PRISM: Storytime with the Grim Reaper

On Feb. 9, another Drag Queen Storytime was scheduled at the Anchorage Public Library. This popular program started in 2018 and is a chance for local performers to dress up in costumes, read books to children that teach messages of self-esteem, tolerance, and discourage bullying. Brooks Banker, Director of Community Engagement and Youth Programming for Identity Inc. had recently spoken in front of the Anchorage Assembly regarding the event.

“I, for one, as a queer-identified person, as a member of the community, am tired of people sexualizing the lives of LGBTQ people. We are entitled to have normalization and be in spaces with young people” he was quoted as saying.

Similar events happen all over the United States at public libraries since 2015 and are some of the most well attended children’s happenings. The local version has seen large growth, and some of that is due to controversies that have surrounded it. At the second event street preacher David Grisham broke in and started yelling at the children that drag queens were fake and transgender folks did not exist. In late October of last year, hate groups began to email Mary Jo Torgeson, Director of the library, prompting a massive letter-writing campaign on both side of the issue. The library, the volunteer performers who would be reading and the community knew to be on guard because David Grisham had stated that he would be back to protest again.

“Saints, the lgbt-std community is going after the kids again this Saturday afternoon at the Loussac Public Library……. We are trying to organize an outreach starting at 2pm to preach the Gospel to those going inside to participate in this perversion. Calling all Alaska saints to please show up for the sake of the kids!” read the post on Grisham’s personal Facebook account. This is the same man who has showed up outside of Mad Myrna’s and at the Anchorage Pride celebrations, usually with someone dressed as the Grim Reaper with him, screaming about hellfire and damnation. Perhaps his most well-known stunt was traveling to locations during the holidays and yelling at the children in line to see Santa that it was not real, and that their parents were lying to them. It should also be noted that Grisham enjoys posting video of himself burning books that he does not agree with.

For individuals like Grisham, angry protests and outbursts on city property are more than a calling, they are a career move. Groups like his will incite a reaction, and when removed, sue the city in order to collect a paycheck and continue spreading their vitriolic message. Most recently his group sued for the right to pass out religious materials at the Girdwood Forest Fair and won. For this most recent Drag Queen Storytime, another group had decided they were tired of people hearing his message of hate.

At 2 p.m., an hour before the event was to begin, Grisham was already hard at work preaching his message outside the library with a couple of members of his team of “Saints”. You would not have been able to recognize him, as he was disguised in a long, flowing, black rope with a sickle and skull mask. Grisham himself had decided to dress as the Reaper this time around. There were some assembled that day that believed it was because he had already received a trespass warning from the library and didn’t want to be removed. His two or three followers took the heavy lifting when it came to the preaching.

Just a few yards away closer to the door, the Queen’s Guard of Alaska, which had about twenty members, were also holding signs and raising their voices about the issue, but in an entirely different way. Queen’s Guard is a newer group in town, and this was their first official outing. Made up of a group of friends and acquaintances, their mission is simple: The Queen’s Guard of Alaska hopes to counteract negative and hostile protests with positive, peaceful, non-engaging rebuttals.

As one side got angrier and louder, the Queen’s Guard began to sing. “Stop in the name of love” their voices rang out, drowning the preaching and yelling that was happening just a few feet away. Parents and children were starting to arrive for the event and had to walk by Grisham’s group first. “God will drag a queen to hell!” they began to yell louder, echoing the sentiment that was displayed on their signs. Children were looking at them with fear in their eyes, but the next stop was the smiling faces of the Queen’s Guard, singing and laughing with more messages of love. Each time that Grisham’s group got loud, the Queen’s Guard got louder. “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen!”

Individuals that were not part of either group started to get in the middle and escalate the situation. “Hey Torquemada” one man yelled at Grisham, referring to the Grand Inquisitor for the Spanish Inquisition, “Why do you hate children?” A man from the Grisham camp yelled across the way at a member of the Queen’s Guard “I can’t believe you brought your dog! I would not bring my animals here, they would probably get sexually molested by those perverts!” leading to glares from parents walking past with their children. As if on cue, the first of the performers arrived to cheers from the Queen’s Guard, and insults from the other group. “There goes a very confused person!” yelled Grisham from under his cloak and mask. The performer turned quickly while strutting. “Oh honey, I am not confused, I know exactly who I am, I am Mary Poppins!” she said to laughter and more cheers. Her costume an exact replica of the lace outfit Julie Andrews wore in the famous movie scene with Dick Van Dyke.

Soon another performer arrived, this one dressed as a beautiful princess, with blue butterflies on her gown, and again the cheers from the Queen’s Guard drowned out the protests and anger from the smaller group. The last to arrive was Glen Coco, dressed as Michael Jackson, and again, more cheers. Each performer was escorted by Banker and greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters.

Once inside the packed to capacity Wilda Marston Theatre, the families had a wonderful time as the performers read books on a projector so that everyone could see. The 3pm, and 4pm events were both full, and it is estimated that over 300 people attended this version of Drag Queen Storytime, making it the best attended yet. Each group packed up their signs and their protests and left without necessary intervention from the available security, or the APD officers that stopped by to check on the situation, and now it was time for Banker to think about his next work-related event.

Banker is now in his third year at Identity, and when he is not educating the community, speaking at assembly meetings, leading groups, working to raise money for various charities, and sitting on the board of directors for other organizations, his focus is still on the LGTQI+ youth of Alaska, making sure that they have the support and community that they need to thrive. On Presidents Day, more than 20 youths and chaperones gathered for the Winter Youth Leadership retreat. Many of the attendees are members of Identity Q Club, while others only make it out to the retreats and summits. “I like to think that some of these youth come and get enough inspiration to go carry out action in the rest of their day to day lives.” he said.

For the retreat there were several items planned. “Several workshops throughout the day that are educational, discussions and presentations that are focused on their demographic specifically, so LBGTQ+ youth, lots of breaks and snacks, we serve three meals and it ends with a variety show.”

The variety show is like the Youth Arts Showcase’s that have become popular events, and the retreat itself is a smaller version of the summer event that attendees have affectionately labeled “Queer Camp” or “Gay Camp”. A summer sleepover event where the teens can fully be themselves, as well as learn and plan for advocacy. Another event that is coming up is April’s Pride Prom, where LGBTQI+ youth will be able to attend with the dates of their choosing, dressed as themselves without fear of retribution from classmates.

Banker also says that there will be more Drag Queen Storytime events in the future, and that those who oppose it, really aren’t aware of what the actual message is. “They think that there is an ability to teach young kids to be gay, or to be gender variant, when, with drag story time specifically, we are just reading stories about how to treat each other well.” He also stated “The importance of visibility, of queer people, of LGBTQ+ people, around younger generations are going to potentially save lives. It becomes a conversation about stopping bullying, and to accept differences. To send a message to respect and not discriminate against people of color, or people of different religious backgrounds.”

For now, Banker will focus on his upcoming events for youth, and teaching the community the best he can with support from other leaders. The Queen’s Guard stands at the ready to show up and convey a message of love and tolerance in the face of a little old man dressed as Death. Who knows what Grisham is up to, but he enjoys attention so all involved are quite aware that it won’t be long until he is heard from again?