Drag Queen Story Hour was created in 2015 to bring together two seemingly incompatible constituencies—drag queens and children—to read books, sing songs, and more. In just a few years, DQSH events have been replicated in hundreds of libraries, schools, and community spaces, provoking enthusiasm as well as backlash. In this presentation, Lil Miss Hot Mess will draw on her experiences as a DQSH performer and scholar to discuss what children and drag queens can learn about the world from each other. Moving away from introductory lessons on gender or diversity, she argues that drag is a form of performance rooted in play, transformation, and alternative world-making that opens up possibilities for children and adults of all identities.

* Live Stream will be available.