TL;DR
- Madison Heights council votes 4-3 to cut drag queen story hour from Pride festival.
- Event was pre-approved but deemed ‘vulgar’ by some council members.
- Drag performer Jadein Black advocates for acceptance and education.
- Community members express disappointment over the decision.
- The event aimed to promote kindness and literacy among children.
In a move that has left many scratching their heads, the Madison Heights city council in Michigan has decided to cut a drag queen story hour from its upcoming Pride festival line-up. The decision, made during a special meeting on June 1, saw council members debating whether hosting the event would be appropriate. Spoiler alert: they voted 4-3 to cancel it, citing concerns that some deemed the event “vulgar” and “overtly sexual.”
The drag queen in question, Jadein Black, is not just any performer; she’s a K-12 teacher who regularly participates in family-friendly events. The story hour was set to be a highlight of the town’s Arts and Pride Festival on June 7, but apparently, some council members just couldn’t handle the fabulousness. Jennifer Nagle, a member of the Madison Heights Arts Board, expressed her frustration, noting that the event had been meticulously planned over the past five months and that every detail had received prior approval.
“This was the first year we had the budget to book a drag performer, and this was apparently far too much for some people,” Nagle lamented. The council’s last-minute cancellation has left many in the community feeling disappointed and confused. After all, what’s more educational than a drag queen reading stories to kids? It’s all about kindness, acceptance, and self-expression, right?
Jadein Black took to Instagram to express her dismay and to seek out a new venue, stating, “Let me be clear: Drag performers are not groomers. We are educators, neighbors, friends, community members, and human beings. We show up to create spaces where children can learn about kindness, literacy, acceptance, and self-expression.” It’s hard to argue with that logic.
Rae Stoloff, a volunteer for the Pride festival, also voiced her support for the event, comparing it to having a magician perform for kids. “To me, this is no different than having a magician come in. You have a magician that performs one way for kids and one way for adults,” Stoloff said. Can we get a round of applause for that comparison?
As the LGBTQ+ community continues to fight for visibility and acceptance, it’s disheartening to see such pushback against events that promote love and understanding. The decision to cut the drag queen story hour from the Pride festival is not just a loss for Madison Heights; it’s a loss for every child who could have learned about the beauty of diversity and the importance of acceptance.
Let’s hope that this isn’t the end of the road for Jadein Black and her mission to educate and inspire. After all, the world could always use a little more glitter and a lot more love.