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Saint John drag king has no plans to stop hosting events for kids, despite online hate | CBC News

Saint John drag king has no plans to stop hosting events for kids, despite online hate | CBC News

Alex Saunders loves doing drag storytime for kids and has no plans to stop, even after being the target of online hate.   

Saunders, a Saint John drag king whose stage name is Justin Toodeep, has been a drag performer for 12 years.

They’ve also been a dedicated volunteer with the YMCA and the Salvation Army, as well as spending the past five years reading books and making crafts with kids through the public library with drag storytime.

“Doing drag is about first and foremost giving back to your community,” they said. 

The past week, though, Saunders experienced something they say they’ve been through before.

Alex Saunders, also known as Justin Toodeep, helped host a drag storytime with the Saint John Free Public Library on June 5. This is a photo from the actual event. (Supplied by Alex Saunders)

They’ve been receiving hate messages, some even threatening their life, after Saint John People’s Party of Canada candidate Nicholas Pereira made an online post about a drag storytime event.

Saunders was part of that event last weekend through the Saint John Free Public Library in Market Square.

Pereira paired the event’s information with an unrelated image of a young person tipping a burlesque dancer by putting money in their underwear, spreading misinformation about what drag story time is all about. 

He has since deleted the post, but not before it reached hundreds, causing both strangers and people Saunders knows to attack them online.

“I haven’t been letting it get me down too much,” Saunders said. “But it makes me feel very unsafe in my own community.” 

No plans to stop

Although they fear for their personal safety, Saunders has no intention of stepping back from drag performances, including events for kids.

Support from the community has kept pace with the hatred they’ve been experiencing, they said, and they plan to keep going and perform at more Pride celebrations in Saint John in August.

“The outpouring of love from my own community, and from supporters and allies has been unreal, absolutely unreal.”

The library said it has hosted four drag storytime events, intended to celebrate diversity during Pride Month, and people have been “very supportive.”

“Activities such as this are a healthy part of a child’s development as they develop an understanding of and respect for differences, while feeling free to explore identities,” head librarian Laura Corscadden said in an email.

“Programs such as this have been offered successfully over the past several years in many other public libraries in other jurisdictions around North America.”

Saunders said they want to be part of events for kids because kids don’t have very many queer role models.

“They see me out there, being my weird self and living my best life. And, you know, they fall in love with that,” Saunders said.

Saunders said because they have a charisma kids are drawn toward, the least they can do for the community is read to children and show them there are different kinds of people in the world.

“People need to know that they’re not alone. And that’s what I like about drag story time. Plus, how cool is it to read stories to kids, make them happy and give them cookies?”

What happens at drag storytime?

Blair Richardson and her family moved to New Brunswick from Toronto a year and a half ago.

Richardson, who has a young daughter nicknamed Mouse, said her family was always connected with the queer community in Toronto, going to events like drag storytime and drag brunches. 

“I think a lot of youth need to not only hear it if they are part of that community, or will eventually be, but also the kids that will just grow up to be straight,” said Richardson, a supporter of the drag storytime series in Saint John.

“It’s important that they hear the regularity of the stories that are presented here, the inclusion, the messages of love.”

While she’s noticed a difference in how many queer-friendly places are available in Saint John — there are no gay bars, for example — she said attending events like drag story time has helped her family find friends when they didn’t know anybody in the city.

She even worked with the library to expand storytime events beyond just Pride week in August.

Richardson said the drag storytime events themselves are always full of colour and costume — all outfits are appropriate for kids, she added.

Her daughter also loves books and reading.

“It really combines a lot of the passions that a five year old should have, which are, you know, stage and entertainment and literacy.”

Blair Richardson’s daughter, Mouse, plans to try out drag herself for the first time this summer — using the name ‘Mouse-tache’. (Supplied by Blair Richardson)

The stories the drag kings and drag queens read to kids usually focus on themes of acceptance and being yourself — Richardson pointed to a recent story by Michael Hall called Red: A Crayon’s Story about a blue crayon inside a red wrapper that goes on a journey to find its true colours.

