Re: Diverse Storytime in Free Speech row, article of June 19;
I am a 65-year-old grandmother and I attended the Storytime with my daughter-inlaw and grandchildren, aged eight and fiver years.
I did not know what to expect but went with a positive outlook and an open mind. Lara Grunow and her guests, Shane OnYou and Felicia Bonee held an absolutely delightful storytime, along with several interactive songs and dances. Shane and Felicia read wonderful stories about children who had dreams and ideas that were a bit different from what their friends and families thought they should have. In the stories they were laughed at and told be different than who they were.
During the stories, Shane and Felicia asked the children how they felt when someone made fun of them and engaged in a gentle conversation about how everyone is a little different from one another, except that we all want to feel good about ourselves.
They spoke about being made fun of and how badly that makes you feel. As has been my experience with other transgender individuals, they spoke with gentleness, kindness, empathy and compassion and most certainly with humour, about any subject people felt comfortable discussing.
This was most definitely a family oriented experience with no hint of impropriety whatsoever and I believe and hope it opens doors in peoples minds, of all ages, to acceptance of diversity with grace rather than judgement.
Shannon Mouck
Okotoks