Bomb threat, protests delay weekend Drag Queen Story Time in Louisville

Protestors and a bomb threat were amid the obstacles that delayed the Kentucky chapter of Drag Queen Story Time's show Sunday.

Around 2 p.m., a bomb threat forced security volunteers to evacuate the building and sidewalk at No Kill Louisville on Northwestern Parkway, sending people to their cars. The incident followed threats earlier in March that a neo-Nazi group might protest this month's event, prompting organizers to increase security measures.

Katie Bryan, treasurer of Drag Queen Story Time, said the events left her "terrified" and "uncomfortable" for attendees but organizers were prepared.

"We immediately leapt into action. We did receive an email that explained everything, had a location on it. The problem is that they put the wrong address on the threat, but we knew that they were targeting us because they mentioned No Kill Louisville specifically," Bryan said.

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"If your safety doesn't matter, then what's the point of being here?" Miller asked. "I just want to make sure that is clear."

A group of fewer than 10 protestors appeared shortly after the evacuation; one holding a picture of Jesus and others with rosaries. Another person held a sign that read "Drag Queen Story Time is child abuse."

Security guards created a barrier to keep protestors away from the property and members of the Parasol Patrol held rainbow umbrellas in front of children to block their view of the protestors. Some children shielded their eyes while in line.

Protests come after the Kentucky general assembly passed sweeping anti-trans Senate Bill 150, which would have banned gender-affirming care for trans youth, among several other provisions. The bill was vetoed Friday by Gov. Andy Beshear.

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SB 150 is only one of several anti-LGBTQ or anti-trans bills filed by the Kentucky legislature this year, dubbed the assembly's "slate of hate," by Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign. It's one of hundreds of similar bills filed by state governments across the U.S., according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

John Rice, whose drag name is "Tova Ura Vitch," − though she went by "Tova" on Sunday − performed as Disney characters Elsa and Moana. Rice said drag queens are often confused with strippers or adult entertainers, but that isn't the case.

"There's a time and a place for everything, and these people are just thinking we are just out here exploiting ourselves in a sexual manner, and that's not what it is at all," Rice said. "We're here to just spread love and acceptance."

Rice, a business owner, husband and father of three, has also fostered 11 children with his spouse. He said the couple adopted their two girls about a month ago after they spent 900 days in foster care.

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Rice said drag and story time is often not what people imagine.

"Come out and just experience it for yourself, and then make your judgment, because I have a feeling that it'll turn," he said.

Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Drag Queen Story Time Louisville event delayed by bomb threat