Police pull drag queen from kid's story time event

In this clip from the PoliticsJOE Podcast, Ava and Conor are joined by drag performer and TV personality Divina De Campo to unpack the recent controversy in Belfast, where a planned Drag Story Time event was abruptly cut short. What should have been a joyful, family-friendly reading session became the centre of a political storm, as protestors targeted the event with claims that have little basis in reality.

The discussion explores how manufactured outrage—fuelled by misinformation, culture war talking points, and bad-faith actors—has turned drag events into a lightning rod for broader debates about LGBTQ+ visibility. Divina, drawing on years of experience performing and working with young audiences, explains the true purpose of drag story times: encouraging creativity, literacy, and inclusivity in a fun, engaging way.

Ava and Conor look at how similar incidents have unfolded across the UK and Ireland, with drag performers increasingly facing harassment for simply existing in public spaces. The conversation also touches on the role of the media and politicians in amplifying or defusing these moral panics, and why drag has become such a convenient scapegoat for those pushing divisive agendas.

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