Banned Books Week 2019 kicks off this Sunday, and what better way to celebrate the freedom to read than with drag queens and kids books?!

The Banned Books Week Coalition and its members are co-sponsoring Drag Queen Story Hour events in San Francisco and New York City, but DQSH fun can be had coast-to-coast!

Celebrate with the Banned Books Week Coalition and DQSH in San Francisco!

September 28, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. PDT, The Bindery (1727 Haight Street, San Francisco)

Join some of San Francisco’s most glamorous drag queens as they read challenged and banned picture books to entertain children of all ages! The Banned Books Week Coalition presents this special event on September 28 at The Bindery (1727 Haight Street, San Francisco), The Booksmith’s multi-purpose events space. Doors will open at 2:00 p.m. PDT, with the reading to start at 2:30 p.m. PDT. The event is free and open to the public, but priority will be given to parents with their children. The event also features facepainting for kids and a cash bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails for anyone 21+.

Featured performers:
Beatrice Thomas (Black Benatar) is an arts & equity consultant, creative producer, multi-disciplinary artist and social justice drag queen — one of the core Drag Queen Story Hour storytellers. Their regenerative social practice lies at the intersection of performing arts and activism. Mx. Thomas comes from a family lineage of pastors, performers, doctors and healers. Beatrice has been making art and pondering the meaning of it all from the moment they came into consciousness. From absurdist cabarets to vampire/witch love triangles,Thomas weaves the experiences of queers and people of color into magical realities foster empathy and entertainment. Thomas nationally advances the work of marginalized \ artists, and for nearly a decade has worked in the public, creative, and non-profit sectors in the San Francisco Bay area. More recently, Thomas has dedicated her career to building community and providing professional development for individual artists and arts administrators. Previously they held senior positions at San Francisco Arts Commission, foolsFURY Theatre, and SAFEhouse Arts. They are an inaugural APAP Leadership Fellow and received their MFA from the University of Texas.

With a pedigree from performances at the late, iconic Esta Noche, Per Sia‘s trajectory has gone on to include art curation, stand-up, television, modeling, and maybe a quinceañera or two, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and México. Currently, she is a regular performer in the nationally acclaimed “Drag Queen Story Hour” as well as an educator in residence at the Children’s After School Arts (CASA) program in the San Francisco Unified School District recently profiled on KQED Arts and National Public Radio.

RSVP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1093204637543051/

DQSH and NCAC Celebrate Banned Books Week in New York City!

September 28, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT, St John’s Lutheran Church (155 Milton St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn)

Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real. Join DQSH and the National Coalition Against Censorship on September 28, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT at St John’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn (155 Milton St., Greenpoint).

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2361382427508398/

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Check out these official DQSH events throughout Banned Books Week!

OCO Drag Queen Story Hour

September 22, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT, The SPOT (75 E. 1st St., Oswego, New York)

Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like – Drag Queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.

Come join Xandra Dee & Mimi Mosa for stories, a song, craft & snack at the OCO Midtown plaza location!

Event open to the public, families and children strongly welcomed!

Canned food donations greatly appreciated but not required.

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2180292942080653/

Drag Queen Story Hour with The Conjure Shop

September 22, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. CDT, The Conjure Shop (809 S. 75th St., Omaha, Nebraska)

Adding a little pizzazz and sparkle to afternoon’s favorite past time…STORY TIME!

Join Mrs. Yuka Layme for Drag Queen Story Time, the children’s storytelling event that has been sweeping the nation! The event is brought to you in partnership with The Conjure Shop

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2535208213167355/

Drag Queen Story Hour With Sharon ShareAlike & Ava ShareAlike

September 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. CDT, Bobzbay (419 N Main St, Bloomington, Illinois)

Bobzbay is proud to host Sharon ShareAlike and Ava J ShareAlike for Drag Queen Story Hour (also known as DQSH). The Bistro has generously offered to partner with us to help this event happen and we can’t be more grateful! This will be a fun, family friendly event for all ages! Sit down with some of our favorite drag queens for a couple of kid-friendly story books.

