Open AccessThe Fabulousness and the Fury: Preparing for a Drag Queen Storytime
Author(s) -
D. Mackenzie Davey
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
partnership
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1911-9593
DOI - 10.21083/partnership.v15i2.6219
Subject(s) - rigour , criticism , queen (butterfly) , institution , position (finance) , political science , public relations , sociology , law , business , hymenoptera , botany , geometry , mathematics , finance , biology
After announcing the launch of a Drag Queen Storytime, the Halton Hills Public Library (HHPL) received positive feedback from the community, but also faced criticism from a small but vocal group of citizens. Complaints reached as high as the mayoral office, challenging the library’s position as a trusted community institution, and testing the rigour of its training, communications, policies, and procedures. Despite the pushback, the library ran a highly successful program and afterward redoubled its commitment to fighting homophobia and promoting equality. This article details how the HHPL came to offer the program, what the response was, as well as suggestions for measuring success and processing complaints.