Woodleigh School in Langwarrin to host drag queen storytime for kids

A minority group has managed to shutdown plans to have a drag queen read stories to primary children during a Mornington Peninsula school’s celebration of diversity.

Woodleigh School is inviting drag queens to read stories to children in celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Woodleigh School’s primary drag story time has become the latest IDAHOBIT day event cancelled after receiving external security advice.

The school confirmed they had “disappointingly and most reluctantly decided to cancel the planned visit by the previously arranged storytellers”.

“Our first priority at our school is child safety, and we do not want to place our community at risk.

“However, Woodleigh remains steadfast in our belief to foster inclusivity and diversity within our community.”

The school’s deputy principal and head of Penbank Campus, Vivienne Wearne, wrote to parents on Monday afternoon advising them the Rainbow Day celebrations would still go ahead, but “we have decided not to involve any external guests, as previously arranged”.

“Lots of colourful and happy activities arranged by our staff will be run across the day,” she wrote.

“We acknowledge this day to promote the diversity of families, people and the importance of having someone to love.”

The school had invited well-known drag performer Frock Hudson, aka Dean Acuri, to read books to children.

Mr Acuri told the ABC there was no reason for events to be cancelled and that they were always joyful and fun occasions.

One parent told the Herald Sun she “wasn’t opposed to diversity” but didn’t agree with this particular event.

Wellknown identity Frock Hudson will no longer host storytime. Picture: Mark Stewart

Parents at a Mornington Peninsula school previously said they were not explicitly told about a drag queen reading stories to their primary-aged children.

The progressive Woodleigh School in Langwarrin will host well-known performers Frock Hudson in the senior school and Dolly Diamond in the junior school to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia this Thursday.

One parent told the Herald Sun such an event has never happened before at the Penbank primary campus and many parents did not know it was happening until it was revealed in the Herald Sun.

The event was listed in a school newsletter noting that “guest” Frock Hudson aka Dean Acuri “will spend time in the library reading stories to the children”.

“The term ‘drag queen’ was conspicuously absent from the newsletter, as if it were deliberately hidden,” the mother said.

Woodleigh School was going to host Frock Hudson and Dolly Diamond.

“A number of families, including mine, were unaware of this forthcoming event until it was subtly announced in the recent newsletter. The announcement was so discreet that many families may not have understood its implications,” she said.

The mother said she did not think parents “have had the chance to make their own choice about the event”.

“I know of at least five families, including ours, who aren’t comfortable with this event. It seems only fair that parents should be fully informed about these events and given a choice as to whether their child will attend or not,” she said.

The events are billed as promoting “the diversity of families, people and the importance of having someone to love”.

Students are invited to dress up in rainbow colours for the day, which the school said “highlights our work in creating a culture of wellbeing where everyone feels safe and important for who they are”.

The early learning centre students are also dressing up in rainbow colours although they are not involved in the story time sessions.

Principal David Baker on Monday sent a message to parents saying the “hate-fuelled” response to the Herald Sun’s report about the IDAHOBIT day event left him “sad and tired”.

He said he was inspired to celebrate the day after talking to a former student who was transgender but did not feel supported by their school.

He urged parents to support the day, which has been celebrated at the school since 2018.

“Please help Woodleigh support IDAHOBIT in 2023. We can do this by celebrating the difference in your homes, discussing the need for young people to feel safe and accepted at our school and, on the 17th, bringing some colour into your own homes,” he wrote.

Woodleigh School is planning to celebrate IDAHOBIT Day.

Other events involving drag queens reading to children at council-run libraries were cancelled in Melbourne recently, amid concerns for the safety of staff as a result of threats from far-right groups.

However, a similar event at Eltham Library featuring Frock Hudson, aka Dean Acuri, is due to go ahead on Wednesday. Nearly 50 people have registered.

Adam Liddiard, director of community relations at Woodleigh School, said drag story time events had been run previously and “completely went off without a hitch”.

“There has never been any opposition or negative feedback because we are a very inclusive community.”

He said he did not expect any negativity from the events.

“IDAHOBIT is one day of the year when those who are gender diverse – who are not cisgender— have an opportunity to voice their opinions about issues that are really relevant to them,” he said.

Dr Kevin Donnelly, a senior fellow at Australian Catholic University and editor of Cancel Culture and the Left’s Long March, said the school was “willing to push neo-Marxist inspired radical gender theory”.

“Schools are no longer places where students are taught to master the basics,” he said.

“Celebrating IDAHOBIT day each year is just another example of the way students are taught gender and sexuality, instead of being biologically determined and God given, are social constructs where each child has the right to decide where they sit on the LGBTIQA+ spectrum,” he said.