The lady with the head of flowers, oversized pink reading glasses and leather heels turned the page on a small book and pointed to a picture of a raccoon standing upright.

害羞草研究所淐an you walk on your tiptoes?害羞草研究所� they asked the room full of children, who happily obliged. 害羞草研究所淚 have to in these shoes.害羞草研究所�

The parents laughed, and Chase Adams害羞草研究所檚 bright purple lips smiled before their continued on with the story.

Adams, a local drag performer whose real name is Ryan Gallant, was the latest guest reader at Kootenay Kids. Every Wednesday the childcare centre, when possible, invites a community member to spend 15 minutes reading and interacting with kids and parents.

With the exception of Pride events, such as a brunch held earlier this year, Adams rarely wears drag during the day. Their performance outfit, they said, is far more provocative than the heavily accessorized yellow and black dress they borrowed from their partner for story time.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 couture,害羞草研究所� Adams quipped.

There were no questions from the group about Adams 害羞草研究所� the target audience was too young to discuss topics such as gender identity 害羞草研究所� but Adams said just being there helps children and parents learn about diversity and acceptance.

They pointed to their three-year-old daughter Ella, who was in the audience for the reading, as their biggest fan.

害羞草研究所淭he kids don害羞草研究所檛 have that filter about gender or expectations,害羞草研究所� said Adams. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more about fun and being able to be accepting. They害羞草研究所檙e our greatest teachers. To see kids almost not even think twice about the whole getup is so great because it害羞草研究所檚 learned later about acceptance and different biases.

害羞草研究所淪o it害羞草研究所檚 great for them to get this experience when they are younger so they know it害羞草研究所檚 OK to be whatever they want to be.害羞草研究所�

Previous readers have included a pair of grandmothers and a letter carrier, with a chef set to visit for Halloween. Nicole Purvis, the children害羞草研究所檚 playgroup facilitator at Kootenay Kids, said the centre had been looking for the right person to do a drag story time.

害羞草研究所淒rag story time is a thing that happens in bigger cities but hasn害羞草研究所檛 happened here yet,害羞草研究所� said Purvis. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been talking about it for a while, the literacy community has been talking about it. It was just a matter of finding somebody who was willing.

害羞草研究所淐hase is a member of the parenting community in Nelson, so Chase was a really natural fit and was willing and has a comfort with young children. So it was a perfect fit. I害羞草研究所檓 not sure we knew we would find that.害羞草研究所�

tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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