Drag Story Hour: Sashay Away

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From Shakespearean actors dressing up as women to the popular reality television show RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag has played an integral role in culture and media throughout history. However, some protesters believe that it is time to retire the wigs and dresses for good, all over a Drag Story Hour in Queens, New York. Drag Queens, protests, and story hours—let’s talk about it.

The Drag Story Hour Protests

On December 29, 2022, many New York residents gathered outside of a Queen’s public library to protest the Drag Story Hour taking place inside—a national program where drag performers read books to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Since the program’s inauguration in 2015, Drag Story Hour has sought to celebrate diversity and encourage children to read. Unfortunately, as diversity, sexuality, and drag culture continues to polarize the nation, the program has suffered various backlash and controversy.

According to Shekar Krishnan, a New York Council member and representative of the Queen borough, 500 protestors were estimated to be in attendance, with counterprotesters greatly outweighing their anti-drag opponents. Even Krishnan himself stood with the queens and program.

Like the rainbow flag itself, the protest was littered with a colorful array of characters, spanning from the bluest of liberals to the reddest of conservatives. Throughout Queens, signs ranging from “Leave the Kids Alone” to “Drive Homophobia Away” adorned the streets, and that wasn’t even the worst of it. Eventually, the protest became so intense that attendees were carrying Proud Boy Flags while others were giving a Nazi salute.

Yet even before the protest began, Adrienne Adam (New York City Council Speaker) released a joint statement that three members, all of which supported Drag Story Hour, had their homes vandalized. According to councilmember Shekar Krishnan—a victim of the vandalization—stated, “A group of far-right extremists [has] shown up in my neighborhood of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, four times at my district office, twice at my house, four times at the libraries and at the community events, spewing hate against the LGBTQ community.”

When cops arrived on the scene, they split the camps to either side of the street: one with a loud stream of Drag Story Hour supporters and the other with anti-drag protesters. While a total was not given, the New York Police Department confirmed that arrests had been made, and the event went on as usual.

My Opinions

            Since the ripe age of nine, I have always loved, appreciated, and supported Drag culture. Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and Dragula are two of my favorite shows, and I even saw a drag show in Salem, so it goes without saying how saddened I was to read about this. Drag performers are always a hoot with their sickening fashion, comedic personalities, and witty banter. I love that Drag Story Hour not only gives Drag Queens a forum to perform and network, but it allows children to learn more about the art form through a safe environment. As I said, drag culture has always been a part of our history, so I find this program to be a brilliant way to embody drag culture. Not to mention, the program encourages reading, a dying pastime thanks to the influx of technology.

While I do not agree with the anti-drag protestors, I can understand where their concern is coming from. Some parents may not want to expose their children to drag at such a young age, especially since some drag queens can be, let’s just say, unfiltered. I know that I was exposed to drag at the age of nine, but some parents may want to ease their child into drag culture when they can understand it better. Furthermore, I do recognize that there is a push for diversity and inclusion which may be off-putting to some. That being said, I still do not think there is anything wrong with a drag queen reading to children at a library. After all, this is a voluntary program, so families do not have to participate if they do not want to. It is understandable if parents do not want their impressionable child to immerse themselves in drag culture (at least not yet), but they shouldn’t protest other families that do.

What Drag Story Hour ultimately comes down to is choice. If a family wants their child to participate, that is their choice. Similarly, if a family doesn’t want their child to participate, that is their choice as well. The drag performer should not be held responsible or targeted just because they want to volunteer and read to children. At the end of the day, this program is driven by a want for diversity and inclusion, and it is not a mandate of any sort. And it just breaks my heart that people are protesting this program when ultimately, they do not have to participate in it if they disagree with the program’s values.

Shantay or Sashay?

So, what do you think? Should Drag Story Hour shantay and stay, or is it time for it to sashay away? Let’s talk about it. As always, keep researching, advocating, and talking. Until next time!