Sun 1/7 @ 9AM
Apparently having solved all the problems facing the state, last year right-wing Ohio politicians became obsessed with — drag queen story hours.
A bill was introduced last summer in the Ohio legislature to limit performers who “display a gender identity other than the one assigned at birth” to performing in “adult cabarets”(strip clubs) if the performance is considered obscene or harmful to children. (Considered by whom?) Of course, drag artists don’t perform in strip clubs, whose business model is to showcase nearly naked women for straight men. (Sometimes that’s included state legislators!) But never mind that. We must protect children from fully clothed drag queens reading stories about how you should be respectful to other people even if they’re different from you.
But drag queen story hours are taking place all over Ohio, at theaters, book stores, libraries, community centers, festivals and even (gasp!) churches with no apparent ill effects on children. And if you want to hear “The Real Story About Drag Story Hours,” come to the community forum at the Unitarian Universal Center of Cleveland in Shaker Heights to get the scoop from Veranda L’Ni, aka “Cleveland’s tallest drag queen,” who hosts drag queen story hours at Near West Theatre in Gordon Square.
“Our goal is to present information to those who may be curious about Drag Story Hours and to hopefully quell any fears that may be out there about them,” they say.
The free forum, which is open to all, takes place from 9-10am. At 11:30, following the worship service (which is also open to all), Veranda L’Ni will present a drag queen story hour so you can see what the fuss is all about. Warning: your kids will probably really enjoy it! Get more information here.
Shaker Heights, OH 44122