Originally launched in 2015 in San Francisco by Michelle Tea, Drag Story Hour (formerly known as Drag Queen Story Hour) is a nonprofit organization with 501©(3) status created to encourage self-expression for children through drag performances. They secured funding from multiple LGBTQ and arts-focused groups in California. In October 2022, DSH transitioned from its original name, aiming to better reflect the diversity within its lineup of storytellers, according to Executive Director Johnathon Hamlit.
DSH’s mission is to “celebrate reading through the glamorous art of drag” by offering diverse, inclusive family programming. Through these events, kids are encouraged to embrace their “authentic selves” and engage in creating positive change within their communities. The organization claims that they want to build a world where children grow up learning from “LGBTQ+ stories and experiences,” and promote diversity. This might sound innocuous at first. Drag Story Hour advertises itself as a culturally enriching and “kid-friendly” activity for the entire family to enjoy. But in actuality, it has become a safe haven for predators to gain access to children. No normal adult has any desire to act or dress inappropriately in front of minors. This new trend of drag shows and story hours for kids is an easy cover for groomers and pedophiles to get in direct contact with their prey, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise.
Drag Story Hour, you’re on our Naughty List.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the American Library Association (ALA) are notable supporters of DSH. The SPLC labels opposition to DSH as “transphobic” and criticizes conservative and Christian groups that protest DSH for promoting hatred. These accusations have given rise to public protests from people who are on the right side of history.
By late 2023, Drag Story Hour had 27 U.S. chapters across 19 states, alongside six international chapters. DSH collaborates with prominent media and tech entities like Disney, Hulu, HBO, and Spotify, who help extend its mission and public reach. To aid parents in finding “queer” literature for children, DSH creates lists of books on Bookshop.org organized by themes like social justice and “gender identity.” Among the books commonly featured at these Drag Story Hour events are:
This Day in June by Gayle Pitman
10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
The Hips on a Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish by Lil Miss Hot Mess
I Am Jazz! by Jessica Herthel
On its website, DSH provides resources addressing frequent questions and criticisms.
- Agenda and Purpose: DSH positions itself as focusing on “freedom of expression” and asserts that its programming teaches children to value diverse gender expressions. It dismisses claims of indoctrination, describing such accusations as stemming from “homophobia and transphobia.” We beg to differ. Drag Story Hour does not represent the average gay person.
- Performer Safety: They emphasize that “drag performers are not dangerous” and assert that their events provide “age-appropriate” programming.
- Parental Support: DSH’s website offers guidance for allies and supporters, providing advice on countering conservative resistance to LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula and pushing back against book bans.
- Drag Pedagogy: An article organized by DSH discusses “drag pedagogy” as a teaching approach that goes beyond just introducing LGBTQ+ lives, encouraging children to “live queerly.” This should set off your alarm bells. Encouraging children to “live queerly” helps no one but the adults forcing radical queer theory concepts on children. They have five methods for implementing the “queering” of children: Play as praxis, Aesthetic transformation, Strategic defiance, Destigmatization of shame, and Embodied kinship.
Drag Story Hour exposes children to overt sexuality, gender ideology, and explicit content. It is inappropriate for young audiences. Drag Story Hour introduces gender ideology in ways that could confuse children about their identity and potentially impact their mental state. They read sexually explicit books to children, like Gender Queer and This Book Is Gay, which link children to adult websites and hookup apps.
Drag Story Hour has faced criticism. It promotes content inappropriate for children and exposes them to mature concepts that they are unable to fully understand. Detractors cite cases of performers with criminal histories involved in DSH events. It is clear that inadequate background checks allowed individuals with criminal histories to participate.
Notable Cases Linked to Drag Performers and Criminal Allegations:
Alberto Garza (aka Tatiana Mala Niña): Aggravated sexual assault of a minor
Garza performed at Drag Queen Story Hour in the Houston Public Library. In 2008, he was arrested for aggravated sexual assault of an eight-year-old. It later emerged that the library had not conducted adequate vetting, sparking a public backlash–rightfully so.
William Travis Dees (aka Liza Lott): Indecency with a child (sexual contact)
Dees, who participated in DSH events, had previously been convicted of offenses involving four victims aged 4 to 8. He has also been linked to the Houston-based chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group known for twerking in front of children while dressed like Catholic nuns, with Dees performing as “Novice Sister Jeff”. In the past, Dees had also worked as a transgender dominatrix under the alias “Elizabeth Davidson.”
David Lee Richardson (aka Miss Kitty Litter): Convicted of prostitution
Richardson’s social media includes adult content, kink, and BDSM. Though he has not been accused of harming children, his history and online presence should tell you everything you need to know about these “family-friendly” performances.
Brice Williams (aka Anastasia Diamond): Arrested for possession of child pornography
Williams, a pedophilic drag performer, was arrested after being found with child pornography. While not directly associated with DSH, Williams’ role as an LGBTQ+ youth counselor was immediately called into question upon his arrest.
