Reading and Joy at Drag Queen Story Hour

By Stacy Staggs

Under the warm sunshine and Carolina Blue™️ sky, in a welcoming Unitarian Church Sanctuary space that featured a three story wall of windows looking out to the budding spring trees...

The energy inside was bustling with soft-spoken chitchat of parents meeting each other, teenage volunteers staffing multiple craft stations and our scrappy team that organized an afternoon of MAGIC in the form of a Drag Story Hour reading of selected books focused on celebrating diversity, early literacy and disabled joy...

It was the culmination of moving from the spark of an idea to implementing our vision through months of preparations, stacks of emails and weekly meetings, partnership engagement and procured supplies that ALL CAME TOGETHER!!

I'm talking about raucous laughter, interactive reading with a slew of spontaneous and eager audience participation, sparkly crown craft headbands galore and the sweetest little bright-eyed piles of kiddos in the seating "pit" of soft rugs and fluffy pillows!!

Almost half of our treasured attendees were below the age of 10 (even 2 who were yet to reach their 1st birthdays!) sang "The Wheels On The Bus" with their entire hearts! Our reader and drag queen, Karen Affection, embodied the kindness, art and presence of her chosen name. She thoroughly engaged the children and adults while sharing the dry wit and appropriately sharp delivery that is a hallmark of those who are the very best at their craft.

In all, the event lasted about 90 minutes, with individually wrapped cookies and bright smiling faces on everyone as they went on to their next part of the day. We received great feedback and appreciation all around, while also reflecting that to each other. The event was a real thrill to put on! We're already making plans for our next gathering.