‘Proud Boys’ were a no-show at DC Drag Story Hour

On a sunny Saturday morning in the Barracks Row section of Washington, D.C., a group of supporters gathered outside Crazy Aunt Hellen’s restaurant in anticipation of a planned protest by the far-right group Proud Boys against a reading of children’s stories by D.C. drag performer Tara Hoot. The event was known as a Drag Story Hour and had been targeted by Proud Boys members in the past.

The D.C. police had closed the one-block section of 8th Street in anticipation of the protest, but the Proud Boys never showed up. Instead, the street closing evolved into a makeshift block party celebrating the Drag Story Hour event.

Shane Mayson, the owner and operator of Crazy Aunt Hellen’s, had contacted the D.C. police LGBTQ Liaison Unit, which immediately arranged for the police presence at the time of the event. Members of the police LGBT Liaison Unit were present, along with a contingent of 20 or more police officers led by Assistant D.C. Police Chief Jeff Carrol.

The children and their parents, who turned out in sizable numbers for the event, enjoyed the story readings by drag performer Hoot. Hoot told the Washington Blade after the event that it was “fabulously fun and gorgeous and filled with fun and love.” She was grateful for the support of the community and wished LGBTQIA people across the country were feeling the love and support that she felt that day.

Among those standing outside the restaurant as Hoot finished reading stories to the children and parents inside was Salah Czapary, the recently appointed director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture. Czapary ran unsuccessfully last year as an openly gay candidate for the Ward 1 D.C. Council seat. He turned out for the event to show support from the city and assure people that the government was there to support the community and to have a good time at this drag story time.

The event was not without controversy, as Proud Boys members had targeted a similar event at the Loyalty Bookstore in Silver Spring, Md., just a week before. Silver Spring police dispersed the Proud Boys members and supporters of the Drag Story Hour event after the two groups shouted at each other, and reports surfaced that at least one Proud Boys member had assaulted one of the supporters. No arrests were made, and no injuries were reported.

Despite the opposition, Mayson had been doing the Story Hour for six months and was committed to continuing the event. The Parasol Patrol, an organization that provides support for Drag Story Hour events across the country, had informed Mayson that Proud Boys had placed his restaurant on a protest list that called on opponents of the Drag Story Hour events to show up at the event.

At the end of the day, love prevailed, and the joy of the event was what Hoot focused on. “At the end of the day, love is going to win. And the joy, that’s what I focus on at all my events,” she said. The community came together to support the event and to show that they would not be intimidated by the Proud Boys or anyone else who opposed the event.

The Drag Story Hour event at Crazy Aunt Hellen’s was a success, and Mayson and Hoot were grateful for the support they received from the community and the police. Despite the opposition, they were committed to continuing the event and spreading joy and love to children and their families.