Hundreds of LGBTQ+ supporters gathered in south-east London to defend a drag storytime event against a right-wing protest on Saturday. The event at The Honor Oak pub was hosted by drag queen That Girl, who thanked the assembled crowd for their support. The protest, organised by the right-wing group Turning Point UK, was attended by around 30 people and had to be held around 100 metres from the pub after the road was blocked by the counter-protest.
The event was the latest in a series of clashes between protesters and counter-protesters over drag storytime events in London. The event at The Honor Oak pub was not associated with Drag Queen Story Hour, but the pub received a message of support from the organisation, which pledged to donate an LGBTQ+ children’s book to a London library for every protester attending the Turning Point UK event. The drag star Copper Topp, who previously hosted the event at the pub, accused the right-wing group of spreading misinformation and said the world was becoming more far-right.
Police were present to prevent clashes between the two groups, with LGBTQ+ supporters drowning out a speech from the anti-LGBTQ+ GB News host Deacon Calvin Robinson. One counter-protester, Jennifer Dean, said those protesting the drag event were a “dying breed”. The Honor Oak pub had previously defended the event, saying it was age-appropriate and no different from what families would see in a theatre. Meanwhile, Tennessee has become the first US state to ban drag performances after a bill was passed banning such shows in public.
