Drag performer who received death threats for reading to children relives horrific ordeal – while another story event is called off due to safety fears
- Michael Dalton has spoken openly about the dangers he faces
- The Dolly Diamond artist said he is not intimidated
A drag queen has spoken out about the dangers of his job and vowed to keep performing after receiving death threats for reading to children.
Michael Dalton, who performs under the moniker Dolly Diamond, gave a lecture at Mount Gambier’s Library in South Australia in March despite staff at the scene receiving death threats.
He has since admitted to being scared during the performance because of “fear of the unknown.”
His comment comes as drag performers are increasingly under attack for hosting narrative library events with serious backlash that prompted a council to cancel a lecture scheduled for May 19.
Michael Dalton, who performs under the moniker Dolly Diamond, has vowed to continue reading to children despite death threats
The artist insisted that: ‘What is delivered to a younger audience should always be age appropriate’
“There’s always someone who believes it’s their right to take it to the next level and do something physical,” he told the ABC.
“I’m not going to go back on this, because there’s no reason to back down.”
Monash Council, in Victoria, announced on Thursday it is canceling a planned library event featuring drag stories for babies and toddlers following public outcry.
The lecture would take place on May 19, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Protesters stormed council chambers in south-east Melbourne to try to stop the sold-out event featuring drag queen performer Sam T at Oakleigh Library.
Tensions rose as protesters hurled swear words at supporters of pro-drag and LGBTIQA+ communities.
They were filmed banging against glass walls and shouting ‘shame on you’ to councillors.
Dr. Monash CEO Andi Diamond issued a statement announcing the decision to cancel the event due to safety concerns for staff and attendees.
Anti-trans protesters stormed a Monash Council meeting on Wednesday night, causing chaos (pictured)
Mr Dalton, who lives in Melbourne, stressed that there is a significant difference in the approach to a nightclub performance and an all-ages event, such as the one at Mount Gambier, where children are in the audience.
“What is delivered to a younger audience should always be age appropriate,” he said.
“It really shouldn’t matter if it’s a man in a dress or a man dressed as a banana or a kangaroo.”
Dalton said he believed many people had a problem with being labeled a drag queen.
“I never really saw Dolly as a drag queen in the [same] sense that Dame Edna was always just Dame Edna,” he says.
He said that was because the late comedian Barry Humphries was so adept at building the character over the years as a woman, not just a cross-dressing man.
A week ago he posted on Instagram: ‘The fact that we have to answer [drag] totally f***ing is ridiculous.’