Drag queens lead story time at Edmonton library

Big personalities with big hair shared stories at the Edmonton Public Library on Sunday afternoon that they say they wish they'd heard when they were kids.

"It's OK to be different," Lourdes, a local drag queen, read from Todd Parr's picturebook of the same name tothe children assembled forthe city's first-ever Over the Rainbow Storytime session.

About 150 people were packed into the library's Strathconabranch to hear from Lourdes and her friends Chelsea, Go Go Fetch and TJB.

Lourdes, who led the event, appeared to easily connect with the crowd. The audiencefollowed her in unique rendition of the "Five Little Monkeys" jumping on the bed rhyme, laughing at hersubstitution of five clumsy drag queens struggling in high heels.

Lourdes is also Jonathan Busch, who works as alibrary assistant, sometimes leading educational sing-along songsfor toddlers.

Melding the two worlds togetherseemed natural to Lourdes, who said a lot of aspects of drag appeal to children.

"We dress like princesses. The drag kings dress like cowboys. They bring stuff that the kids are drawn to," Lourdes said Sunday.

TJB read "The Boy Who Cried Fabulous" to thechildren.

"So many synonyms!" she exclaimed, as she read through the rhymes telling the story of a little boy who viewed the world with irrepressible optimism despite his pessimistic parents.

TJB said it's important to broaden childrens' horizons in a way that lets them knowthey should be themselves.

"Edmonton's still a very conservative climate and so again, for young impressionable children who may not be fitting into the binary boxes in the world, it's very important for them to have examples of people and places they can grow into that are inclusive," TJB said.

'Nothing better than a drag queen reading a story'

Kristopher Wells, the faculty director at theInstitute of Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta, said he brought up the idea ofholding Over the RainbowStorytimeto a responsive Edmonton Public Library executive.

"What I've learned today is there's nothing better than a drag queen reading a story," Wells said.

He said the turnout was better than he expected.

"I had tears in my eyes seeing the families stream in here and the excitement where people feltsafe and at home," he said.

"To see the rapt attention of these kids, the excitement, the happiness, the freedom to be themselves, to celebrate their families and reflect our community, this is what pride should be all about."

KristaKohutchsaid she brought her daughter, Emily, to the event because she thought it would be a good opportunity for the little girl to learn about inclusivity.

But Kohutch said it was also a lot of fun for the both of them andif the library holds Over the Rainbow Storytime again, they'll go.

"The queens were awesome,"Kohutchsaid. "I think they brought a really exciting energy to the regular stories."

Claire McDaniel agreed, adding it was different than other events she's attended.

"Usually, it's like parents reading it," she said. "It was really good and really funny."

roberta.bell@cbc.ca

@roberta__bell