Two different story hours coming to Wasilla Saturday

A controversial event, one that advocates say help people of all genders and backgrounds explore diverse role models and promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and opponents argue it encourages young adults and children to question their gender identity and only confuses impressionable and formative youth, is coming to Wasilla this Saturday.

Wasilla’s only book store, Black Birch Books, is hosting a Drag King/Queen Story Hour, an event that has received heavy criticism on social media and other media outlets.

Black Birch Books owner Taylor Jordan has long supported patrons and employees who have felt marginalized, working with local nonprofits that work to provide assistance to at-risk youth, homeless, and others in the community who often don’t feel like they belong.

Jordan has said she is excited for the Drag Story hour, recently announcing on social media that there will also be an ASL interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing.

"I also spent some time with another bookstore patron and we selected some books for our guests to read!," she said in the post.

“This event will be fun for anyone of any age, child or adult, to attend! They may be reading children’s books but, that’s part of the fun of story time! This is a story time like any other. We have special readers (kings and queens) who will be in drag for this one.”

Meanwhile, a faith-based group will host a story hour on the same day, Chris Gonzales, founder of GoodTube Kids, is offering a free alternative to Mat-Su families who may choose to not participate in the Drag King/Queen Story hour.

“While there are other events going on that that say they’re family friendly, this one truly is,” Gonzales said via a social media post about the event.

The GoodTube Kids website offers a safe place in which to access a wide range of shows, books, movies and other materials rooted in Judeo-Christian values.

The upcoming Goodtube Kids story hour marks the second event Gonzales has offered this year, after hosting a “Brave Books Story Hour” in Anchorage, also in response to drag shows being hosted by a café in Anchorage.

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries says that while she worries about the innocence of the children and a correlation between early childhood trauma and problems those kids may face late on, she is not sure if the Drag King/Queen Story hour reaches that level or not. She is, however, grateful that there is a choice for families.

“I am pleased that people have a choice in which activities to participate in, whether they choose to go to (Black Birch Books) or go to the faith-based event, or go to the movies. The point is that they have a choice.”

Jordan and her store host a slew of events promoting everything from ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ to ‘Coffee with a Veteran,’ and has never been shy in her support of the LGBTQ+ community, and during a recent visit was not about to let anyone be quiet about the event. “You don’t need to whisper about this, I am proud of what we’re doing.”

While the decision to host the event has cost potential business, Jordan has been firm in standing by the decision to host the Drag King/Queen Story Hour.

Jordan said the overall tone in the comment section on the event post was overwhelmingly positive and that most people supported her decision to host an LGBTQ+ inclusive event.

Regardless of protesters potentially motivated enough to show up the day of the event, Jordan said she’s not backing down and the event will go on as planned on Saturday.

“We’re not worried and we’re excited for everybody to come here and have the opportunity to be heard on either side,” Jordan said. “That’s the point of the bookstore, and that’s the point of this space, is that everybody belongs.”

The GoodTube Kids event in Wasilla occurs June 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Wonderland Park (near the blue pavilion). It includes fitness, games, book readings, prizes, free food and other offerings. For more information, visit www.goodtubekids.com.

The Drag King/Queen story hour will take place on Saturday, June 10, starting at noon, at 2901 E. Bogard Road. For more information, visit the Black Birch Books Facebook page.