Hundreds of protesters gather in support of the drag queen storytelling that is the aim of the rally

Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside a south London pub to support a children’s drag queen storytelling event after opposition group Turning Point UK announced plans to try to stop it.

The event at The Honor Oak pub in Lewisham has drawn dozens of LGBT+ rights campaigners and locals in support after police rushed to the venue fearing another right-wing rally like the one seen outside Tate Britain earlier this month was.

The reading will be moderated by drag queen That Girl, who contradicts Turing Point UK’s claims that the storytelling session is not suitable for children.

They told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We encourage a love of stories and I’m just a clown in a pretty dress supporting that. It’s absolutely age appropriate. To suggest otherwise is misinformation.”

Dozens of police officers were photographed at the scene in anticipation of possible clashes between Turning Point UK and supporters of LGBT+ rights – but at first it appeared no right-wing activists had turned up.

Hundreds of protesters descended on the Honor Oak pub through Saturday noon, almost all of them supporting drag queen That Girl

One person was apparently arrested by police during the protest and counter-protest

Counter-protesters with flags and signs lined the streets with no right-wing protesters in sight

It follows a huge protest that turned ugly at Tate Britain earlier this month after drag queen Aida H. Dee, the face of drag queen Story Hour UK, was hired to read to children in the gallery.

Right-wing organization Turning Point UK took to social media on Friday to publicize their plans to protest tonight’s event in a bid to prevent it.

According to eyewitnesses at the scene, around 30 protesters eventually arrived at the pub on Saturday, only to be vastly outnumbered by counter-protesters.

Ahead of the event, the Honor Oak Pub released a statement on Facebook stressing that the event was suitable for children.

The post read: “We realized there might be some misunderstandings about the event so wanted to reassure you all that our popular Magical Storytelling event will be age appropriate and no different than what families will see and be together in experience in a theatre.”

Drag Queen That Girl also issued a statement on social media: “We have been made aware of plans to protest our event and are grateful to those who have offered to attend in solidarity with us.

“If you feel safe and able to join us, please come along and note that our event will be a display of strange joy and solidarity.

“We ask that you do not engage with protesters – they are not seeking a conversation and we will not honor their bigotry with a response.

“Should you need them, there will be security on site. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you.’

A small group of anti-drag protesters were pictured at the scene but were vastly outnumbered

There was a heavy police presence at the scene after Turning Point UK said it would protest the event

The storytelling session will be led by Drag Queen That Girl and should start at 11am

But by the 11 a.m. start time, only people who were there for the story hour seemed to have turned up at the location

Many of the activists in the pub held signs reading ‘Let’s not split from the far right’.

Dozens of counter-protesters descended on the Lewisham venue after hearing protesters were planning to block storytelling

Police pictured arriving at the scene in south-east London on Saturday morning

The drag storytelling hour is just the latest in a series of events across the UK to attract protests.

Far-right organizations like Patriotic Alternative have been protesting at venues across the UK in recent months to stop drag queens from reading stories to children.

Two weeks ago, far-right protesters clashed with largely peaceful supporters of LGBT+ rights outside Tate Britain at a separate storytelling event.

One person was arrested at the protest on suspicion of making a racially abusive comment towards a police officer outside the art gallery in central London.

Around 30 far-right protesters clashed with a similar number of counter-protesters who showed up in support of the storytelling.

After the event, Aida H. Dee tweeted, “I’m in tears. I’m writing this crying in a subway station. I may not be proud of my government but I am goddamn proud of my community today!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

“I listed my OWN published books AND IT WAS FABULOUS!!!”

A Tate spokesman said: “Police attended a disturbance outside Tate Britain this morning. The gallery remained open to visitors throughout the day and all events went ahead as planned.’

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk