Violence erupted on Sunday as a Drag Story Hour event at the LGBTQ Community Center in New York City’s West Village neighborhood was met with protests. Dozens of individuals, some affiliated with the far-right extremist group Proud Boys, gathered outside the center where New York Attorney General Letitia James was hosting the event. Drag Story Hour is an event in which drag performers read children’s books to kids and their families.
The protesters and counter-protesters faced off as police tried to maintain order. Videos shared on social media show a protester in a gold Anonymous mask being apprehended by police after striking a victim in the face. The victim suffered a physical injury to his face and swelling to his nose but was not hospitalized. In another video, a different protester is seen walking away from the event with a bloodied face.
Counterprotesters could be heard shouting in the background: “Go back to Long Island” and “F— the Proud Boys.” Representatives for James and Drag Story Hour’s New York City chapter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The recent rise in anti-LGBTQ protests and legislation has left James “devastated and disappointed,” she said in a statement. Drag, which has deep historical ties to the LGBTQ community, has become a political flashpoint in recent months. Legislators in at least 16 states have proposed measures that would restrict drag performances, with the majority of the bills limiting drag in the presence of children.
Supporters argue that such legislation is needed to protect children from sexualized entertainment, while critics say it broadly paints all drag as overtly sexual and unfairly targets the LGBTQ community. Tennessee became the first state to enact such legislation earlier this month, banning the art form in public or at locations where it can be seen by minors. Performers who violate the law more than once can be charged with a felony and sent to prison for up to six years.
The debate over whether drag is appropriate for children has prompted violence in recent months. According to the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, there were at least 141 incidents of protests and threats targeting drag events last year. In response to such incidents, several of the country’s top drag queens have said they have increased security at their events, some by hiring armed guards.
As New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who is gay, stated, “Those who are attempting to use Drag Queen Story Hour to stir up controversy and vitriol directed at the LGBTQ community and specifically drag artists should be ashamed of themselves.” The incident in New York serves as a reminder of the ongoing battles for LGBTQ rights and the challenges faced by the community.