Organisers of Texas Drag Queen Story Time Quit Over Death Threats

The hosts of a Houston Drag Queen Story Time, Trent Lira and Devin Will, have told local paper Houstonia they have “stepped aside” over continued harassment and death threats.

The pair founded the story time in September 2017 to promote inclusion and tolerance by having local drag queens read story books to children. They had been the focus of protesters since July 2018.

They said these first protests were “peaceful and civil… It disturbed us, but what could we say?

“They were standing outside and politely informing the public that there were drag queens in there reading to children.

“It was their right. It was not a threat.”

However, the protests soon “intensified” followed by a lawsuit against the Public Library – which was eventually dropped.

“We cannot explain how it feels to put on a show while trying to avoid the stare of someone you know hates you,”they said.

“How could she have known, when we invited her to read a story book to a handful of children, that it would evolve into death threats and national scorn? How could any of us?”they said of one of their performers.