Please feel free to ask any questions before the event and check out https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/ for more information.

We have a limited number of chairs so if you’d like, bring something soft to sit on. This event is free and open to the public. Parking is free in the Market St. parking garage just a couple blocks away from the shop or there is street parking.

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2958348084239805/

Drag Queen Story Hour — Vermont

September 28, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT, Milton Public Library (39 Bombardier Rd,, Milton, Vermont)

Emoji Nightmare and Nikki Champagne, two of Vermont’s favorite drag queens, are bringing Drag Queen Story Hour to Milton! The queens will be sure to delight and captivate audience members of all ages as they share stories focused on individuality, activism, gender, creativity, expression, and social responsibility.

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/468250954010163/

Drag Queen Story Hour — Los Angeles

September 28, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDT, Eagle Rock Branch – Los Angeles Public Library (5027 Caspar Ave., Los Angeles, California)

Presented in Partnership with Home Sweet Huddy and Compass, a real estate team!

DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR is exactly what it sounds like! Drag Queens reading stories to kids in Libraries, Schools and Bookstores the like! Bring your kids to a magical hour dedicated to literacy, love, acceptance and joy! All the magic of drag with the fun of storytime! Come early to make some crafts!!!

With PICKLE!

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1362065963956135/

Drag Queen Story Hour — Connecticut

September 28, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT, Hartford Public Library (500 Main St, Hartford, Connecticut)

Hartford Public Library presents our very first Drag Queen Story Hour! Drag Queen Story Hour is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Its goal? To inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others. This fun all-ages event features local drag queens Giganta Smalls and Robin Fierce reading children’s stories and a crown-making craft at our very own library.

We will host two story hour sessions. Guests are welcome to come to either story hour, or stay for both!

Storytime Schedule:
1:00 p.m. — Story Hour with Giganta Smalls, followed by a craft
2:30 p.m. — Story Hour with Robin Fierce, followed by a craft in the Center for Contemporary Culture

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/432897020655800/

Banned Books Drag Story Hour 2019!

September 28, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. MST, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange (1056 South Country Club Drive, Mesa, Arizona)

Something banned this way comes! Join Drag Story Hour- Arizona at Bookmans Mesa for story hour hosted by Felicia Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming.

Let’s love all banned books and celebrate the growth of Drag Queen Story Hours in the face of challenge.

RSVP in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/500952000478623/

Drag Queen Story Hour with Kearney Pride 2019

September 28, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CDT, Harmon Park (3100 5th Ave., Kearney, Nebraska)

Adding a little pizzazz and sparkle to afternoon’s favorite past time…STORY TIME!

Join Mrs. Yuka Layme for Drag Queen Story Time, the children’s storytelling event that has been sweeping the nation! The event is brought to you in partnership with Kearney Pride Walk/Festival 2019 & PFLAG Kearney. Our FIRST is Kearney Nebraska!

Readings of your favorite (and maybe some new) stories by: Lucy Roxia

Keep your eye on an update to our exact location at Pride.

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/388278792092101/

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Drag Queen Story Hour is hosting events before and after Banned Books Week. Visit their page on Facebook for a full schedule!

Drag Queen Story Hour/SF (DQSH/SF) contracts with professional drag queens who are experienced youth performers and educators. They capture the imagination and gender play of childhood and give kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models, all while promoting early childhood education and inclusive family programming. In spaces we create, kids are able to see beyond gender restrictions and imagine a world where everybody is safe and welcome and dress up is real. DQSH Queens are ambassadors for equity diversity and inclusion in family programming. Created by Michelle Tea and RADAR Productions in San Francisco, DQSH now happens regularly in L.A., New York, and San Francisco, and events are popping up all over the country and the world!

https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/

https://www.facebook.com/dragqueenstoryhour/

https://www.instagram.com/dragqueenstoryhour/?hl=en