Calgary-based Pastor Derek Reimer has been acquitted on all counts after he was charged for protesting a drag queen event for children at Calgary’s Saddle town Library.
In February 2023, Pastor Reimer protested a drag queen story hour event titled “Reading with Royalty” that took place at Calgary’s Seton Public Library.
Pastor Reimer, who went into the room where the event was taking place, was shortly after physically thrown out of the room, and subsequently arrested and charged for causing a disturbance and mischief.
In his victory statement, Reimer’s lawyer, Andrew MacKenzie, said, “This is an important exoneration. Pastor Reimer has been zealously prosecuted over the past two years for peacefully protesting drag events for children.”
MacKenzie added that “the trial judge found that the witnesses against him were contradictory and biased.”
In his decision, Justice A.A. Fradsham found that crown witnesses were “less than objective,” having found contradictory parts in evidence. Justice Fradsham found that one key witness was “bias[ed],” and with “an animus towards Mr. Reimer.”
‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ events have become common over the past couple of years. The events are similar to that of a teacher reading to her kindergarteners, but in this case, the teacher is an adult stranger who might be promiscuously crossdressed, and the story likely promotes the 81-genders theory.
Despite the court’s decision, Pastor Reimer was held in jail for 43 days.
