Winnipeg, MB - On Saturday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 31, Winnipeg Public Library will host Read By Queens, a family story time event led by local drag queens. Both Read By Queens story time will include picture book readings by the queens, followed by themed crafts and games.
“Read by Queens is an event that celebrates the diversity of families and individuals,” said Karin Borland, Administrative Coordinator of Youth Services for Winnipeg Public Library. “The event will also showcase themed picture book displays for families wanting to include diversity in their home reading.”
Read By Queens is hosted by the Winnipeg Public Library in partnership with community organizers and Sunshine House, with funding from the Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies at The University of Winnipeg.
“The Sunshine bunch is excited to do this event because it’s an opportunity for us to share our art with the littler members of our family,” said Levi Foy, founder of the Like That program at Sunshine House and also known as Drag Queen Prairie Sky. “It will be a fantastic opportunity to show people that everybody can be royalty!”
“I want my family, and all queer families in Winnipeg, to feel safe, welcome, and represented in programming,” said Corinne Mason, a Winnipeg parent and a Read by Queens community organizer. “Read by Queens is not only an event that speaks to my family, but communicates to straight and cisgender families that 2STLGBIQ families matter.”
There are two opportunities to catch Read By Queens story time:
Saturday, May 20
- Time: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Location: Millennium Library, 251 Donald Street
- Details: Drop-in event (no registration required); free admission
Wednesday, May 31
- Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: West End Library, 999 Sargent Avenue
- Details: Registration required, visit any branch of the Library to register or call 204-986-4677; free admission
Media opportunity details
- Media are invited to the Saturday, May 20 event at Millennium Library from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Event organizers and Winnipeg Public Library staff will be available for interviews at 1:30 p.m. before the event, and will be available following the event.
- Drag queens will be available for interviews following the event.
Winnipeg Public Library provides an online LGBTTQ Info Guide for recommended reading and resources in the community. The Library has over 1,000 fiction and non-fiction books on LGBTTQ themes. Search the online catalogue for “LGBTTQ resources” to find a complete list of titles identified as LGBTTQ. Learn more at guides.wpl.winnipeg.ca/LGBTTQ.