Scroll To Top
News

Proud Boys Violently Attack Supporters at DC-Area Drag Queen Story Hour

Proud Boys Violently Attack Supporters at DC-Area Drag Queen Story Hour

Drag Queen reading to children next to photos of Proud Boys protesting and a person with a facial injury.

Incidents of Proud Boys showing up at Drag Queen Story Hour events have increased throughout the country.

Cwnewser
Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

Police in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., had to intervene Saturday when violent Proud Boys tried to force themselves into a Drag Queen Story Hour event at a bookstore.

Families with small children had assembled at Loyalty Books in Silver Spring to enjoy a Drag Queen Story Hour event last weekend. Outside, far-right protesters came to demonstrate against it.

One person suffered a facial injury during the standoff between the Proud Boys and LGBTQ+ supporters. Meanwhile, a counterprotest shielding the bookstore’s entrance with colorful umbrellas and pride flags prevented any children from being hurt, and the event inside went on as planned.

Protesters yelled anti-LGBT+ slurs and accused counterprotesters from the Parasol Patrol DMV group, which uses brightly colored umbrellas to shield kids from protesters at LGBTQ+-friendly events, of being “groomers,” Washington, D.C.’s CBS affiliate WUSA reports.

In addition to carrying rainbow umbrellas to obscure the signs to the children at the event, Parasol Patrol members played music and sang songs to drown out protesters’ jeering.

Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink said the situation escalated when Proud Boys kicked, punched, and shoved people. Mink herself was kicked, DCist reports.

As the two groups clashed, at least one person was struck in the face and left with a bloody nose and other minor facial injuries, according to pictures from the incident.

A spokesperson for Montgomery County Police Department said no arrests or injuries were reported, although multiple attendees reported injuries, according to MoCo360, a local news site.

The far-right and some Republican politicians have falsely demonized drag queens, transgender people, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community as “groomers,” implying that they will manipulate children to take advantage of them sexually. Drag Queen Story Hours have become targets of these far-right extremists.

The owners of Loyalty Books remain undeterred by the intimidation attempts and will continue to host drag queens at their location, they wrote on Twitter.

“Yesterday afternoon Loyalty came under attack from hate groups who tried to force their way into our store during a Drag Queen Story Hour with physical violence. Because of [counterprotesters’] efforts the children inside the store got to enjoy doing the Hokey Pokey, hearing beautiful books read aloud basking in the presence of the wonderful @CharChateau. They did not have to hear about bodily mutilation or listen to the slurs and the unhinged, graphic accusations,” the owners wrote.

“We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers and our wonderful Drag Queen for focusing on joy and safety. Loyalty will continue with our Drag Queen Story Hour because A) it is an awesome time for kids (remember the kids? The ones enjoying being read to? This was supposed to be about them!) and B) because there is no hate or violence stronger than the love of our community. We’ll continue to work with our local Parasol Patrol to have safety plans and if you’d like to volunteer please sign up with them! They do incredible work,” the store added.

Cwnewser
The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Alan Cumming and Jake Shears

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal agencies. He has written multiple cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to amplifying untold stories, especially as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.
Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal agencies. He has written multiple cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to amplifying untold stories, especially as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.