ABOUT
ABOUT
WHAT WE DO
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Drag Artists for Expression NYC (formerly Drag Story Hour NYC) produces storytelling and creative arts programs for youth and adults, presented by local drag artists, in libraries, schools, and other community spaces across all five boroughs of New York City, and virtually. Through fun and fabulous educational experiences, our programs celebrate gender diversity and all forms of difference to build empathy and give kids the confidence to express themselves however they feel comfortable.
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WHY WE DO IT
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Kids are taught from an early age to dress and behave according to rigid gender norms, leaving those outside the pink-and-blue binary without representation. Children’s books about gender diversity often emphasize negative experiences, such as bullying. As a result, LGBTQIA+ youth are three times more likely than their straight, cisgender peers to face serious mental health challenges. Drag artists are the perfect ambassadors for gender creativity, giving kids a chance to explore a wide spectrum of gender expression. Our programs help preschoolers counter harmful stereotypes in age-appropriate settings, and provide older kids and teens with critical affirmation and hope for a future beyond the binary.
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WHO WE ARE
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DAE is run by an entirely BIPOC LGBTQ+ staff. Our programs are presented by a team of local drag artists trained by children's librarians at Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library.
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OUR IMPACT​
Our impact In 2025, DAE NYC produced 165 programs serving over 5,000 youth across all five boroughs of New York City, including:
- 48 programs in public schools, serving 2,350 children
- 43 bilingual programs in either English/Spanish, English/Cantonese or English/Mandarin, serving 1,230 youth 30 programs in public libraries, serving 810 children
- 3 programs specifically designed for kids with autism and other disabilities
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We launched two new initiatives:
- Free programming for youth in the foster care system
- Drag Lab, a storytelling and theater-based program for youth to build confidence by creating drag characters
*And, all of our programs continue to be available with free ASL interpretation, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Inclusive Communication Services.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS DRAG STORY HOUR NYC; WE ARE NOW DRAG ARTISTS FOR EXPRESSION NYC
February 1st, 2025
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Drag Story Hour NYC has changed our makeup, our clothing and put on something even louder, more colorful, and brighter than you may be used to. Internally, name change is something we’ve been speaking about for some time now, but in the meantime, please know that the scope of our work will not change (it will only grow). We will continue to make safe spaces across NYC where kids can express themselves, learn to embrace the radical self-expression of others, and see themselves reflected in literature while promoting a love of learning. We are committed to serving as the most fabulous, accessible example of LGBTQIA+ and TGNCNB representation, support, and affirmation for all young New Yorkers.
In this time of great national uncertainty, you can be sure to find us in a library, a park, at a school, storytelling and empathizing with our beloved New Yorkers, letting them know that their story is our story. That we are all cut from the same cloth, that their fight is our fight.
This is what we do – it’s what we’ve always done!
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For more information, click here.
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HOW WE DO IT
In our original 45-minute Drag Artists for Expression (DAE) program designed for children ages 3-8, local drag performers trained by children’s librarians read picture books that touch on themes of diversity and difference, sing songs, and do craft activities. In learning about drag as a form of dress-up and play, children learn to see beyond the pink and blue gender binary and celebrate difference in themselves and others.
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Over the years, we've expanded our programs to include bilingual DAE programs in Spanish, Cantonese, and French; DAE for neurodiverse kids, DAE middle grade and YA book clubs, drag makeup tutorials, storytelling workshops for seniors, and more! You can find our full program descriptions and learn how to book here.
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WHERE WE DO IT
Drag Artists for Expression NYC events take place at libraries, schools, museums, festivals, parks, open streets, bookstores, play spaces, workplaces, cultural and community institutions around the city, and virtually. In 2021 we produced 67 in-person programs and 141 virtual programs, serving 863 children in person and thousands more virtually. The vast majority of our programs are free to attend. We are approved vendors with all three public library systems in the city as well as the New York City Department of Education. See our Events page for a comprehensive list of our partners.
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​​​​​​​​​You can bring Drag Artists for Expression NYC right into your home via our YouTube channel! Check out our fabulous storytellers reading some of their favorite books here and subscribe so you won’t miss when we post new ones
You can also check out this short video to get a taste of Drag Artists for Expression NYC in action!