We are very concerned about the Drag Queen Story Hour which is touring libraries across the UK this summer. It is especially alarming that this project, featuring adult male performers dressed up in grotesque female costumes with often very sexualised names, is receiving an unknown amount of public funding from from the Government’s Welcome Back Fund (WBF), which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority).
These funds are intended to help local areas “stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations” after Covid lockdowns.
We consider the sexualisation of young children in the name of inclusivity to be wholly wrong – and this is an inappropriate use of government funds intended to support local communities and businesses.
In response to a request from FET supporters, we have composed a letter template which you can use to send to your local library to voice you object to Drag Queen Story Hour. Do download the letter below and edit as necessary to send to local councils and libraries.