Drag is a form of performance and costume based art, similar to theater, pageantry, or playing a character. Performers use clothing, makeup, and storytelling to explore different roles, personalities, or styles in a creative way. Many drag performers also participate in community events, parades, and volunteer activities. ​ There are many styles of drag, just as there are many styles of performance. What matters most is that it is creative, voluntary, and meant to entertain and express imagination, much like dressing up for a play or a parade.

Drag Story Hour (DSH) was created by Michelle Tea and RADAR Productions, under the leadership of Julián Delgado Lopera and Virgie Tovar, in San Francisco in 2015. It started out as drag queens reading stories to children in libraries and grew into a global phenomenon! DSH now offers literary and creative programming for kids and teens of all ages led by drag queens, kings, and all other royal beings!  ​ DSH is a national 501 c 3 non-profit with a global network of local organizations, each of which is independently managed and funded.

No. This claim is inaccurate. Drag Story Hour is a literacy based program that uses performance and storytelling, long standing traditions in libraries and classrooms, to engage children’s imagination and love of reading. All programming is age appropriate and designed with the same care and standards expected of any children’s educational event. ​ Parents, librarians, and educators consistently share positive feedback, noting that these programs create welcoming, well supervised environments where children are encouraged to be kind, curious, and respectful of one another. ​ Our work is about reading, creativity, and helping children feel safe and supported as they grow. We believe families and communities are best served by programs that foster understanding, encourage learning, and allow every child the freedom to be themselves without fear or shame.

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.

Drag Story Hour helps children build empathy, understand that people can be different from one another, and express creativity in healthy ways. For many kids, especially those who feel left out, misunderstood, or unseen, these experiences can be deeply meaningful. By showing children that there is more than one way to be yourself and still be respected, DSH offers reassurance and belonging to kids from many kinds of families and backgrounds.

From a young age, children naturally use imagination and play to understand who they are and how they fit into the world. This kind of exploration is a normal part of growing up. At the same time, children often receive strong messages about how they are “supposed” to behave, what they should like, and what paths are acceptable to them. Drag Story Hour encourages kids to be confident in their interests, respectful of others, and comfortable being themselves. By reinforcing kindness and self respect, the program helps reduce bullying and creates a safer environment for all children, especially those who may stand out in any way.