Drag Queen Aida H Dee has thanked the support she was given when she arrived in Bolton to stage a storytime session in the Albert Halls -after her appearance sparked nasty protests.
Protestors - the majority not thought to be from Bolton - stood outside Bolton Museum and Library and the Albert Halls shouting and screaming at families who had booked to see the first drag artist to host storytime sessions.
Officers from the Tactical Aid Unit were drafted in to monitor the protest.
Counter-protestors turned up to offer Aida their support.
She said: "Lots of people are concerned for my wellbeing. I am honestly fine. I think my aptitude to handle the weight of all of this simply comes from doing this the longest.
“I am the first drag artist in Europe to read stories to children in a nursery, the first to read in a library in the UK, the first to publish multiple children's stories. I have been doing this since 2017.
“During this tour, all I have been doing is performing a theatrical storytelling of my own published books, nothing sexual at all.
“I have no doubt in my mind on what I do and no fear of these people who threaten me. I have become, if anything, more dedicated to my work because of these people. These people are the reason I do what I do.
"I absolutely adore that there were supporters who turned out to stand in solidarity for not just me, but the cause in itself. These people, those that were stood outside the event, have made Bolton and Greater Manchester proud and I thank them eternally."
Many who attended the storytime session said they loved it - condemning the protestors.
One posted on The Bolton Facebook page: 'It was absolutely disgusting. They caused more harm to my children shouting the awful things then the show did.
“We absolutely loved it.”
Another said: “There are some seriously nasty people in the world. The only ones in this article I wouldn't want the young people in our society looking up to are the protestors.
“They're the ones damaging impressionable young minds with intolerance and hatred.”
Drag Queen Story Hour in Bolton leads to protest
The event is part of a UK-wide tour of local councils, and the company confirmed that they have been met with protest at the “vast majority” of them, many of which have seen offensive placards and had people shouting homophobic slurs.
They added: “We do not think these people actually understand what it even is they are apparently protesting against.
“We should really stop calling the people who stand outside with homophobic signs protesters. They are aggressors who shout profanities at little kids and harass families.
“These people who stand outside libraries are a disgrace to actual protests that occur for genuine causes.”
The company want to express their gratitude to staff of Bolton Library Services, Bolton Council, and Greater Manchester Police who together helped to ensure the safety all the families attending, their own staff, and Aida.
It also stated a desire to come back next year, saying: “We hope Bolton Libraries have not been intimidated by these aggressors to not put on the event again. We are only able to wait and see if Bolton plan on joining the party again.”
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