On top of reading stories, kids get to do crafts and have a snack at drag story time. 

“It’s just a really beautiful event for kids to be a part of,” Richardson said.

Her daughter, who looks forward to drag storytime “more so than anything else in life,” is even trying out drag for the first time later this summer.

“Mouse just wants to be just like Alex, in kind of every aspect of life, and really looks up to them.”

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Champions League final: UEFA under pressure to move game from Saint Petersburg due to Russia-Ukraine tension

The UEFA Champions League trophy on display in the ground during a training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League final, at the Estadio do Dragao, Portugal. Picture date: Friday May 28, 2021.

UEFA is considering moving this season’s Champions League final away from St Petersburg in response to the threat of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The move comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is “no chance” Russia will be allowed to host major football tournaments as a result of its decision to “invade a sovereign country”.

The Champions League is due to be played at the Gazprom Arena on May 28 but the location is now under review, with UEFA confident it would be able to change the venue.

The governing body has previously been able to move prestigious events at short notice, including the previous two Champions League finals.

The 2021 final – which saw Chelsea defeat Manchester City – was also set to be played in Saint Petersburg, but was eventually played in Porto due to Covid travel restrictions.

Covid also saw the 2020 final moved from Istanbul to Lisbon, where Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain.

Wembley would be a possible alternative venue if Saint Petersburg is stripped of hosting rights, although the English Football League play-offs are due to be played there on the same weekend.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine are rising after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two breakaway regions, while Ukraine is considering breaking off diplomatic ties with their neighbour.

Boris: ‘No chance’ Russia can hold football tournaments

Prime Minister Johnson told MPs on Tuesday: “It’s absolutely vital in this critical moment that President Putin understands that what he is doing is going to be a disaster for Russia.

Boris Johnson has commended the 'brave testimony' of Azeem Rafiq
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Boris Johnson says Russia will become a ‘pariah’ as a result of its actions in Ukraine

“And it is clear from the response of the world to what he has done already in Donbas that he is going to end up with a Russia that is poorer as a result of the sanctions that the world will implement.

“A Russia that is more isolated, a Russia that has pariah status – no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries.

“A Russia that is engaged in a bloody and debilitating conflict with a fellow Slav country. What an appalling result for President Putin.

“I hope that he steps back from the brink and does not conduct a full invasion.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Russia’s actions last night are a flagrant breach of its international commitments that undermines its standing in the world.

“We have serious concerns about the hosting of international sporting events in Russia, such as the Champions League Final, and will discuss these with the relevant governing bodies.

“We will not allow President Putin to exploit sporting and cultural events on the world stage to legitimise his renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

Champions League state of play: Chelsea host Lille | Man Utd at Atletico

The Champions League knockout stages continue this week as holders Chelsea host Lille on Tuesday, while Manchester United travel to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Chelsea and United will be hoping to follow Premier League sides Manchester City and Liverpool in securing first-leg leads in the last 16, after Pep Guardiola’s men thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-0 and Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Inter Milan 2-0.

Chelsea beat Manchester City to win the Champions League in 2020/21
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European champions Chelsea host Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday

Chelsea will host a side that has endured an alarming collapse, with Lille going from French champions last season to mid-table now, 23 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea, by contrast, have recovered from a wobble to win back-to-back Premier League matches and maintain their hold on third place.

Meanwhile, if Ralf Rangnick is to win a trophy during his interim reign as Manchester United manager, it can only be by delivering the club’s fourth European Cup.

The German’s team has already exited the FA Cup, but he has overseen a recovery in the Premier League since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s firing, taking 25 points from 12 games to take United from sixth to fourth.

Atletico are led by the longest-serving coach remaining in this season’s Champions League. But fresh from marking a decade in charge in December, Atletico are enduring one of their most turbulent moments under Diego Simeone. The team is inconsistent – much like United – and Simeone is feeling the heat.

