The ongoing controversy surrounding drag queen entertainers reading children’s books to the younger generation does not seem to be letting up anytime soon.
Protesters against the Drag Queen Story Times (also known as Story Hours) do not see it as being fundamental at all. Across the country those against these readings are becoming more vocal as time goes on.
As drag queen entertainer Miss Savannah Georgia, I host Story Time events. I perform at many venues, but some of my favorite performances are reading a children’s book to the youth. The children are just there to enjoy themselves, listening to the readings.
I am aware this is a hot-button issue these days, especially with the new administration taking over. So many in society are making too much of this subject, and members of the drag community are continually under fire. It is a war against drag queens that we are forced to fight.
The youth are the innocent bystanders in these situations. Protesters are under the false assumption that young children would be harmed in some way by attending a Story Time hosted by drag queens. Fighting so hard to keep children away from these events is doing a disservice to young minds.
No one is forcing children to attend Drag Queen Story Time events. In fact, some parents encourage their children’s attendance at these events. I know of parents who look forward to Savannah’s readings, as they know there is no danger.
Across the country, opposition is rising. Protesters may be feeling a little more emboldened — thanks to the new administration taking over.
In Minnesota, legislators introduced a bill directly banning public libraries from hosting Drag Queen Story Hours. If they disobey, they will lose state funding.
South Dakota proposed a bill that would have prevented state and local governments from recognizing some LGBTQ rights, and that included a ban on these story hour events in public libraries and schools. But this bill was withdrawn.
Last March, a scheduled Drag Queen Story Hour was canceled at a library in Pennsylvania. Authorities reported the cancellation was made after a suspicious package was found in the building and threats were reported. The contents of the package were later discovered to be “benign.”
In October, a hoax bomb threat canceled a Drag Queen Story Time event at Somerville Public Library in Boston. Fear of more protesting there is putting the kibosh on story time for the time being.
In June, a library in Reno, Nevada, employed barriers to safeguard from protests at drag queen story hours from heating up more than they already had. Although an innovative idea, the blockade didn’t keep all protesters at bay. It was reported that, since there was a rule that you could not enter the story hour area without a child, a few protesters brought along children.
In New Jersey, we’ve had our share of protesters lobbying and complaining against Drag Queen Story Times.
I understand that safety comes first. That is obvious, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But to bring along children, just so you can gain access to an event like the one in Nevada all in the guise of protesting, takes it all too far. The states mentioned are just a handful that have made the news. But there are so many others.
In New Jersey, we’ve had our share of protesters lobbying and complaining against Drag Queen Story Times. In Middletown last April, Brookdale Community College had one, offered as an optional event, for a “Bring Your Child to Work Day.” Brookdale then canceled the optional event, citing respect for staff members’ “comfort levels.” The cancellation of the drag queen story event in turn prompted criticism from Garden State Equality and progressive organizations. The canceled event was going to be hosted by drag queen Harmonica Sunbeam. Harmonica has hosted numerous story hours at different locations across New Jersey.
A Drag Queen Story Hour was on the calendar in June 2019 for the Warren County Library Northeast Branch in Independence Township but was canceled after two days of public complaints. The library branch manager said the event was scheduled to acknowledge June as Pride Month.
A Drag Queen Story Hour at Rahway Public Library was met with backlash. Protesters left flyers describing the event and the drag queens with words like “abnormal,” “unnatural” and “predator” in mailboxes, according to reports. The event ultimately had dozens of attendees, including the mayor, who attended to take a stand against the message of the flyer.
In May 2023 Club Paradise in Asbury Park held the state’s first Drag Queen Visibility Day. Among the many events that day celebrating drag queens, a story hour was hosted by former Miss Paradise Jolina Jasmine (Todd Stathum, 34, of Asbury Park). The event was met with protesters banding together across the street from the club. The story hour did proceed, and Jasmine did have a brief discussion with the protesters to allay their concerns, to no avail.
According to Jasmine, “Sadly, there are always going to be people who don’t appreciate what we do. But their protests don’t stand a chance against the positive energy we bring to the children. I firmly believe in confronting them [protesters] head-on and educating them, something I’m known to do when they attend my events.
“These protesters can learn something too. They may think they’re there to ‘protect’ the children, but they have just as much to learn as anyone. That’s how we change hearts and minds: one person at a time, even if they started as a protester.”
Protesters at some of these events could be spreading fear to the young children they are insistent that they are saving. But saving from whom?
While performing, I have encountered individuals who aren’t happy with drag queens doing story hours. One went so far as to issue a serious threat against me. The situation was handled by authorities, and at this point the threat is silent — for now.
Story hour events hold a special place in my heart, as it does other drag queens. It’s a form of performance, and drag queens pose no threat. But the protesters — at times overzealous — can pose threats. If these protesters truly understood what they are doing, and what message they are sending to the youth enjoying these story hours, some of them might second-guess their actions.
Protesters at some of these events could be spreading fear to the young children they are insistent that they are saving. But saving from whom?
When young children are at the story hours, they aren’t seeing Miss Savannah Georgia (or countless other drag queens) as men “dressed resembling a girl.” They are simply seeing a person reading to them. Once those against us cause the ruckus with their protesting and dissent, they are forcing young children to become confused, and that’s not right. Due to their protests, they are forcing children to see others as less-than, or people to be avoided. What kind of lesson is that teaching children?
Despite all the protesting, there are many organizations, political allies, and parents who support the story times. So, there is hope. But let’s hope the new administration taking over the running of this country doesn’t make matters worse.
Let’s hope.
