Libraries Respond: Drag Queen Story Hour

Many libraries across the country have been hosting or participating in Drag Queen Story Hours. A few have experienced pushback from some members of their community. To support libraries facing challenges we have established this collection of resources. We will continue to add to it and welcome your contributions. ALA, through its actions and those of its members, is instrumental in creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive society. This includes a commitment to combating marginalization and underrepresentation within the communities served by libraries through increased understanding of the effects of historical exclusion.

Note: Decisions about programming are made at the local level and are based on individual library policy.

What is Drag Queen Story Hour?

Drag Queen Story Hour is a program or event featuring drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, or bookstores. It was created by Michelle Tea and RADAR Productions in San Francisco, California. The official Drag Queen Story Hour website is www.dragqueenstoryhour.org

Share Your Story

We want to hear your stories about Drag Queen Story Hour. Share your successes and your challenges using the hashtags:

#LibrariesRespond #DragQueenStoryHour

ALA Resources

Toolkits & Best Practices

• Open to All: Serving the GLBT Community in Your Library- created by the Rainbow Round Table
• Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries (AASL)
• Drag Queen Story Hour: Reading Fabulously- Program session from the 2018 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference
• Hateful Conduct in Libraries: Supporting Library Workers and Patrons - created in partnership with the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS)

Relevant ALA Library Bill of Rights Interpretations

• Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
• Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation

Relevant ALA Policy Development Resources

• Library Policy Development: General - a LibGuide from the ALA Library
• Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries

Blog Posts from Across ALA

• You Better Work: Creating Inclusive Programming in the Face of Opposition, Intersections Blog, October 19
  
  Drag Queen Story Hour by Kat Savage from ALSC Blog, June 15, 2017
• Drag Queen Story Hour by ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee, ALSC Blog, July 22, 2017
• #PLA2018 Drag Up Your Storytime by Erin Douglass from ALSC Blog, March 24, 2018
• Three Queens: Perspectives on Drag Queen Story Hour by Alex Falck from Intellectual Freedom Blog, July 5, 2018
• When a Protestor Interrupts Drag Queen Storytime by Kristin Pekoll from Intellectual Freedom Blog, June 20, 2018
• Ain't it a Drag? Program Challenges at the Public Library by James LaRue from Intellectual Freedom Blog, June 1, 2017
• Defend Pride at Your Library by Kristin Pekoll from Intellectual Freedom Blog, June 10, 2018
• Drag Queen Story Hour: Q&A with Port Jefferson Free Library, Programming Librarian, Oct. 26, 2018
• You Better Work: Creating Inclusive Programming in the Face of Opposition, Intersections Blog, October 11, 2019

Resources Recommended by ALA staff and members

Books

• Diversity programming for digital youth : promoting cultural competence in the children's library by Jamie Campbell Naidoo
  • ISBN: 9781610694872 1610694872 OCLC Number: 862958393
• Queer library alliance : global reflections and imaginings by Rae-Anne Montague, Lucas McKeever
  • ISBN: 9781634000314 1634000315 OCLC Number: 992225700
• Partnering with parents: boosting literacy for all ages by Mary Schreiber
  • ISBN: 9781440863929
• Serving LGBTIQ library and archives users : essays on outreach, service, collections and access by Ellen Greenblatt
  • ISBN: 9780786448944 0786448946 OCLC Number: 630498096
• The First Amendment and LGBT equality : a contentious history by Carlos A. Ball
  • ISBN: 9780674972193 0674972198 OCLC Number: 959649250

Articles & Websites

• Follow #dragqueenstoryhour on Twitter
• Panel defends "Drag Queen Story Hour" during discussion at Spokane Library, June 13, 2019
• Drag Queen Story Time lawsuit could be dismissed after plaintiffs are found without standing to sue, Advocate, January 10, 2019
• Far from a Drag: How One Library Embraced Drag Queen Story Hour, Children & Libraries, Volume 16, No. 1, 2018
• Some Libraries are Facing Backlash Against LGBT Programs -- and Holding Their Ground, Buzzfeed, November 15, 2018
• Drag Storytimes Bring Fierceness-- and Fierce Opposition, American Libraries Magazine, September 20, 2018
• Inclusive Storytimes: Create a Space that Welcomes All Families by Megan Roberts from American Libraries Magazine, June 1, 2017