Supporters Dwarf Protesters At West Vil Drag Story Hour Hosted By AG

WEST VILLAGE, NY —When Attorney General Letitia James said she was attending a Drag Story Hour at The Center in the West Village Sunday, it was all but certain that there would be a crowd.

But supporters outnumbered protesters by a huge margin, with a crowd of about hundred gathered outside The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center on West 13th Street to chant,"We're here, we're queer, you bigots are not welcome here."

"It's better to support this side," one supporter, who held up a "Lesbian Power" sign, told Patch. "[It's] what I see as free speech."

Among protesters was a man with a gold mask in a group of so-called "Proud Boys," arrested on accusations that he shoved a reporter's camera and "slapped" an activist, according to the Daily News.

Supporters came to defend what they call is just a really fun story time for their kids.

Desiree Joy Frias, a mom who takes her 3-year-old son to lots of Drag Story Hour events, says the story times have taught her son how to sit, listen and learn.

She's also grateful for free daycare. "It's an hour off. He has a great time."

Among protesters was John McGuigan, a New Jersey resident known for holding "Gays for Trump" signs at Drag Story Hour events who also appeared at an Upper East Side Drag Story Hour protest that saw kids walking past a long row of screaming adults.

When asked if he thought it was okay for children to attend Sunday's half marathon, where overheated runners might remove their tops, McGuigan argued it wasn't the same thing.

McGuigan also argued recent vandalism of Council Member Erik Bottcher's building wasn't vandalism because "It was written in chalk."

The protester admitted conceded that it was "up to the parents" and their right to bring kids to these events, "but I would hope they would choose not to."

He also raised concerns about the expenditure of city funds — the New York Post reported in June the city had spent about $200,000 on Drag Story events since 2018.

But a Drag Story Hour supporter who just gave their name as L.K. pointed to the row of cops stationed outside the protest and raised similar concerns about an "inflated" NYPD budget, which for years has stood above $5 billion.

"We wouldn't need to waste the money if they weren't here," L.K. said.

"They're screaming," L.K. said, nodding toward the protesters. "We want [the kids] to feel calm."

Additional reporting by Kathleen Culliton