HolliPride, a volunteer run organization focusing on events and advocacy for Holliston’s LGBTQ+ community members, is sponsoring Holliston’s very first Drag Story Hour. For security and safety of participants and the performer, registration is required and participation is limited to children with their grown-ups. The event will occur on Saturday, June 15, 10:30-11:30am, at the Holliston Public Library in the Gilman room. HolliPride independently raised funds for this event in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride month, which is the month of June.
Drag Story Hour is a national 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to “celebrate reading through the glamorous art of drag.” From their website, “Our chapter network creates diverse, accessible, and culturally-inclusive family programming where kids can express their authentic selves and become bright lights of change in their communities. We envision a world where kids can learn from LGBTQ+ stories and experiences to love themselves, celebrate the fabulous diversity in their communities, and stand up for what they believe in and each other.”
Just JP will be the drag performer reading at the event on Saturday. Just JP is a local drag entertainer, producer, host and speaker who loves to make people laugh, lipsync for her life, fight oppression, and eat pupusas. They are Mx. Gay Boston 2022 and the
first Drag Gauntlet competition winner. Born and raised in El Salvador, Just JP is fluent in English and Spanish, and proudly represents Latinidad wherever she goes.
FAQ’s (summarized from Drag Story Hour website)
What is drag?
Drag is an artistic way of expressing yourself and showing the world who you are or who you want to be. Drag performers often express different aspects of their gender or personality through dressing up, performing, marching in parades, and volunteering in their communities. There are drag queens, drag kings, drag princes, and drag princesses—anyone can be any of the above, regardless of how they identify in everyday life! All that matters is that, when you dress up, you feel comfortable and creative.
At Drag Story Hour (DSH), drag is used as a traditional art form to promote literacy, teach about LGBTQ lives, and activate children’s imaginations. Let’s be clear: Drag Story Hour provides age-appropriate programming, and we routinely receive praise from parents and educators who are delighted that we offer children safe spaces to express themselves and support one another.
Does this promote an agenda?
Our agenda is simple: we believe that people of all ages should be free to express themselves however they want, free from the constraints of prescribed gender roles. In other words, there’s no such thing as “girl clothes” and “boy clothes,” or “girl toys” and “boy toys.” DSH teaches children that there are many ways to express themselves and
their gender, and they are all OK. Of course, drag is an art form that is rooted in diverse LGBTQ communities, and we support equality, justice, and respect for all people—for us, that’s just a given. Given that LGBTQ people are present in every community, we believe that children deserve to experience these aspects of our shared history and culture, in age appropriate ways. Any insinuation that we have an agenda to indoctrinate children misunderstands LGBTQ experiences and is rooted in homophobia and transphobia.
Why is this necessary?
DSH helps children develop empathy, learn about gender diversity and difference, and tap into their own creativity. DSH can also be life-changing and ultimately life-saving for LGBTQ kids and teens, kids with LGBTQ parents or family members, and anyone who feels different because of their identity or interests or who may not otherwise see themselves reflected in the broader culture.
The American Psychological Association (APA) acknowledges gender diversity as a normal part of human diversity and adopted a policy in February 2024 that affirms the need for evidence-based inclusive care for transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary individuals. This statement addresses the spread of misleading and unfounded narratives that mischaracterize gender dysphoria and affirming care, likely resulting in further stigmatization, marginalization, and lack of access to psychological and medical supports for transgender, gender-diverse, and nonbinary individuals.
Most children naturally explore gender identity and norms through imaginative play. However, too often gender norms are socially enforced at all ages, from the colors or clothes we’re supposed to wear to the toys kids are allowed to play with to the kinds of jobs we’re trained for. DSH teaches children to follow their passions and embrace gender diversity in themselves and others. This helps to curb bullying of LGBTQ kids and kids who may be perceived as different in all kinds of ways. It also promotes self love and affirmation, as well as the reduction of shame, in LGBTQ+ individuals themselves.
Please join HolliPride in showing our Holliston LGBTQ+ community members that they are welcome and safe here by supporting programming like Drag Story Hour, occurring on June 15, 10:30-11:30am, at the Holliston Public Library in the Gilman room.
Register for the event here:
https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=HOLLISTON&curID=704512
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