County councilmembers presented a proclamation celebrating Drag Story Hour DMV and partners on Tuesday.
The proclamation recognizes those who make drag story hour events “possible and joyful here in Montgomery County,” said Councilmember Kristin Mink, who led the proclamation and was joined by the full council.
Mink said that when protesters disrupted a drag story hour in summer 2022, she reached out to the MoCo Pride Center and Drag Story Hour DMV for help. A community response team was organized to shield kids from homophobic and transphobic signs and shouts.
She said that aspect of the story hours speaks to the heightened attacks on LGBTQ+ communities, and the “inability of groups like the Proud Boys to intimidate us,” but rather inspire community members to ensure the events go on and inspire families to continue to attend.
In February, members of the Proud Boys pushed and kicked people as the group tried to break up a Drag Story Hour in downtown Silver Spring, according to Mink.
In May, Brookside Gardens’ Drag Story Hour went virtual “in the interest of safety for staff, volunteers and participants.” In Oct. 2022, the Proud Boys had protested and interrupted a story hour at Brookside Gardens.
Council President Evan Glass said drag storytelling goes back centuries. He said when Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” was first performed, Romeo and Juliet were both played by men because women could not perform.
“The controversy that people are trying to create these days is as made up as some of the story tales that we tell,” Glass said.
“I do what I do because I love what I do,” said drag queen Bella Naughty, “and I really care about the community at-large. I also very much so care about the youth.”
“I give to the community what I could give — my voice and my story and stories about people like me and people in my community.”
“I also get to help reinforce creativity and their own literacy. I have literally met high schoolers that are illiterate, it’s out there even in great counties like this, some people somehow get missed and private programs like what we do help fill in the gaps.”
