Calgary counter-protestors wear wings as symbol of protection at all-age drag event

A large group of counter-protestors wearing large pink wings were outside the doors of a southeast library as protestors showed up despite a recent bylaw.

Country Hills Library at Vivo was the latest Reading with Royalty event on Monday.

The bylaw recently passed by the city prevents protestors from coming within 100 meters of city libraries and recreational facilities.

Esther is a mom who brought her baby into the reading program and showed up in support.

“And I thought it would be so special to see something so sparkly and so magic and just so beautiful,” she said.

“I just wanted to show my support as well and show that love is love, and this is kind of silly that we’re protesting this, and this is really all about the children and them being able to see that they’re all different kinds of people in this world.”

“We specifically came to this one to show our support for the community,” said Deborah, a grandmother in attendance at the Reading for Royalty event.

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James Demers, a counter-protestor, says the wings carry a history and a special meaning of protection for those in attendance.

“This project was originally created by an activist in 1994 named Romaine Patterson,” he said.

“It was originally created to protect the funeral of Mathew Shepherd, who was murdered in 1994.”

The original action was a representation of angel wings. This display in Calgary is called the Fairy Guardian Project. It is the first time they are being used in a protest.

Counter-protestors wearing pink wings as part of the Fairy Guardian Project outside the Country Hills Library at Vivo in Calgary on Monday, March 27, 2023. (Danina Falkenberg, CityNews image)

Protestors planned to attend the public library at a distance, but very few showed up.

“I’m so proud of our community. I think that what is the most powerful about LGBT communities is our ability to organize under difficult and complex circumstances,” Demers said.

“We have a legacy of organizing with all of us to create something entirely new.”