Another Threat to a Drag Queen Story Time

Yet another drag queen story time is being targeted by right-wing protestors. This time it's happening in central Maine, in response to a drag queen story time featuring Valerie Honeywell that will be held on June 1 at the Children's Book Cellar in Waterville as part of the Central Maine Pride Festival.

Stating that she wants "to educate people about other lifestyles," store owner Ellen Richmond said, "I'm not inviting pedophiles in to pet little children. I have one man coming in dressed as a woman to read stories to children, and then we’re going to make wands and crowns."

Ellen Richmond

The event "blew up on social media" over the weekend, according to Richmond, and included a thread on the page Maine Conservative Grassroots attacking the event. Waterville Mayor Nick Isgro protested the city council's support of the event, writing "Scandalizing the children in our community--trying to make us San Francisco. Unanimous vote to celebrate by our entire council!"

Several commenters plan to protest the event in person. In response, Richmond and the festival committee are discussing safety concerns.

The protests mirror recent protests against drag queen story times at Little City Books, Hoboken, N.J., last month, and WORD Bookstore in Jersey City, N.J., last Saturday.

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