A library in Ontario hosted a drag queen story hour last weekend, and like homophobic clockwork, there were the anti-LGBTQ+ protesters. Only this time, they were met by the strongest force on earth: Butches.
Members of the Wind Sisters biker group gathered outside of Middlesex County Library on Saturday to defend drag queens and attending families from anti-drag protestors. The women-only biker group has thousands of members across North America and bills itself as a place where bikers can “connect and ride together.” The biker butches escorted the families into the Parkhill, Ontario Library, helping them move beyond the protesters attempting to block the entrance.
Once the attendees were safely inside, the women bikers linked arms to prevent the protesters from entering the library.
Wind Sisters member Patricia Ginn told CTV News, “Historically, a butch – like myself, and I’ve been one for 50 years now – our role in the community has always been one of the great protector. Today, we wanted to come here and show protection and help the community celebrate all of our inclusivity.”
“As a young tomboy, when I came out, there was nowhere for me to go,” Ginn continued. “I was born in a small town in Quebec, and it was a scary time for us, so we just hid in the closet. We didn’t come out to big events like this.”
Other LGBTQ+ groups Strathroy Pride organizers and local group the Rainbow Optimist joined the Wind Sisters outside the library.
Strathroy Pride director Frank Emanuele told CTV News, “I feel for the children who had to walk through that. We want to be supportive to everybody that’s brave enough to come to these events.
“Often queer children and queer teens say they don’t feel safe in rural communities,” Emanuele continued. “So we need to hold more events like this to show there is love and acceptance even in small towns.”
What Do You Think?