CBC News: Gather round kids! It's Drag Queen Storytime

Gather round kids!
It's Drag Queen Storytime

London Public Library hosts the first-ever event to encourage

youth to celebrate differences

By Rebecca Zandbergen, CBC News Posted: Jul 22, 2017 6:00 AM ET 

Mz. Affra-Tighty will be reading to children on Saturday, July 22 at the London Public Library in honour of the Pride London Festival. (Amanda Margison/CBC News

In her heels, Mz. Affra-Tighty stands six feet eight inches.

"They're six-inch stilettos. They're delicious. Perfectly delicious."

To celebrate pride week, the London Public Library has invited Affra-Tighty to host storytime at its downtown location at 251 Dundas St. on Saturday. 

The London Public Library is hosting the first Drag Queen Storytime on Saturday, July 22.

Affra-Tighty said the kids may be a little intimidated at first. "I think they'll see this gargantuan queen walking into the room. I think some might be a little alarmed because I am very tall."

"It will be intimidating maybe, depending on how the parents handle it," Affra-Tighty told London Morning's Rebecca Zandbergen.

Mz. Affra-Tighty dropped by London Morning on Friday, July 21. (Amanda Margison/CBC News)

Affra-Tighty will be reading Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dressby Christine Baldacchino. It's about a boy who loves wearing the dress in his classroom's dress-up centre.

Affra-Tighty, who owns two tangerine-coloured dresses herself, said the story is about bullying. "The dress is a metaphor for everything that people like to pick at."

To her critics, Affra-Tighty suggested there's no reason why a drag queen shouldn't read to children. 

"I have nieces and nephews and I love them unbelievably, and I would do anything for them, just like most people would do for their kids. Why shouldn't I read? Why shouldn't it be me?"

Mz. Affra-Tighty stands six feet eight inches in her gold stilettos. (Amanda Margison/CBC News)

Affra-Tighty will be at the Central Children's Library at 2pm on Saturday. Both parents and kids are welcome and are encouraged to wear their favourite dress or costume.

From: CBC