Wollongong drag queen star Roxee Horror will be back this year to read more stories to children but that's not all Wollongong City Libraries is doing to celebrate Pride Month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The program of events has expanded to include two panel discussions celebrating the LGBTQI community during June.
Rainbow Storytime will be held on June 15 at 10am and Roxee will read stories to children, sing rhymes and there will be games.
Library and community services manager Jenny Thompson said she hoped the month of activities would be educational, supportive and celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQI community.
"We are hoping there is as warm of a response as last time," she said.
"Libraries are a neutral place in the community where anyone can come into the library and feel welcome."
The second event is called Same, Same but Different and will be held on June 18 at the library from 5.30pm. The free panel discussion will ask awkward questions about dating, identity, family dynamics, mental health and prejudice.
Attendees will hear the lived experiences of people with a disability, parents and carers and community service providers as they share their stories.
"The people who are sharing their stories are being very generous and hopefully it opens up the dialogue," Ms Thompson said.
The third event will be Queerstories at the Wollongong Art Gallery on June 28 for ages 16 and up.
Queerstories author Maeve Marsden will talk to prominent Wollongong's LGBTQI personalities for a night of stories, battles fought, pride, prejudice, love and humour.
Ms Thompson said the library chose to focus on the sharing of stories because that was one of the best ways to change social attitudes.
"For those LGBTQI people to explain what they have and are going through is an affirming experience," she said.
"If young people are scared about coming out it might be great to see another LGBTQI person who is proud and celebrated.
"By telling their own stories it gives those people ownership over their lives and experiences."
Last year's drag storytime event caused a lot of controversy with the library coping a lashing from online trolls who disagreed with the library allowing a drag queen to read a story to children.
Many social media users came to the defence of the library and encouraged the event.
The event was extremely popular with about 300 people attending.
"Those who did respond negative, I hope have learnt and have a more mature understanding now," Ms Thompson said.
The program of events is part of the library emphasis on being inclusive and telling all members of the community that they are welcome at the library.
"We want to reach out to all sections of the community to tell them all Wollongong libraries are here for everyone who live in and visits Wollongong," Ms Thompson said.
"As part of the library's strategy, we are focusing on inclusion and sections of the community that might not see themselves in mainstream events."
Ms Thompson said the library's policies helped homeless people; made a safe, sensory friendly space for people with autism, would start Auslan sessions to assist deaf people, as well as sessions for recently-arrived refugees.
The library's standard program of activities including born to read, knitting groups, movie nights, music sessions and more are also being promoted as diverse and inclusive of all people.
Mr Thompson said parents trusted their teenage students would be safe when they went to events at the library and Library's major festival Comic Gong was a popular attraction for young people to express their love of pop culture.
The library also have an ever-expanding diverse collection of books and online resources in about 50 languages.
The public computers and technology sessions help those who might not understand computers or don't have access to the internet.
Sign up to our newsletters
