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| Photo Credit: AP. |
A number of armed protesters and others exchanged rocks and smoke grenades during a drag queen story time event at an Oregon pub on Sunday.
The event
had 50 people in attendance with some 200 demonstrators and
counterdemonstrators who engaged each outside the Oregon pub, venue of the
event.
An
11-year-old child performer who was in the audience did not perform, according
to The Associated Press.
The protesters
hurled “projectiles” at each other in the ensuring chaos even as police
officers said some of the protesters had semi-automatic rifles.
Protesters
targeted the event with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. Opponents criticize the Drag Queen
Story Hour which aims to provide children with LGBTQ related education saying
it does not protect children but exposes them.
The targeted
pub has provided a platform for LGBTQ related programs that are often target of
homophobic slurs and other related attacks.
The event
was attended by adults some of which came with small children who were
entertained by several adult drag queens, singing and reading picture books.
The Drag Queen Story Hour began in San Francisco in 2015. It was founded by Michelle Tea, an activist and author. The program now boosts of several chapters across the country.