“Out of an abundance of caution,” the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown changes the date of an event
After it was attacked online, a drag show that was going to take place at the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown had to be canceled.
In March, Treyla Parktrash, a drag performer and producer who goes by the name Trey Yeo, was going to read a children’s book to families at the Kings Playhouse.
He says that the goal of the event was to help kids feel welcome and accepted in a safe environment.
“I was going to dress up like a Disney princess; we were going to read a few books; and in between the books, we were going to do things like color to show kids that they can have fun and also be themselves, be real.”
The plan was for a performer to read a book for kids,What Marlon Bundo Does in a Dayabout two rabbits of the same gender falling in love.
The King’s Playhouse’s interim executive director, Catherine O’Brien, said, “It’s a really sweet story.” “It’s about two rabbits who fall in love.” “I mean, what’s not to like there?”
Some of the negative comments on social media were rude and made fun of LGBTQ people. Other posts focused on the event’s poster, which said it was only for kids under 10.
O’Brien said that the words on that picture could have been better.
“It wasn’t meant that parents can’t be there with their kids… “I probably should have just said that it was for families,” she told me.
“We thought about what age group would be most interested in this book we had chosen… Children older than 10 might think it was a little too young for them, but that was all.
O’Brien said that the playhouse has held drag shows in the past with little backlash. But when people started saying bad things and sending hateful messages, they decided to cancel the event “out of an abundance of caution.”
“It’s getting pretty mean online, and our drag queen performer has been bothered in person,” she said.
“We still think it’s something important to do.” “We are going to do it.”
Protests have been held against various things
As a way to get families and kids talking, drag storytimes have become popular at libraries and community centers across Canada.
“It’s a great way to have fun and teach families about the differences between men and women,” said O’Brien.
But as the events have become more popular, protests have also taken place all over the country. Scott Alan, the men’s sexual health program coordinator at PEERS Alliance in Charlottetown, says that this is a “really concerning” trend.
He said, “I think it hurts the community as a whole a lot.”
“This kind of bullying isn’t necessary, and the programming for young people is right and good for them in the long run.”
Alan said that performers and community members who are being harassed can get help with their mental health. One of these places is Our Landing Place, which offers fully funded mental health services to the LGBTQ2IA+ community on P.E.I.
He said, “We’re all here to help these people get through these hard times and give them the support they need.”
The show must go o
Yeo, on the other hand, said that he has gotten support for past events and performances on the island and that he will keep going with other shows.
“I am working very hard to make P.E.I. a place where people who are different from the norm can feel welcome,” he said.
“I’m still going to try, if not harder now, to be here on P.E.I., especially as a gay person and a drag entertainer.
Yeo has made his social media accounts private, but he says he’s doing his best not to let the hate get to him.
He said, “The whole point of these events is to show people that the 2SLGBTQ+ community is not evil and that making fun of them is not the right thing to do.”
“As individuals, all we want is to inspire people to live their true lives and, you know, just spread joy and love.” “All it is is that.”