Parents angered by Labour council's drag queen children's story time

Parents in uproar over Labour council’s drag queen children’s story time as more than 1,000 residents sign a petition in protest

• Locals in Brecon were angered at council’s decision to spend £300 hiring Aida
• The story hour was due to take place during Pride celebrations this weekend

A town is in uproar after Labour councillors decided to spend public money hiring a controversial drag queen for children’s story time.

More than 1,100 residents signed a petition protesting about Aida H Dee’s Drag Queen Story Hour, due to take place during Pride celebrations this weekend.

Locals in Brecon, South Wales, were angered at a decision by the town council to spend £300 hiring Aida, played by Sab Samuel, 28.

The performer and children’s author has been accused of being friends with late paedophile drag queen Darren Moore, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in 1999 after being convicted of raping a boy under 16, while himself a teenager.

Mr Samuel said he is friends with Moore’s husband, also called Darren Moore, and raised money to help him following Moore’s death, aged 39, in January.

Aida H Dee, who runs Drag Queen Story Hour (File Photo). Locals in Brecon, South Wales, were angered at a decision by the town council to spend £300 hiring Aida, played by Sab Samuel, 28

Parents have also criticised Mr Samuel’s social media posts. One, from last November, jokes: ‘Had a fabulous interview about how I have successfully made turning children gay possible. The answer (is) my gay books.’

Other posts include Mr Samuel joking about an orgy and pointing to a man’s naked bottom, and declaring ‘love has no age’.

One mother, who used to work as a teacher, said such posts would be ‘inappropriate’ in her former profession and could result in teachers being sacked.

Lucy Jones, 33, who now works in applied behaviour analysis, said: ‘This is nothing to do with his sexual orientation. This man has referred to being a role model for gay five-year-olds.

‘My eldest daughter, who is 13, is autistic, and statistically, autistic children have issues with their sense of identity as it is. It’s scary for parents.’

Protesters clash with counter protesters outside the Tate Britain gallery in London in response to Drag Queen Story Hour in February

Rosie Lord, a 33-year-old mother of three, said: ‘For any other adult in a position of authority with children and they had these personal links or Facebook posts, there would be an inquiry.

‘A lot of other parents say they agree with us but are concerned about being seen as homophobic or transphobic.’

The protests against Aida’s appearance have been backed by lesbian campaigner Ruthie Hill, who revealed on social media she has been branded a ‘homophobe’ and suffered a backlash ranging from threats online to even having a restaurant booking cancelled.

‘(All) because I object to a drag queen with known paedophile connections having an audience with children as young as three’, she said.

‘Clearly they don’t know the difference between gay liberation and child safeguarding.’

Iain McIntosh, a Conservative member of Powys County Council, which includes Brecon, who is backing the protesters, said: ‘I want to make it clear I have absolutely no issues whatsoever with drag artists (or) members of the LGBT community.

‘My concern is specifically about one artist only, Aida H Dee, and their suitability to present to children.’

Last week, the petition against Aida was taken down after a complaint was made to host website Change.org, by a supporter and a further complaint from Mr Samuel objecting to ‘inaccurate’ claims by protesters.

Sab Samuel performing as his flamboyant alter ego ‘Aida H Dee’, a play on the neurological disorder ADHD

Mr Samuel said the posts about turning children gay were ‘tongue in cheek’. Asked about other sexualised social media posts, he said: ‘I haven’t made any posts like that since I became a children’s entertainer in 2020.’

Of Mr Moore, he said: ‘The whole situation comes under one big misunderstanding. I was raising money to help his husband, who is a friend of mine and was not working any more because his husband died.

‘At Drag Queen Story Hour, I haven’t mentioned gender, we’ve never mentioned the word sex. Parents decide whether their kids come along.

‘I constantly heard stories growing up such as Beauty and the Beast, Prince Charming, all straight relationship books and I turned out gay, so parents are concerned about the wrong thing.’

Books by Cardiff-based Mr Samuel, who has been appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe despite protests, include My First Pride and It’s Snot a Problem, about two lesbian hedgehogs.

Brecon Town Council said: ‘Drag Queen Story Hour has been hosted across the UK and has received very positive feedback from both parents and children.

‘The performer has provided four years’ worth of DBS (disclosure and barring service) history, has completed a risk assessment in relation to their performance and has insurance in place.’

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