The far right’s obsession with drag queen storytimes is spreading across Australia

Far-right protests against drag queen storytimes are spreading across Australia in an effort to “silence us and create fear within the community”. 

Youth-friendly events featuring drag performers have become a fixation of far-right politics across the world. Right-wing figures and groups falsely accuse these performers of “grooming” or “indoctrinating” children by exposing them to sexually explicit content. These attacks are typically based in anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment as the drag art form, while not limited to LGBTQIA+ communities, subverts gender terms through costume, makeup and performance. 

While protests over drag events for children go back to at least 2020 in Australia, the frequency and intensity has reached a fever pitch in the past six months. The anti-drag event cause has drawn support from mainstream politicians like Liberal Senator Alex Antic and United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet.

Victoria has emerged as a hotspot for these protests. At least 10 LGBTQIA+ events have been cancelled or postponed over that period, largely due to fears over violence or threats levelled against organisers. Victorian councils met on Thursday to discuss how to respond to these attacks while the Andrews government hosted a drag storytime event at Victorian Parliament House to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. 

While focused in Victoria, many of the same online figures and groups are also trying to drum up opposition to drag youth events in other states. Recent examples include:

• Launceston Library’s Drag Storytime that went ahead in February despite the Australian Christian Lobby calling for its cancellation.
• A monthly Rainbow Storytime at Newcastle Library that went ahead in April with the support of counter-protesters.
• The Drag Tag Comedy Show put on for Gympie Youth Week in Queensland that went ahead in April. 
• Rainbow Storytime at Goulburn Library in NSW that was scheduled for June but has been cancelled by the council over safety concerns.
• The City of Perth’s Drag Storytime event, that went ahead on Wednesday in spite of protests. 

These groups have also targeted other youth-focused LGBTQIA+ events such as social mixers and sex education events.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown said these protests represent a “rising tide of hate” against LGBTQIA+ Australians.

“These extremist groups are being increasingly emboldened and it’s concerning to see their online abuse escalate to threats of violence against performers, families and, in some cases, councillors,” she said.

Brown called on politicians to denounce the protests and to take action to prevent acts of hate against the LGBTQIA+ community.

“With attacks on the rise, especially against the trans community, there is also an urgent need for laws at a national level, and in some states, to protect the LGBTQIA+ community from hate speech and vilification,” she said.