There was an encouraging 3-0 win at Osasuna at the weekend but Atletico had lost four of their previous six games in all competitions before Saturday, including eliminations from the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey.

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SJU Wins 15 Events in Home Invitational – Saint John’s University Athletics

SJU Wins 15 Events in Home Invitational - Saint John's University Athletics

Results

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John’s track and field won 15 of the 18 events at its home invitational on Saturday, Feb. 12, in the Donald McNeely Spectrum. 

The Johnnies recorded 33 top-three marks/times in a field that included participants from Concordia-Moorhead, Minnesota-Morris, the Minnesota Running Club, Division II MSU-Moorhead and the St. Cloud State Run Club.

SJU, led by junior Kevin Arthur’s (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) 6.94 seconds, claimed the three fastest times in the 60-meter dash. Seniors Ryan Miller (Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Jack Young (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) followed in second (6.98) and third (7.16), respectively. Arthur also won the 200-meter sprint in 22.97 and Young was second (23.11).

The home squad also recorded the top three times in the 1,000 meters, led by sophomore Tommy Allen (Woodbury, Minn./St. Paul Academy) in 2:32.35. Juniors Alexei Hensel (Buffalo, Minn.) and Will Mattock (Maryville, Mo.) followed in second (2:33.92) and third (2:40.59). The times for Allen and Hensel are the MIAC’s top two in the event so far this season.

SJU swept the top three marks in the high jump, led by freshman Alec Ungar (Eden Prairie, Minn./Chanhassen) at 1.90 meters. Senior Sam Rademacher (Marshall, Minn.) and freshman Anthony Thurk (St. Bonifacius, Minn./Waconia) tied for second after both cleared 1.80 meters on their second attempt. Ungar also placed second in the long jump with a season-best mark of 6.44 meters.

Senior Shawn Schindler (Maple Grove, Minn.) led the SJU trio atop the pole-vault leaderboard with a height of 4.57 meters, and sophomore Joe Charbonneau (New Richmond, Wis.) and junior Joe Stauffer (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) tied for second (4.27 meters).

Junior Jared Stanke (Anoka, Minn./Elk River) and junior Maguire Petersen (Hutchinson, Minn.) went 1 (8.72)-2 (8.75) with season-best times in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior Michael Wallace (Nassau, Bahamas/St. Anne’s) and junior Elijah Wade (Waco, Texas/Vanguard College Prep) finished first (13.75 meters) and second (12.84 meters) in the triple jump. Wallace’s mark was his best this season and is first in the MIAC.

Junior Eli Mollet (Jefferson, S.D./Bishop Heelan Catholic, Iowa) won the weight throw with a toss of 16.97 meters and classmate Gavin Rupp (Villard, Minn./Minnewaska Area) was close behind in third (16.79 meters). The duo also finished in the shot put’s top three thanks to season-best marks, with Mollet second (14.38 meters) and Rupp third (13.95 meters).

SJU’s other individual event wins:

-Senior Omavi Collison (Nassau, Bahamas/St. Anne’s) in the 400 meters (51.99);

-Senior Dillon Diekmann (Lake Elmo, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) in the 3,000 meters (8:59.59);

-Senior Andy Goldsmith (Tulsa, Okla./Cascia Hall) in the 5,000 meters (15:34.45);

-Senior Brady Labine (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) in the 600 meters (1:26.12);

-Junior Tom Nemanich (Red Wing, Minn.) in the mile run (4:35.79);

The Johnnies’ 4×200-meter (1:32.82; Arthur, Miller, Young, Collison) and 4×400-meter (3:32.56; Hernandez, Allen, Hensel, Labine) relays both took first place.

Senior Nathan Meyer (Iowa City, Iowa/Regina) claimed second in the 3,000 meters (9:00.95), while juniors Nathan Clausing (Big Lake, Minn.) and Jorge Hernandez (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) took second in the 800 (2:04.73) 600 meters (1:28.81), respectively.

The Johnnies travel south to compete at Division II MSU-Mankato’s Maverick Invitational on Friday, Feb. 18.