COPS guarded a drag queen event aimed at kids as young as three after banner-waving protesters faced off with fans.
Seven officers stood outside Edinburgh’s Assembly Roxy venue today as Sab Samuel, 28, put on his Fringe show under the name Aida H Dee.
Nearby, a group of six men and women held up placards saying “Drag is not for children” and “Groom dogs not kids”.
Some used a megaphone to shout: “Take your children home” and, “Drag is adult entertainment.”
And one, who declined to be named, said: “Why on earth this is allowed to be part of the festival is beyond me. We should not be exposing kids to this.”
Meanwhile, around 20 people waved the blue and pink transgender flag to show support for the flamboyant artist.
After his Drag Queen Story Hour show, a smiling Samuel posed for photos — and took a selfie with protesters in the background.
A poster called it “family theatre” suitable for kids three and over.
The performance was described as “a whirlwind of imagination, joy, and self-expression, celebrating the art of drag and power of storytelling”.
Organisers Assembly Festival insisted it was “suitable for younger audiences” and they’d “no reservation in presenting it at the Fringe”.
Samuel said later: “We had a small band of protesters but we had a rainbow sea of supporters. My LGBTQ community came out to show Edinburgh we will not back down to fascism.”
But Tory MSP Sue Webber said: “The public will be wondering why it’s appropriate for this Fringe act to be advertised to children as young as three. I share concerns raised by people.”
Police Scotland confirmed they attended at the event but no arrests were made.
Earlier this year Samuel helped to raise funds for the funeral of Darren Meah-Moore, 39, a drag queen found dead in Cardiff.
Meah-Moore, previously known as Darren Sewell, was jailed for three years as a teenager for raping a boy aged under 16.