National Coming Out Day Celebration
Sunday, October 8th, 12-3 pm in front of the UMC, PAC Center, and Swarthmore Public Library.
All are welcome to Swarthmore Pride’s National Coming Out Day Celebration! This year marks the 35th anniversary of National Coming Out Day, championing the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals to live openly, authentically, and proudly as members of their communities.
Celebrate and show your support during a free, family-friendly afternoon, featuring speakers, music, crafts, games, Drag Queen Story Time with Ms. Balena Canto, face painting, local organizations, and a potluck picnic, with main course provided by the SUMC.
Sponsored by the Swarthmore Public Library, Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore United Methodist Church, and Gallery on Park.
Balena Canto (she/her) is Philadelphia’s song-wielding siren with a voice snatched for the gods! Born on the southern coast of Italia, Balena Canto sang out to sea conjuring a passing humpback whale who took her to a distant and mysterious land called “Philadelphia.” Balena’s favorite thing about her home is a local delicacy called, “water ice” (helps soothe the singer’s throat). Balena’s mission in life is to bring joy, laughter, and perhaps a tear or two (she is an opera singer after all) to her audiences through song. She firmly believes in the transformative and healing power of music and the performing arts. Just like the iconic Whitney Houston, Balena believes that, “the children are our future,” and frequently hosts Drag Queen Story Times at local libraries and other community venues teaching the next generation about diversity, self-love, creativity and acceptance. To learn more about Balena, please visit her website www.balenacanto.com
- SwPL is committed to supporting diversity.
- We consider the Library to be a safe and responsible space for all.
- Our mission is to empower our community to read, meet, discover and grow.
- Our vision is to offer a full range of services that enrich the lives of our residents from infants to seniors. Our aim is to serve all in our community.
- We believe that serving our diverse communities and their families is fulfilling our mission and vision. We are serving a previously underserved part of our population by offering LGBTQ+ programs.
- Just like our books and other items in our collection, it is each person’s choice what they would like to check out and read; it is the same with the programs we offer. There is something for everyone, but not everyone is obligated to attend everything we do.
- We are a Library for everyone.
- If you feel that Pride celebrations @ SwPL programs may not be for you, we have many other programs for children, and adults throughout the month.
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS Drag Queen Storytime
(Adapted from dragqueenstoryhour.org)
Is this program appropriate for children?
Drag Queen Storytime is designed for all ages. These artists/performers are trained by children’s librarians to read children’s books and sing children’s songs.
Should children be exposed to issues like gender fluidity?
Drag Queen Storytime teaches children to embrace gender diversity in themselves and in others, and helps to curb bullying of our LGBTQ children and kids who may be perceived as different in all kinds of ways.
Why is this program necessary?
Research states that LGBTQ+ inclusive programs like Drag Queen Storytime are a vital part of making the world a safe and affirming place for all children. All children need role models. Diverse programs teach children to embrace diversity and learn empathy.
What is a drag queen?
Drag is an artistic way of expressing yourself and showing the world different parts of who you are and who you want to be. These artists/performers often express feminine sides or different aspects of their gender and personality through dressing up, putting on performances, marching in parades, and volunteering in their communities. There are drag queens, drag kings, drag princes, and drag princesses—anyone can be any of the above! All that matters is that, when you play and dress up, you feel comfortable and creative.
Should I call the drag queen “she” or “he” or “they” or something else?
You can ask them! It’s always OK to ask someone what their PGP is. PGP means Personal Gender Pronoun. Examples of PGPs are she, he, and they. Some people have the same PGP all the time. Some people have different PGPs at different times, like when they’re in drag or not in drag.
Isn’t this confusing for children? What if the children have questions and I don’t know how to answer them?
This actually answers their questions and eliminates any confusion children might have. There are many things in the world that are confusing. Adults don’t always have all the answers, but we can ask questions and learn together. A great place to start is Sez Me, a free LGBTQ web series for the whole family. We also recommend looking at resources from organizations like Gender Spectrum, GLSEN, and PFLAG, as well as local LGBTQ groups.