Drag Story Hour, Co-Founder & Comms
I develop and coordinate the communications strategies for new chapters of our nonprofit at both national and international levels. I collaborate on writing the organization's core curriculum and handle our public relations, while also designing and executing our social media strategies. My role involves traveling extensively to promote our mission, deliver gender education programs, and engage audiences through performances as my drag persona.
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In 2016, I introduced my drag persona, "Ona Louise," at the inaugural Drag Story Hour in NYC, becoming the first drag queen to participate in this event. I host story hours aimed at children ages 3-8 in various settings such as schools, libraries, bookstores, and community spaces, where I focus on teaching inclusivity, acceptance, and love for individuals across all spectrums of gender presentation.
Media Appearances
Drag Story Hour Interview CNN
Drag Queen Story Hour' Fights Critics with a New Campaign NY1
Why Reading is Fun-Damental, In Focus NY1
Drag queen story hour in communities nationwide, but some see controversy, NBC Nightly News
A Gender-Fluid Mother’s Day New York Times
UNTITLED WBAI Radio
Drag Queen Story Hour at the Brooklyn Public Library, BRIC TV​
Popular Press Articles
‘For the first time ever, I worry about doing drag gigs' BBC World News
Drag Queen Story Hour Isn’t Going Anywhere — But It’s Getting Serious About Safety Rolling Stone Magazine
Queer festivals, drag performances and LGBTQ meetups turn digital NBC News
Why a Drag Queen Reading Feminist Fairy Tales to Kids Is So Important Cosmopolitan Magazine
Drag Queen Story Hour in America's Bible Belt BBC World News
Drag Queen Story Hour is Different Down South Into More
Drag Queen Story Hour sparks protests in conservative towns NY Post
Kids Attend Drag Queen Story Hour The New Yorker
Drag Queen Story Hour Continues Its Reign at Libraries, Despite Backlash The New York Times
Leave Drag Queen Story Hour Alone! The New York Times
'Are you a boy or a girl'? Drag Queen Story Hour riles the right, but delights kids The Guardian
"Drag Queen Story Hour" Teaches Kids to Be Fabulous, Inside and Out Mommy Nearest
Academic Speaking Engagements
Ci10 Education 2023: Keynote Speaker
Washington State Employee DEI Empowerment Conference 2023: Keynote Speaker
SXSW EDU 2023: Drag Story Hour: Fight for Queer Herstories
SXSW EDU 2022: Drag Story Hour
AEJMC Conference 2021: Librarians as Lawbreakers: Criminalization of Story Hours
Association for Library Service to Children Conference 2018
Association of Independent School Librarians 2019: Revolutionary Storytelling
Ci6 Education 2018: Creating and Implementing Successful LGBTQIA Youth Programs
Ci7 Education 2019: The Art of Reading Aloud
Hunter College, Gender & Sexuality 101
Librarian Educator Networking and Development Conference 2019
National Book Foundation Conference 2017: Why Reading Matters
New School, Gender Studies 101
New York Library Association Conference 2019
New York Department of Education 2018 & 2019: Gender & Sexuality Summit
Public Library Association Conference 2018: Reading Fabulously
Reaching Forward South Conference 2019
School Library Journal Summit 2018: Drag Queen Story Hour (in a Half Hour!