The Painted Porch bookstore held “Drag Story Hour” on Saturday. Despite much backlash from the community, they were determined to make it happen.
AUSTIN, Texas — Across the country, we’ve seen protests and outrage over drag performance events where children were in attendance. Saturday, The painted porch bookstore in Bastrop held “Drag Story Hour”, where drag performers dressed as pirates and princesses read stories to children.
Colleen Pannell, also known as Captain Scar, was one of Saturday’s drag kings.
“It’s a way for us to express ourselves and be a little bit more,” Pannell said. “What everyone likes to be is a little more.”
Although drag has been around for decades, some don’t accept it.
“I had been through this before in the 80s and late 70s,” Pannell said. “It’s something that has happened before and even before. To have to relive that, we always say that history repeats itself, and it does repeat itself again.”
Ryan Holiday, owner of The Painted Porch Bookshop, said he has received many complaints from the community.
A customer called the bookstore and said he was having a story hour with drag performers that he wouldn’t be visiting the store again. Below is the exchange they had with a bookstore employee.
“We got angry notes online and stuff,” Holiday added.
People were calling Holiday to cancel the event, but despite the pushback, that didn’t deter her.
“There’s nothing inappropriate or weird or weird about it,” he said. “It was people reading books and having a good time together. It was a community.”
Pannell said these comments can sometimes hurt, but it’s about keeping your head up.
“We’re not going to back down,” Pannell added. “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to show people that we’re not here to hurt anyone. We’re here to show our love.”
Pannell hopes that at some point, those who disagree with what she’s doing will one day understand what it’s all about.
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