The cafe’s planned drag story time event has drawn criticism for almost a week now, and Scout Coffee + Tea is still dealing with it. The event was announced on social media.
Within 24 hours of Monday’s article, a deluge of direct messages containing allegations of harassment and threats along with declarations of protest started to arrive in their inbox, according to owner Katrina Tessier.
“You start seeing posts being like, ‘Oh, call this business and complain. ’ ‘This is grooming,’ you know.
Sexual assault has occurred. This is paedophilia,'” Tessier said on Sunday to Global News.
According to her, the company takes pride in being inclusive and family-friendly. Scout Coffee + Tea regularly hosts reading events for children, including one taking place called “Story Time with Sally,” a character from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“Having a cis-gendered person in a costume is fine to these people, but having potentially a queer person dressed up in a certain way with certain makeup and things, that’s a problem, and it’s like this disconnect, which just blows my mind,” Tessier said.
On its Instagram feed, Scout Coffee + Tea has also highlighted messages of encouragement.
Although Rose Mortel has previously performed story times in drag, including at Winnipeg pride events and public libraries, this will be their first time reading at the cafe.
Children ought to be exposed to people from different walks of life, according to Mortel.
“There (are) age-appropriate ways to have children see all different kinds of people from all different kinds of backgrounds.
Despite the worries, it’s even more crucial to proceed with the event, Mortel said on Sunday to Global News.
It is a bit hard, but I think over the years I’ve just kind of learned to try and brush it aside and let it be more of a reflection of them than of me.
Mortel’s friend, whose drag name is Mei Yosong, agrees it’s important queer children and families see themselves represented.
When we don’t understand anything, how can we learn from this, is how we should approach it. How can we advance? As opposed to asking yourself, “How is this group different for me?,” Yosong said.
Tessier believes the negative response, some of which came from outside Manitoba, is evidence that more education is required to combat detrimental stereotypes about the drag and LGBT communities.
The event is proceeding as scheduled, but Tessier voiced worry about how Sunday’s prospective protest and counter-protest would play out.
Before drag story time, Winnipeg drag queens and a cafe are allegedly threatened and harassed online.
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