Shane Murnan (aka Miss Shantel Mandalay): Originally charged with possession of child pornography, but the charges were later dismissed
In 2001, Murnan faced charges after explicit images were found on his computer, although these charges were later dropped. His arrest was sparked by two individuals. One stated that Murnan had made “concerning comments about two 10-year-old boys.” The other stated that Murnan received photos of “a boy being sexually abused by an adult male.” A search warrant discovered four images of “adolescent white males performing sex acts with each other” on his computer, recovered after being deleted. Charges were dismissed because deleting the photos did not constitute possession, while also arguing there was no definitive proof by the prosecution that the underage males were minors.
Judge Brett Blomme: Possession and distribution of child pornography
Blomme, a former children’s court judge and president of Cream City Foundation, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group supporting DSH, and an openly gay father of 2 adopted children was sentenced to nine years for distributing child pornography. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received a tip of a Kik account distributing 27 files of child pornography, including toddlers. In January 2021, he was arrested and pleaded guilty.
Clinton Monroe Ellis-Gilmore (aka Queen/Novice Sister Bethe Cockhim): Indecent exposure and public masturbation
Ellis-Gilmore, tied to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, was arrested for indecent exposure at a “kid-friendly” public park in California. Has anyone else noticed a pattern of predation in these so-called “kid-friendly” places and activities? Because once you see it, you can't unsee it.
References
Barnhart, M. (2018, September 8). Franklin Graham Lauds Parents for Protesting Drag Queen Story Hour at Libraries. The Christian Post. https://www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-praises-parents-protesting-drag-queen-story-hour.html
Carter, R. (2023, September 8). Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. https://ocpathink.org/post/independent-journalism/oklahoma-school-staff-hired-despite-sex-crime-allegations
Chastain, M., Mechastain, & Chastain, M. (2023, September 12). Member of Drag Group That Mocks Catholics Arrested for Alleged Public Masturbation. Le·Gal in·Sur·Rec·Tion |. https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/09/member-of-drag-group-that-mocks-catholics-arrested-for-alleged-public-masturbation/
Drag Queen Story Hour. MARINet. https://marinet.bibliocommons.com/list/share/639095537/986909047
Florida Family Action.. (2019, June 24). Duval County Library to Host Adult Entertainer for Drag Queen Story Hour. Florida Family Action.
Home | Drag Story Hour.
Jasper, W. F. (2019, November 1). American Library Association Pushing Perversion Through Drag Queen Story Hour. The New American. https://thenewamerican.com/us/culture/family/american-library-association-pushing-perversion-through-drag-queen-story-hour/
Kaleem, J. (2023, February 22). How drag queen story hours became a target of right-wing attacks - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-02-22/drag-queen-story-hour#:~:text=But%2520the%2520story%2520hours%2520are,San%2520Francisco%2520and%2520New%2520York
Keenan, H., & Mess, L. M. H. (2021). Drag pedagogy: The playful practice of queer imagination in early childhood. Curriculum Inquiry, 50(5), 440–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/03626784.2020.1864621
Keene, H. (2021, March 18). Judge who headed “Drag Queen Story Hour” sponsor arrested on child porn charges. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/milwaukee-brett-blomme-arrested-drag-queen-story-hour-sponsor
KHOU 11 Staff. (2019, March 15). Houston Public Library admits registered child sex offender participated in Drag Queen Storytime. KHOU 11. https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-public-library-admits-registered-child-sex-offender-participated-in-drag-queen-storytime/285-bgecf3a0d-56c5-4f3c-96df-add07bbd002a
Knox, E., Jonathan Hamilt, Rice, C., Godavitarne, C., Young, R., Ciampa, C. P., Kaplan, M., & Israel, S. THE ABA RIGHT TO READ toolkit: How Booksellers and Readers Can Resist Book Bans. https://www.dragstoryhour.org/_files/ugd/923f7b_5eabfd783a864ffaab4ebe4dfd450135.pdf
Linda Ikeji's Blog. (2019, October 31). Drag Queen in skirt exposes his crotch to children at ‘Story Hour’ Event (Photo). Linda Ikeji’s Blog. https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2019/10/drag-queen-in-skirt-exposes-his-crotch-to-children-at-story-hour-event-photo.html
Vielmetti, B. (2021, December 22). Former Children’s Court judge sentenced to 9 years for child porn. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2021/12/22/ex-wisconsin-childrens-court-judge-gets-9-years-child-porn-case/8975934002/
Drag Queen Story Hour Renames Organization Drag Story Hour. School Library Journal.
Nightingale, H. (2022, June 15). Drag queen who sings ‘all the kids who look up to me can s*ck my d*ck’ hosts story time at SF area library. The Post Millennial. https://thepostmillennial.com/drag-queen-who-sings-all-the-kids-who-look-up-to-me-can-s-ck-my-d-ck-hosts-story-time-at-sf-area-library
Tausz, R. (2019, June 4). About Drag Queen Story Hour. First Things. https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/06/about-drag-queen-story-hour
Wilder, S. (2022, June 24). Drag Queen Who Performed For Children Charged With 25 Counts Of Child Pornography.
Women’s Liberation Front. Feminist Objections to Drag Queen Story Hour — Women’s Liberation Front. https://womensliberationfront.org/news/feminist-objections-to-drag-queen-story-hour