Comments left on social media have labelled the council “absolutely disgusting” and incorrectly link the story time event to child grooming and the sexualisation of minors.

Drag acts and trans rights have become a target for fringe groups that have protested against issues including 5G,15-minute cities,COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccination.

Boroondara City Council on Wednesday cancelled a drag story time event over fears of threats and anti-social behaviour after “closely monitoring recent events across Victoria”. Casey City Council last monthscratched a series of drag performances because of similar protests,whilea cafe in Chelsea called off a children’s craft and games event hosted by drag queens after becoming concerned for the safety of performers and staff.

The issue has become a flashpoint since an anti-trans rights demonstration was held outside Victorian parliament on March 18,with some attendees seenperforming Nazi salutes.

Protesters have also been seeking to shut down events for transgender people and drag acts inthe US and UK.

Monash City Council chief executive Dr Andi Diamond said the council was committed to standing by its drag event to support the LGBTQ community.

“Drag story time introduces children to diverse role models and encourages acceptance,love,and respect of people in our LGBTQIA+ community,” she said.

“We will continue to conduct risk assessments to ensure that it can be delivered safely.”

While the drag event was not an official item on the council meeting agenda,about 30 questions relating to LGBTQ issues were submitted to the council for public question time.

Diamond said the council started to receive a significant and sudden increase in messages,emails and calls in late March when the event was shared through online groups.

“Council is used to working and communicating with people in a heightened state,but the level of anger related to this issue has been concerning,with direct approaches to councillors and staff at times overstepping the line of what we believe to be appropriate,” she said.

Petitions against the drag event were established on Change.org then removed,before a new petition was started on a different platform.

A group called Voice For Kids was recently set up against “radical gender ideology” and nominated Monash Council’s meeting as its first event. “We will send a clear message to Monash councillors that drag queen shows are not appropriate for children,” its website states.

A domain search shows the website is registered to prominent anti-lockdown campaignerMonica Smit and the group she founded,Reignite Democracy Australia. In a tweet,the organisation claimed Voice For Kids was not its project but “helped them create a basic website”.

Key influencers have voiced their objection to the drag event including former basketballerAndrew Bogut and United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet,who urged others to join him at the council meeting protest. Known figures such as Avi Yemini and Rukshan Fernando also attended.

Greens councillor Dr Josh Fergeus,who has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and next month’s drag event,said he had been swamped with hundreds of messages and calls voicing “misguided concern” and “credible threats of violence” in the past four weeks. Much of the correspondence is not from local constituents,he said.

“I’ve been on council for almost seven years now and I am seeing the frequency and intensity of these occurrences is increasing,” he said.

Fergeus was confident the drag event could be held safely and he said it was important it went ahead to not “reward poor behaviour”.

“People throwing their weight around making threats of violence and trying to intimidate people shouldn’t be the things which inform our decision-making. It should be made based on what’s best for the community,including vulnerable or marginalised[people],” he said.

Dr Sean Mulcahy,co-lead of the Victorian Pride Lobby’s rainbow local government campaign,attended the meeting with a group from the LGBTQ community.

He said there was a great deal of nervousness about passing protesters at the entrance and asking a question to the council,and some had pulled out last minute.

“We’re not there to engage in a fight,we want to show the council that the community has their back on this important work,” Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy said cancelling drag events sent a negative message.

“We want to know that we have the level of government that is closest to the community by our side and supporting us,” he said.

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