Attorney General James Hosts Drag Story Hour Read-A-Thon in New York City

 

Nearly 200 Guests Enjoyed a Day of Family Fun in Solidarity with Drag Performers and the LGBTQ+ Community 

New York Attorney General James, together with a broad coalition of advocacy organizations and elected leaders, today stood proudly in unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community and hosted a first-of-its-kind Drag Story Hour Read-A-Thon for families in New York City. Nearly 200 guests enjoyed four back-to-back Story Hours hosted by the Drag Kings, Queens, and Royalty of Drag Story Hour NYC at The Center, which has been a home and resource hub for the LGBTQ+ community and allies since its founding in 1983. Attorney General James was joined by local elected officials, including Assemblymembers Tony Simone and Grace Lee, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Council Members Erik Bottcher, Shekar Krishnan, and Crystal Hudson. 

“The recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ protests, rhetoric, and policies has left New Yorkers — myself included — devastated and disappointed. But I know better than anyone that when the choice is between love and hate, between joy and venom, New Yorkers will always choose love, and New Yorkers will always choose joy,” said Attorney General James. “I am proud to have been joined by my colleagues in advocacy and government today in celebration of the love, joy, and family fun that Drag Story Hour brings to our communities. Hate has no home in New York, and I will always fight to ensure our LGBTQ+ siblings’ rights are upheld and defended.” 

Attorney General James hosted today’s Drag Story Hour Read-A-Thon to condemn hate and combat rampant disinformation. Recent months have seen a rise in homophobic protests and fearmongering surrounding Drag Story Hour, and disgraceful harassment and vitriol directed at the LGBTQ+ community, advocates, and leaders such as New York City Council Members Erik Bottcher and Shekar Krishnan. With this event, Attorney General James and her colleagues and co-sponsors are ensuring New Yorkers know that everyone — regardless of sexuality, gender, race, or socioeconomic status — is celebrated, protected, and welcomed in New York. 

This event was made possible and proudly co-sponsored by Drag Story Hour, The Center, the Pride Center of Staten Island, Destination Tomorrow, the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Queens Public Library, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Daniel O'Donnell, and Tony Simone, and New York City Council Members Erik Bottcher, Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Shekar Krishnan, Chi Ossé, and Lynn Schulman. 

“I believe it’s our responsibility to create environments for queer families to experience healing, joy, and celebration. For the past 40 years, The Center has been a place that does that. It has also been a hub of activism in the face of attacks against our community,” said Glennda Testone, Executive Director, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City. “Welcoming Drag Story Hour to The Center provided a fun day for LGBTQ+ families and served as a reminder to those who seek to erase LGBTQ+ people that we’re here and will continue to live our truth.”

“Drag Story Hour is one of our most popular programs and a fun and positive experience for families. Children love hearing stories and singing songs with the performers who dress in bright colors and sparkles,” said The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library. “Our librarians work closely with DSH to select age-appropriate books in English and other languages. We are proud to offer story times for babies and older children that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and introduce a new generation to the joy of reading.”

“We are excited to share this occasion with Attorney General James and appreciate her unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community. Drag story hours promote diversity and inclusion, and are intended to spark children's interest in reading,” said Sean Ebony Coleman, Founder and Executive Director, Destination Tomorrow. “We have to stand up to those who have politicized something joyful and educational. The weaponization of drag story hour is a tool to vilify the community and further promote violence against and discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals. We will continue to celebrate all identities and refuse to let our joy be taken away.”

“The Pride Center of Staten Island applauds Attorney General Letitia James for hosting a Drag Story Hour event,” said The Pride Center of Staten Island. “In our current sociopolitical climate, where transgender people and drag performers in other parts of the country are being re-pathologized, othered, and silenced by anti-LGBTQIA+ laws, this event is an important celebration of difference and gender diversity.”

“Today, we witness the joy and happiness that Drag Story Hour brings children nationwide and the community-led effort it takes to make it happen,” says Beverly Tillery, Executive Director, New York City Anti-Violence Project. “But I would be remiss if we didn’t note the unfortunate reality of the hatred that makes such an innocent event newsworthy and the real danger our Drag performers and our community face daily due to hateful threats.”

Established in 1983 as a result of the AIDS crisis, New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center has grown and evolved over the last four decades, creating and delivering services that empower people to lead healthy, successful lives. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center currently operates in-person and virtually, providing recovery and wellness programs, economic advancement initiatives, family and youth support, advocacy, arts, and cultural events, and space for community organizing and connection. For more information, please visit gaycenter.org.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) protects the civil rights of all New Yorkers and promotes equal justice under the law. If an individual witnesses or experiences an act of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination or any unlawful discrimination, they are encouraged to contact OAG’s Civil Rights Bureau by submitting a confidential complaint online, emailing civil.rights@ag.ny.gov, or calling (212) 416-8250.