Glitter Hole
Glitter Hole is a "DIY drag collective" from Ireland, who have performed at Dublin Fringe Festival.[1][2][3][4]
They perform "Drag Story Time" events for children, such as at Party in the Park as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin.,[5] upon which they were recommended to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Libraries.[6] But in April 2019, the scheduled event in Deansgrange Library and was cancelled by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council.[7] Initially DLR claimed the event was "not age-appropriate",[8] prompting claims of homophobia, then later claiming the event was cancelled due to "significant concern at the high level of degrading, inappropriate comments on social media about the performers and library staff."[9][10][11][12][13][14]
The cancellation renewed conversations about Ireland's censorship laws.[15]
References
- "Glitter HOLE (@GlitterHoleDub) / Twitter". Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- Moloney, Stephen (23 March 2019). "LGBTQI+ nightlife: Genre-busting, gender-bending gas". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Already, Hayden has taken Glitter HOLE to Body & Soul and the Dublin Fringe Festival.
- Mullally, Una. "Pillow Queens: 'If I saw a band like us onstage, I'd be obsessed'". The Irish Times.
At Body & Soul, the audience was dominated by young women. Later in the festival, Connolly performed with the queer performance troupe (and underground queer cabaret night of the same name) Glitterhole. The band embraces its queerness
- O'Kelly, Emer (2 September 2018). "Strong language, nudity - even plays". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- "Party in the Park". International Literature Festival Dublin. 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- @DLR_Libraries (12 April 2019). "This group held a storytime session for this age group at the International Literature Festival Dublin in 2018; they were very well received and came highly recommended to us" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @GlitterHoleDub (15 April 2019). "It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that our upcoming Drag Story Time event has been cancelled by @dlrcc We were contacted by DLR last month and asked to put on one of our drag storytelling performances to celebrate Pride. 1/6" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Cancellation of event". 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019.
dlr Libraries wish to advise that the Drag Story Time event planned to take place on Wednesday 26th June at 3pm in Deansgrange Library will not now go ahead. This event was programmed as an age appropriate, family-friendly story time session. However, following a review in terms of age appropriateness, this event will not now go ahead at this time
- @GlitterHoleDub (15 April 2019). "DLR Libraries have revised their statement to admit that the event was cancelled due to the volume of targeted homophobia rather than concerns over the "age appropriateness" of our event. I'm still awaiting an apology from them for the implications of their earlier statement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- McGarry, Patsy (15 April 2019). "Drag storytelling event for children cancelled due to 'degrading' comments". The Irish Times.
- Farrell, Rachel (15 April 2019). "'Drag story time' event for children cancelled at Dublin library after backlash". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- "Cancellation of dlr libraries event - Drag Story Time". 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019.
With regard to the cancellation of the Drag Story Time event in June, we wish to clarify that the cancellation was due to our significant concern at the high level of degrading, inappropriate comments on social media about the performers and library staff.
- Gaden Gilmartin, Cassia (15 April 2019). "Glitter Hole's 'Drag Story Time' Children's Event Cancelled At Dublin Library". Gay Community News.
DLR Libraries cited a review of the event's "age appropriateness" in a statement yesterday, but has since claimed 'Drag Story Time' was cancelled due to safety concerns.
- Coyne, Ellen (16 April 2019). "'Drag story time' for children is axed over homophobic backlash". The Times.
- Thomas, Cónal (20 April 2019). "Calls for repeal of Censorship Act following cancellation of drag storytelling event". TheJournal.ie.