Drag Queen Story Hour UK will be making a return to Cowbridge Library this week to mark LGBT+ History Month and educate children about people who are thought of as different.

The sessions will be held at the library tomorrow (February 22) and have been brought back to Cowbridge after receiving positive feedback from children who attended previous sessions last year.

Sab Samuel, aka Aida H Dee, 27, who lives in Cardiff, set up Drag Queen Story Hour UK and started drag as a result of being bullied at school at the age of 15. "I was asked to play the evil villainess in drag and, although I was extremely bullied and called names like 'gay' and 'effeminate', I still played the part in drag and it was fun," said Aida.

"I ended up getting rave reviews, but the thing I remember most is one of the bullies the next day coming up to me in school saying, 'you did that in drag didn't you?'. He then said, 'fair play mate'. I remember in that moment it allowed me to be myself regardless of what other people were saying."

After completing a degree in Mathematics, Aida decided to pursue a full-time career in drag and opportunities to perform started to flood in.

But it was watching a unique initiative in the US that Aida thought of the idea of starting Drag Queen Story Hour UK. He writes his own children's books that he reads at every session. "I dedicate my life to doing what I do," said Aida.

"We don't just read stories about LGBTQ+ issues – there are some amazing causes out there that matter to me," said Aida. He claims to be the only drag queen in Europe to read stories to children and has also worked with Greenpeace and other organisations such as the NHS during the pandemic.

But aside from the children's positive feedback, how has the Cowbridge community responded to Drag Queen Story Hour UK?

"There was an unfortunate moment last time I was at Cowbridge Library," said Aida. "I faced some hateful people and the police had to be called. There was a WhatsApp group that wanted to attend the library and protest. Nobody did in the end, but it happened in the way that it happened, and the session went really well in the end."

But would that not put Aida H Dee off from holding another Drag Queen Story Hour UK session at Cowbridge Library?

"It made me want to go back. How else am I able to help those people to be educated on exactly what it is they think they are against? I'm there to provide an education which is the whole point of Drag Queen Story UK, to educate on people who are different."

Drag Queen Story Hour UK sessions at Cowbridge Library will take place tomorrow (February 22). The first session will start at 11:00 – 12:00 for under fours and the second session at 12:30 – 13:30 will be held for children over five years old.

If you would like to attend, call Cowbridge Library on 01446 773941 or email [email protected]

Click here to find out more about Drag Queen Story Hour UK.