You are reading

Jackson Heights Lawmakers Hold Rally Friday in Support of Drag Queen Story Hour

Several local lawmakers held a rally outside the Jackson Heights public library Friday in support of Drag Queen Story Hour, a program where drag queens read books and perform for children. (Photo by Adrian Childress)

Oct. 31, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

Several local lawmakers held a rally outside the Jackson Heights public library Friday in support of Drag Queen Story Hour, a program where drag queens read books and perform for children.

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, State Senator Jessica Ramos, as well as Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz and Jessica González-Rojas, took part in the rally to advocate for Drag Queen Story Hour.

The rally outside the 35-51 81st St. library was organized as a way of countering recent protests against the initiative. For instance, in September, Drag Queen Story Hour at a street fair in Jackson Heights was disrupted by protesters. So too was an event held at the Elmhurst Library.

Earlier this month, protesters with chalk defaced the sidewalk outside Krishnan’s office in opposition to the program– and wrote that the city was stealing tax dollars to fund pedophiles.

“Our neighbors are being targeted and we won’t stand for it,” Krishan said at Friday’s rally. “Here in Jackson Heights, we show our children to stand up for each other; we teach them that all are loved. We are proud to support the beautiful storytellers of Drag Story Hour because their love and joy will always drown out the hate.”

Drag Queen Story Hour, whose advocates say promotes inclusivity and acceptance, sees local drag artists visit libraries, schools, and other community spaces to read to kids and teens.

The program has proven controversial, with opponents saying that it is inappropriate for children and should be reserved for adults only. The opponents say that they are not homophobic, and that they just want to shield their kids from explicit performances.

They also take issue with the program being funded by the city. For instance, The New York Post reported that the non-profit organization Drag Queen Story Hour—and its predecessor group—has been awarded more than $200,000 in city contracts since 2018.

Video posted online Friday shows at least 10 anti-Drag Queen Story Hour demonstrators protesting the lawmakers at the rally.

“Stop sexualizing our children… save the children,” one of the protesters shouted, while another yelled, “nobody supports the s—t.”

Cruz, who helped organize last month’s street fair in Jackson Heights that drew protesters, took aim at those who oppose Drag Queen Story Hour.

“We stand united here today with a clear message – hate has no home here.”

“We proudly welcome the Drag Queen Story Hour to our community and remain committed to programming that enhances and educates our families and neighbors.”

The lawmakers were joined by David Kilmnick, president and founder of the New York LGBT Network, representatives for the Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights, the non-profit group Make The Road New York and LGBT activists.

Jessica González-Rojas speaking Friday (Photo: via Twitter)

Meanwhile, González-Rojas said the program was here to stay despite pushback from some residents.

“Love will always be louder than hate in Jackson Heights,” González-Rojas tweeted afterward. “I joined colleagues today in solidarity and support of drag queen story hour. In fact, they only demonstrated how important this programming is.”

Meanwhile, Krishnan said the sidewalk in front of his office was vandalized by demonstrators after Friday’s rally. He tweeted images of the scrawls being cleaned up by his staff and said he was unfazed by such actions.

“The community support we feel is more powerful than the racial slurs, homophobia, and vandalism we witnessed today.”

Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, pictured second from the right, inside the Jackson Heights public library Friday (Photo: Krishnan via Twitter)

email the author: [email protected]

8 Comments

Click for Comments 
LIC Direct

Reading books to kids is a good thing. I don’t care who reads to children as long they are not pedophiles and they don’t use our money— tax dollars to do it. There are dozens of seniors and volunteers who read to children in libraries and volunteer there time for FREE they don’t even get a metro card for transportation. Why should the drag queens receive over $200,000 to do the same?

Reply
paul

There is one thing about freedom of expression and shoving it in the face of children who have no idea what it is and promoting it.

Reply
MRLIC

Voters notice that Democratic Socialists want this for children. Do you want tbis fot your children. Drag Queens can do what they want but i
I DO NOT believe young chldren .I am not s bigot. Democratic Socialists will paint anyone they disagree with Racist and or Bigots. Typical of tgese one sided thinking Dem. SOCIALISTS.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

MTA seizes 19 ‘ghost’ cars registered to toll violators at Queens Midtown Tunnel

Two days before the MTA Board approved the controversial congestion pricing plan for Manhattan on Wednesday, the agency cracked down on persistent toll violators at the Queens Midtown Tunnel in Long Island City.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels seized 19 vehicles registered to persistent scofflaws on Monday and issued 81 summonses and confiscated two fraudulent license plates. The MTA noted that the scofflaws accounted for approximately $483,000 in combined unpaid tolls and fees. One of the top persistent toll violators from the targeted enforcement owed nearly $76,000 in tolls and fees.