 10.15am on Saturday.

They formed just minutes before drag queen Charisma Belle was set to read stories to children inside the building.

Police officers were forced to form a human alleyway to allow the children and parents to pass through the crowd of angry protestors.

Angry demonstrators have gatecrashed a library to protest a story time event hosted by drag queen Charisma Belle

Protestors began rallying outside Manly Library, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, around 10.15am on Saturday

Several of the demonstrators were seen waving placards condemning the event. One woman from the crowd said they had turned up to make sure nobody was hurt. ‘We’re just here to make sure the kids get in safe,’ she said

Several of the demonstrators were seen waving placards condemning the event. 

‘Drag Queens are not for kids,’ one sign read.

Another read: ‘Protect little kids from sexualisation and adult themes.’

Counter protestors turned up in force and tried to drown out the demonstrators by waving pride flags hiding the hateful signs.

‘Love is love,’ they chanted in defiance. 

One woman from the crowd said they had turned up to make sure nobody was hurt.

‘We’re just here to make sure the kids get in safe,’ she said. 

Tensions boiled over with members from both sides of the camp confronting each other. 

‘You don’t understand the difference between drag and trans people,’ one counter protestor yelled.

‘Let kids grow up in a safe environment, unlike what you want.’

Counter protestors turned up in force and tried to drown out the demonstrators by waving pride flags hiding the hateful signs

Several men wearing balaclavas were forced to walk away from the demonstration after caving to the pressure from the counter protestors

Several men wearing balaclavas were forced to walk away from the demonstration after caving to the pressure from the counter protestors.

Several cheered as children and parents were led safely through the doors of the library. 

One parent leaving the event spoke to Daily Mail Australia describing story time as ‘amazing’.

‘It was a big family, a very diverse, welcoming event,’ she said. ‘It was joyous. We need more of this on the beaches.’

‘My Shadow is Pink’ and ‘The Drag Queen’s Hips Go Swish-Swish-Swish’ were among the stories read to the children. 

Another local slammed the demonstrators who had turned out to condemn the event describing them as ‘confronting’ and ‘upsetting’.

The protestors formed just minutes before drag queen Charisma Belle was set to read stories to children inside the building

‘I think it’s important to recognise local councils are catering to their communities,’ she said.

‘You don’t expect someone to be there protesting how someone should raise their child. 

‘It’s completely up to parents to decide how to do that. To see someone try to pay their two cents, is not really welcome, it’s pretty disappointing.’ 

One of the demonstrators said they were opposed to the event as it went against their religious values.

They then launched into a bizarre rant saying it was a ‘rejection of God’s will’. 

Manly Library had advertised the event in the lead-up saying story time would be followed by arts and crafts. 

‘The Drag Queen Story Time will feature stories and songs celebrating family, love and being yourself,’ it read.

‘The Story Time will be followed by a creative craft for attendees to keep.’ 

Counter protestors had issued a warning online that the event was being ‘targeted’ and urged residents to turn up and voice their support for the library.

‘Members of the community are encouraged to form a friendly ‘welcoming committee’ outside the library, to allow attendees and their families safe entry and exit,’ it read.

The protest unfolded as Sydney geared up to host its first Mardi Gras in two years after the annual event was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic.

Some 300,000 people are expected to turn out for the event along Oxford Street. 

One of the demonstrators said they were opposed to the event as it went against their religious values 

The protest unfolded as Sydney geared up to host its first Mardi Gras in two years after the annual event was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic

More than 200 floats and 12,500 parade participants will dance through 1.7 kilometres of rainbow-lined streets in a celebration of queer identity, community and equality.

Transgender activist Kalypso Finbar said the parade’s return has come with a renewed sense of pride.

‘It’s almost like a resurrection,’ she said.

‘There’s a different energy in the air this year because there’s more accessibility because of that Oxford Street factor.’

For Mardi Gras veterans such as Dykes on Bikes president Emily Saunders, it feels like a homecoming.

‘It’s our natural home, we ride motorcycles, for us, being on the street is where we belong,’ she said.

The 2023 celebration will also mark 45 years since Sydney’s first Mardi Gras parade.

Lance Dow, who was part of that first 1978 march, says he feels ‘excited but odd’ to still be attending almost five decades later.

‘Being a ’78er, it’s incredible how far we’ve come since that night,’ he said.