Lady Portia launches legal action following abuse and false accusations stemming from family-friendly storytelling event
– 2 min read
Drag performer Lady Portia Di’Monte, a pillar of the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland, has launched legal proceedings and a public fundraising campaign following a wave of online abuse and false accusations stemming from a family-friendly storytelling event held at Holywood Arches Library in Belfast.
The event, part of the EastSide Arts Festival and organised by EastSide Partnership, featured Lady Portia reading children’s books alongside fellow performer Miss Dora Belle, who interpreted the stories into British Sign Language. Despite being ticketed and supported by staff, parents, and organisers, the event was disrupted by protesters, prompting police to escort the performers from the venue for safety reasons.
In the days following the event, Lady Portia became the target of a sustained campaign of online abuse. In response, she has instructed Belfast-based Phoenix Law to initiate legal action on grounds of defamation and personal safety. Her solicitor, Victoria Haddock, stated that the allegations circulating online are “entirely unfounded, malicious, and constitute a deliberate effort to harm our client’s reputation.
To support the legal costs, a GoFundMe campaign titled “She stood for us – now we stand for Lady Portia” has been launched. The fundraiser highlights Lady Portia’s decades-long contributions to Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community, including her work with Belfast Pride, the Rainbow Project and various local venues. The campaign promises that any unused funds will be redirected to support trans and non-binary communities.
In a public statement, Lady Portia said: “Representation matters. When children see diversity reflected around them - whether it’s queer people, deaf individuals, blended families, or those who feel different - it builds empathy, understanding, and resilience. I will not be silenced.”
The incident has sparked political debate, with DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons criticising the event as “not appropriate for children,” a claim strongly refuted by supporters and organisers who emphasised the educational and inclusive nature of the programme.
