The Veronicas’ Jess Origliasso slams protesters who stormed children’s LGBTQ storytelling event
The Veronicas’ Jess Origliasso has voiced her support for drag queens by slamming protesters who heckled the performers at a storytelling event for kids on Sunday. SEE THE VIDEO
Confidential
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The Veronicas’ Jess Origliasso has unleashed on protesters who stormed a drag queen story-telling event for children on Sunday.
The singer shared video footage to Instagram of protesters screaming “drag queens are not for kids” at the public event in Brisbane and told fans she’s “furious”.
In the post, Jess said: “Bigotry is alive in Brisbane today. This morning a good friend of mine took her daughter along to a children’s storytelling event by two gorgeous Drag Queens, when a screaming group of UQ young Libs stormed the event, causing chaos and distress to children and everybody there,” Origliasso wrote.
“I am absolutely furious. Our world is in need of love & healing, now more than ever. What they did today was add to the bigotry, division and trauma young children are left to face in today’s society.
“Bless the two Queens who were there to bring joy to children and their families. What you share with our community is invaluable.”
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Police were called to the library about 12.20pm after reports that a group of 15-20 protesters were shouting at a drag queen and causing distress at a community event.
A security guard managed to get the mob to leave before officers arrived but the protest left a mark on witnesses.
On Facebook, the event was described as “a joint event presented by Brisbane City Council Libraries and Rainbow Families Qld” and touted as a “fabulous, family friendly afternoon Drag Queen Story Time event aimed at encouraging tolerance and acceptance.
A spokesman from Rainbow Families Queensland, said the protest left participating children and families feeling unsafe.
“A group of people disrupted the event, chanting and causing distress,” they said.
“We deeply regret that the actions of a handful of people caused our children to feel unsafe.”
Rainbow Families Queensland Coordinator Holly Zwalf said she was both disappointed and disturbed by the incident.
“Love makes a family,” she said. “There is no room for hate in our hearts.”
Drag Queen Story Time has occurred four times in Brisbane over the past two years and emulates similar events held in libraries across the world.
“It’s a celebration of diverse families run by two Blue Card registered and fully trained drag queens, and the children enjoyed singing and dancing, reading, and doing craft,” a Rainbow Families Queensland spokesman said.
Right-wing student organisation The UQ Liberal National Club, which organised the protest, told Confidential that the event was a waste of money.
“It’s a totally inappropriate waste of ratepayers’ money and against LNP values,” club president Wilson Gavin said.
“I want to add that we didn’t enter the room where the event was being held, we waited outside and left when directed by security.”
Wilson confirmed that some of the protesters are students at UQ.
“I was there, not all of them were students as some people were invited by friends,” he said.
The club criticised the event on social media prior to it being held.
“SHAME on the Brisbane City Council for sponsoring this event,” the club wrote.
“What people do behind the closed doors of a nightclub is their business, but this event is designed to indoctrinate … young children. Our kids deserve better than this.
“Brisbane City Council is supposed to be in the hands of the LNP. Why is this … being paid for by the taxpayer?”
No strangers to controversy, Origliasso and her twin sister Lisa made headlines last year after publicly defending Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am.
The acclaimed pop duo tweeted their support for the American musician after he accused a Qantas flight attendant of racism following a clash mid-flight.
The siblings claimed the flight attendant who clashed with will.i.am was the same woman who they previously clashed with before they were escorted off a flight by police back in September.
Qantas dismissed all claims as “utterly untrue” and asked will.i.am to retract his claims of racism.
A Qantas spokesman previously said the situation was simply a “misunderstanding” that was made worse by the rapper wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
Originally published as The Veronicas’ Jess Origliasso slams protesters who stormed children’s LGBTQ storytelling event
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