Community provides support after bomb threat at Thunder Bay Drag Queen Storytime event

People are rallying around Thunder Bay's LGBTQ2+ community after a bomb threat was made against a Drag Queen Storytime event that was scheduled to happen over the weekend. 

The Thunder Bay Public Library received the threat on Saturday ahead of the Storytime with Thunder Bay Drag Queens event planned for later that day. The event was cancelled and the facility was closed for the rest of the day as a precaution.

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) says no credible threat was found but an investigation remains ongoing.

"Incidents like this are a significant draw on police resources and are disruptive and disparaging to many community members," says a statement from the TBPS issued Monday afternoon.

"While people have the right to voice or demonstrate views that oppose inclusivity initiatives, those who choose to break the law are subject to criminal charges."

The Thunder Bay threat comes amid rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Canada over the past few years.

Statistics Canada's most recent report on hate crimes says that 2022 marked an all-time high for police-reported hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation, with 491 cases. That's a 12 per cent rise from the previous all-time high in 2021. 

The purpose of the storytime events is to educate children and families about diversity while celebrating people's differences in a safe, inclusive space, according to the organizers. 

"Attacking StoryTime with Drag Queens with a bomb threat not only undermines the safety of the participants and attendees but also aims to instill fear and division within the community," says a joint media statement from Rainbow Collective, Thunder Pride and Wiggins Production issued Monday.

"This reprehensible act not only disrupts the event but also sends a chilling message that spaces of inclusion and celebration can be threatened, discouraging individuals from participating in similar initiatives in the future."

'We stand in solidarity'

Storytime with Thunder Bay Drag Queens will return in April and continue on a monthly basis "for the foreseeable future," says the library.

"The Thunder Bay Public Library is open to all, and proudly so! We stand in solidarity with Thunder Bay's 2SLGBTQIA+ community and are committed to continuing to present inclusive storytime," said Tina Maronese, director of communities with the Thunder Bay Public Library, in a media release Monday.

"We encourage everyone to attend and participate in the equity, diversity and inclusivity of Storytime with Thunder Bay Drag Queens."

Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. (RnCRC), the sponsor of Storytime with Thunder Bay Drag Queens, also issued a statement of support on Monday following the bomb threat. 

"Community. Literacy. Connection. These are the core values driving RnCRC everyday. They are also what led us to become the official sponsor of Drag Storytime for the Thunder Bay Public Library," it says.

"This program empowers young people to express themselves as beautiful and unique individuals that bring joy to the world. And sharing a love of reading is always a win-win in our books!"

LGBTQ2+ advocates to meet with police

Rainbow Collective and Thunder Pride are holding a community conversation with the city's police chief and others from the Thunder Bay police leadership team on April 11 to discuss the "escalating numbers of hate incidents in our city," their joint statement says.

"We refuse to let fear and intimidation deter us. A new generation of activists, inspired by the bravery of those who came before us, will prevail. Together, we will overcome adversity and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future."

Both the library and those involved with the storytime event thanked the TBPS for keeping everyone safe.

Anyone with information about the bomb threat is asked to contact the TBPS at 807-684-1200. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.