MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Madison Heights City Council reversed its decision to cancel drag queen story time at the Arts and Pride festival this weekend.
Earlier this week, leaders voted 4-3 to remove the reading from the event lineup over concerns about whether it was family friendly. A special workshop meeting was called by city council, where the main agenda point was to discuss the appropriateness of drag queen story time being at a public park, one of several events planned for the Arts and Pride festival at Civic Center Park.
But supporters and the performer pushed back.
“I really think this is a victory for everybody and having a dialogue in that intervening time to come up with a resolution,” event organizer Jennifer Nagle said.
Watch our report when the event was removed from the festival below:
Nagle said this is the first year the group had a budget to book a drag performer. She says the board had been planning the festival since February and had specifically vetted the drag performer before booking them.
Nagel says some members of city council are on the boards that helped plan the event, and no problems were found in the months leading up to it.
Nagle says she believes the reversal means “the council is open to hearing opinions.”
“Talking to some of the people at the city council and the city manager's office this week, they've been saying oh, the phone has been ringing off the hook with people who are mad at us for canceling drag story time,” Nagel said.
The drag queen who is expected to perform is Jadein Black, a K-12 educator in the Ypsilanti area who also performs family-friendly reading events, particularly in June, widely known as Pride Month.
The outpouring of support from across Michigan and around the country has been incredible," Black said in a statement. "Seeing this story receive national attention reminded me that there is so much love in this world. I am grateful to everyone who spoke up, shared their voices, and stood with our community."
Organizers say the he selected book focuses on love and acceptance.
"I am ready to show the world what Story Time really is," Black said. "These events are about literacy, kindness, imagination, acceptance, and creating spaces where every child feels welcome."
The story time will now go on as planned Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Madison Heights mayor says there will be a police presence on site to maintain public safety. Arts and crafts, music, food trucks, karaoke and T-shirt decorating will be offered at the festival.
