A drag queen story time event that was due to be held at a New South Wales library is the latest to be cancelled as a result of threats to staff.
Bathurst-based Betty Confetti was meant to appear at Rainbow Story Time at the Goulburn library on June 3 but the performance was called off on Monday afternoon.
The decision at Goulburn followed the cancellation of a similar drag queen event by Monash City Council and calls to cancel an event in Launceston, which went ahead.
The Goulburn Mulwaree Council's chief executive, Aaron Johansson, issued a statement late on Monday saying he had made the decision to cancel the event.
"Over the course of the last week council staff have been subjected to direct and indirect intimidating behaviour from members of the community," Mr Johansson said.
"As I was unable to guarantee the physical and psychosocial safety of council's employees, the event has been cancelled."
Betty Confetti said she was sad that it had come to this.
"I'm going to quote my mother here and say I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed," she said.
"It is sad because the point of a drag story time is to be visible and to be openly a proud person of the LGBQTI community ... living their truth.
"For it to be cancelled, especially in a regional area where there isn't much representation, it is very sad."
Betty Confetti said she had already been subjected to threatening behaviour once the event had started being advertised.
"Previously on a Facebook post advertising that it was happening I was personally called some horrendous things and I've been previously met with death threats and all this kind of stuff," she said.
"It's sad that people have taken it out on the council, but it's very unfortunate that people are so strong in their aversion to this to attack council staff."
Promoting inclusion
The Rainbow Story Time events are designed for children between the ages of three and eight and are billed as a way of celebrating diversity and inclusion in the community.
Betty Confetti said they had unfortunately drawn criticism from some people.
"It's not uncommon but it only really comes around when we do things that involve either families or can involve young children which is a shame because all they see is another version of an entertainer," she said.
"We know how to dress for that event, so we'd dress quite conservatively, like a long flow dress, or we know what to wear so we're not going down the path of what some people say [is] an over-sexualised manner."
The Goulburn Mulwaree Council said it had referred the threats to the relevant authorities.
NSW Police has told the ABC it has not received a report from the Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
It said once this occurs, any information provided will be assessed to determine whether further investigation will be carried out.
