Supporters outnumber protesters outside Winnipeg drag queen story hour event

A group of nearly 200 counter-protesters stood outside a Winnipeg coffee shop on Saturday morning as a drag queen story hour took place inside — an event which drew about 40 protesters and a police presence, after the venue owner received threatening messages.

The protesters “don’t even know what they’re actually complaining about,” said Katrina Tessier, owner of Scout Coffee and Tea.

She says three local drag queens approached her to host a Halloween-themed drag story hour event for children at her location on Rothesay Street, in northeast Winnipeg.

While Scout has hosted many storytime events in the past, none had involved drag queens, Tessier said.

“We