17c起草社区

A drag storytime event scheduled to be held on Wednesday at Eltham Library, located in the Melbourne suburb of Eltham, was moved online after vile abuse and threats by fringe far-right groups and neo-Nazis.

The decision to move the event online, follows聽

Wednesday鈥檚 event was meant to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Discrimination and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

17c起草社区I Communities Targeted

Entertainer Dean Arcuri, who performs in drag as Frock Hudson, and is scheduled to host the event, said it was 鈥渄isappointing鈥� and a 鈥渟hame that we can鈥檛 do it in person鈥�.听

鈥� This is very a specifically targeted hate that is about our communities,鈥� Arcuri told 17c起草社区.听

Since September 2022, a number of public events by drag performers have been targeted by a coalition of far-right groups, neo-Nazis, anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists.

Earlier this month, Monash Council聽 cancelled an event with drag performers to mark IDAHOBIT that was scheduled for Wednesday, after a sustained campaign from fringe alt-right online groups like MyPlace and Reignite Democracy Australia. These groups have been behind a number campaigns against drag storytime events in Victoria and the targeting of drag performers and council staff.

Five other events scheduled for Wednesday that featured Arcuri were cancelled, reported Nine Newspapers.

Not Just About Drag

According to Arcuri, these online hate, abuse and threats were not just about drag.听

鈥淲e know that the narrative that’s being put out there, and the hate language that’s being used both online and in these verbal complaints, are the kind of things that have been said to people in our communities for years. It’s not a new kind of hate that we’re experiencing. Unfortunately, it does seem to be a new kind of ignorance that just seems to be given more voice which is really disappointing.鈥澛�

Arcuri, personally, was the target of some vicious online harassment in the lead up to the event.听 鈥淭he conversation that we’re seeing is about men in dresses, which is the same narrative they’re saying about trans people in bathrooms. And what’s really disappointing is it’s also misogynistic because it invalidates trans men,鈥� said Arcuri.听

Anti-Vilification Law

In September 2021, the Dan Andrews Labor government committed to expanding the state鈥檚 anti-vilification laws to better protect 17c起草社区I communities. Attorney General Jaclyn Symes said that the legislation is still around 16 months away.听

An anti-vilification law that protects 17c起草社区I communities, could empower councils, and the authorities to deal with the hate and abuse, feels Arcuri.听

鈥淟et’s be real, this is not the first time this (an expanded anti-vilification law) has been asked for by our communities. This is something that’s been asked for for more than a decade,鈥漵aid Arcuri. 鈥淲e’re at a tipping point and we do need something to protect all our communities.鈥澛�

Rainbow Community Angels

While the drag storytime has moved online, said they will gather and celebrate outside the Eltham Library on Wednesday.听

鈥淲e are not going anywhere鈥� this will be a community celebration for all of us,鈥� the group said on its social media page. The group called on the community and allies to join them outside the library 鈥� to defend Councils’ important work to promote inclusion, respect and safety for everyone in our communities鈥�, and to 鈥渃elebrate local community inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people, especially young people and kids from rainbow families.鈥澛�

The angels have offered their presence to councils and event organisers and plan聽to聽 鈥渢ake part in peaceful actions to support community safety at inclusive events like Drag Storytime鈥� whilst wearing magnificent angel wings.

For more information about how you can join the Rainbow Community Angels on Wednesday, click here.