Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship for Waterbury Roundabout
WATERBURY – Enthusiastic crowds showed up Sunday for a double bill of Pride celebrations: a drag brunch and story hour downtown.
The brunch is a first for Waterbury, while it’s the second time for a drag story hour at Bridgeside Books.
With three sold-out shows, it’s not likely to be the last drag brunch in Waterbury. When performers asked about future events, the audience cheered in response, and Stowe Street Cafe owner Nicole Grenier said she’s interested in doing it again.
The audience ate French toast and eggs benedict from the chefs at Stowe Street Cafe and sipped mimosas while they watched.
Emoji Nightmare of Cambridge opened with an Adele parody – a song about hot dogs, while throwing hot dogs hidden in her wig into the crowd. Nightmare was followed by three other performers, and the audience clapped and cheered along to each.
Audience member Manny Santiago recently moved to Vermont and is a long-time drag fan. He’s excited to see more drag events popping up here.
“I’m finally back in the scene, and it feels good to be here!” Santiago said.
After these shows, Nightmare joined Katniss Everqueer next door at Bridgeside Books for Story Hour. These two queens are on a tour of Vermont, reading stories all over the state.
“We knew that drag story hours were happening in major metropolitan areas, but we hadn’t heard of any happening in Vermont, and we wanted to bring it here,” said Nightmare, who cofounded the Vermont chapter of Drag Story Hour in 2017.
After an opening activity of sign language and singing, Nightmare and Everqueer read and acted out children’s stories with various messages and themes.
Before two of the books, Everqueer said they were banned in some places and pretended that the books were on fire. This was followed by a message that books are safe, and nothing to be afraid of, even if they are banned.
The kids in the crowd were cheering and answering questions throughout the story hour. By the end, even the shy kids and older people who were quiet at first were singing and laughing along.
The story hour ended with two messages from the queens. They encouraged everyone to say no thank you to shame about who you are, and then to recognize how amazing it is that we don’t have to be just one thing.
“Doing story hour is exceptionally meaningful,” Everqueer said. “We get to read to folks of all ages, and I love thinking, especially in a rural state, that we might be reading a book where a young person is seeing themselves or their family represented for the very first time.”
No protesters showed up at either event. Organizers said they felt overwhelmed by a positive, joy-filled day.
“We get to experience joy, and we need more joy and kindness in this world,” Everqueer said.