Drag queens hope Toronto Pride library reading events spur dialogue, understanding
'We're going to give them a little bit of a show, obviously, that's what drag queens are known for'
Many have read stories about queens, but how often do you get a chance to be read a story by one?
If you were at the Spadina Road branch of the Toronto Public Library on Thursday night, you would have had the unique opportunity to be read to by two.
For Toronto Pride, drag performers Eva Lasting and Aura Nova took part in a free reading event that they hope can spur dialogue for, and affect understanding of, LGBT issues.
"We're going to give them a little bit of a show, obviously, that's what drag queens are known for," Eva Lasting told CBC Toronto right before the event started. "But with the library spin we're going to be reading some pieces that sort of challenge what people think about maybe sexuality and gender expression."
Eva Lasting planned to read poems about what it's like to be transgender or a drag queen, and excerpts from Woman in the Making by Rory O'Neill, a memoir about an Irish drag queen who spearheaded the gay marriage referendum efforts in Ireland.
"I would imagine that we would deliver just something interesting, something new. It's even new for me," said Aura Nova. "You don't normally have a gig in a library, but that's a lot of fun."
"I haven't read in a couple years," he jokingly added. "We're going to see how it goes."
'More approachable than in a club'
Bringing drag performances out of clubs and into a library does create some challenges, but also opportunities to educate and interact with those who might not otherwise have had to chance to meet a drag queen.
Eva Lasting said that the change in setting invites strangers of the LGBT community to ask questions more openly and with less reservation — questions he enjoys answering.
"I think a lot of times — whether it's someone who's coming out as gay or bi or trans or a drag queen — when someone's not used to seeing it, someone's not been around it and understood it, they have questions," he said. "And I think a lot of times people can be scared to ask questions."
Aura Nova argues the library venue is a safer place to explore those questions.
"In a setting like this, we almost seem a little bit more approachable than in a club," he said.
"I feel like you get to make it a little bit more intellectual. Your audience is sober, which can be a fun thing."
'Loved to have something like this growing up'
Thursday's reading event was not open to children, but a similar event this Saturday at the location near Jones Avenue and Dundas Street East will be.
Both drag queens believe this kind of exposure is important for kids.
The reading event gives kids an example "that if you follow what makes you happy, if you follow what's in your heart, that's what's important," said Eva Lasting.
"A lof of us feel different inside, a lot of us feel unique but there's a lot of pressure by society to fit in — it feels good to fit in a lot of times — so when people can't, when there's something inside of you that is screaming out and says, 'This isn't working for me,' it can be hard when you're growing up to identify with that and to understand what to do with that," he added.
"So I think giving kids an example at a young age and saying, 'Being different is not only OK but it's really fun.'"
Aura Nova said he would love to be able to provide kids with the kind of learning experience he wanted and was deprived of when he was younger.
"I would've loved to have something like this growing up... that would've meant a lot to me, being able to watch like, 'Hey, just because you were born a certain way doesn't mean that you can't be girly or fierce or whatever that you feel like you want to be,'" said Aura Nova.
"I remember I used to feel like it was almost kind of wrong to want those things," he added. "I would love to be able to go in front of kids and be like, 'Hey, here's me doing exactly what I wanted to do and obviously it's going really well. And I look great while doing it.'"
With files from Nicholas Boisvert