CAMPAIGNERS have staged a protest against an event involving a drag queen reading books to children at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Drag Queen Story Hour theatrical experience at the Assembly Roxy was subject to a small number of protesters appearing outside the venue holding placards which read “Groom dogs not kids” and “Drag is for adults not children”.
Posters for the event had previously been defaced with a stickers which stated “Teach ABCs not LGBTs” and "Misogyny present".
Aida H Dee – the drag queen hosting the event – hit back at the campaigner’s calling on the event to be cancelled.
She told Pink News: “Let the protests come. Let them cover my posters if that's what they feel they need to do.
“But I'm not going anywhere. The show will go on. I'll continue to be the proud, fabulous, defiant torchbearer of femininity, diversity, and love I've always been.”
It is believed that some campaigners are aiming to protest every single performance of Drag Queen Story Hour at this year's Fringe.
An Assembly spokesperson said: "Assembly Festival takes the safety of its audiences, staff, and performers very seriously and works closely with the local authority and other governing bodies to ensure that safeguarding processes are closely followed.
"Assembly Festival is satisfied that the performance of Drag Queen Story Hour is suitable for younger audiences and have no reservation in presenting it at the Fringe.
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"The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is built upon the principles of open access and freedom of expression, and the Assembly Festival programme is carefully curated in the spirit of these values.
"Assembly has presented a popular and varied programme at the Fringe for over 40 years and offers a wide choice of family friendly entertainment.
"We respect the right of audiences to make their own individual choice when booking tickets, and hope that there is something in our programme for all to enjoy."
It comes as some of the biggest names in drag are set to come to Edinburgh for the festival, including two winners of Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Monet X Change and Scotland’s own Lawrence Chaney.
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