Commonwealth Policy Center

There are some issues that are staring us down, but few want to talk about because they make us uncomfortable. The Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is one of those issues. Like the gorilla in the room, everyone knows it’s there, but they don’t want to talk about it. According to the “Drag Queen Story Hour website: [it’s] about “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.” So why are we talking about this now? Remember, it’s the gorilla in the room and a Drag Queen Story Hour may be coming to a library near you. But please ask yourself first whether this is what’s appropriate for our children. Do men dressed in drag promote what is good, true and beautiful? And is this the path for children to take in order for them to become healthy people?