AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Drag Story Hour is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. The nonprofit holds events in the U.S. and all around the world where drag performers dressed to the nines read stories to kids. These story times have weathered increasing attacks and threats over the years, including from state legislatures. Jackie Sedley reports from Boulder, Colorado.
MISS ZARAH AND UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (Singing) If you're happy and you know it, do all three.
(CLAPPING)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Stomp, stomp (ph).
(SOUNDBITE OF FEET STOMPING)
MISS ZARAH AND UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Hey, queen.
JACKIE SEDLEY, BYLINE: That's Miss Zarah, a Colorado-based drag performer who shows up at the Boulder Public Library in full glam once every other month to read to kids and their families.
MISS ZARAH: Drag is for everyone. It's for adults as well as children. And if your kid plays dress-up, then this is perfect for them. I'm just an adult who dresses up.
SEDLEY: Boulder's library is one of many institutions across the country that host story times like these through a national nonprofit called Drag Story Hour. There are 30 or so chapters globally. That's down from 50 pre-pandemic, according to Jonathan Hamlit. He runs communications for Drag Story Hour.
JONATHAN HAMLIT: The patterns of the homophobia and transphobia against Drag Story Hour has ebbed and flowed with the different administrations we've had, and also the right-wing conservatism.
SEDLEY: Growing safety concerns led to the birth of Parasol Patrol in 2019. Pasha Ripley is a cofounder of the group, with chapters across the country. They attend kid-focused LGBTQ+ events with rainbow umbrellas and noise-canceling headphones to shield performers and children from aggressive protesters.
PASHA RIPLEY: They come armed - like, visibly armed. And it's all to intimidate and scare children. What the heck?
SEDLEY: She says the public outcry against story hours has intensified during President Trump's second term. Shortly after he took office, Trump vowed via Truth Social to ban drag shows and, quote, "other anti-American propaganda."
There are at least six states in the U.S. with laws that restrict drag performances. Several of those are being challenged in court. In Texas last month, a federal appeals court ruled that the state can enforce a 2023 law that restricts some drag shows on public property or in front of children. One group that supports that law is a nonprofit called Gays Against Groomers. Jaimee Michell is president of that organization. She says there are better ways to encourage inclusivity and literacy in kids than with drag queens.
JAIMEE MICHELL: I find it very degrading as a gay person because I don't associate and I don't identify with these groomer clowns, really, is what they are - they're sex clowns - being pushed in front of children. That's not the representation I would like.
SEDLEY: Many drag performers insist that their story hours are age-appropriate for kids. Per Sia, the first queen to ever read at an official Drag Story Hour, says her nighttime self is distinct from her daytime self.
PER SIA: All we want is to be seen, to be heard and be loved. And that's exactly what Drag Story Hour provides. That's the beauty of storytelling. And, you know, we just look fabulous doing it (laughter).
SEDLEY: Per Sia says doing Drag Story Hour is a dream for her, and she's committed to doing it for as long as she can.
MISS ZARAH AND UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (Singing) Goodbye, friends.
SEDLEY: For NPR News, I'm Jackie Sedley in Boulder, Colorado.
MISS ZARAH AND UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: (Singing) Goodbye.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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