MADISON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN – With only days to go before its annual Arts & Pride festival, the city of Madison Heights has seen a key event removed from its program. In a special meeting on Monday night, the City Council voted 4-3 to cut a planned Drag Queen Story Time, a decision that has frustrated the event's organizers who had been planning the festival since February.
The performer scheduled to host the story time, Jadein Black, is a K-12 educator in the local area. According to festival planners, Black had been carefully vetted by the Madison Heights Arts Board. The board had approved the book selection, which focuses on themes of love and acceptance, as well as the planned outfit—a dress designed to highlight autism awareness.
Jennifer Nagle, a member of the Arts and Pride Planning Committee, noted that this was the first year the festival had the budget to include a drag performer. "We've been planning this for a long time. And we specifically vetted our drag performer," she told local news outlet WXYZ.
Council Cites Concerns Over Content
The council members who voted for the cancellation argued that as a city-sponsored event, the final decision on programming rested with them. During the meeting, some members reportedly described the activity as potentially "vulgar and overtly sexual."
In a formal statement, Councilwoman Toya Aaron, who voted in favor of the removal, said the decision was a "pause" for this year. She stated the council was not fully aware of the performance's content and wanted to "ensure the event would be appropriate for every citizen in attendance." She added, "This decision was not made to single out or diminish the LGBTQIA community."
A "Hurtful" Decision for Organizers
The last-minute nature of the vote has been a source of significant disappointment for those involved. Rae Stoloff, a volunteer organizer, pushed back against the characterization of the event as inappropriate. "To me, this is no different than having a magician come in," Stoloff said. "You have a magician that performs one way for kids and one way for adults."
For Jadein Black, the performer, the cancellation was personal. "I feel like my drag is my armor," Black said. "And I feel like all of these people really don't understand or have even been to an experience with myself or any other drag queens before, so it hurts really bad."
This incident in a Michigan suburb reflects a broader trend across the United States, where drag performances, particularly all-ages events like story hours, have become a focal point for political debate and opposition from conservative groups. These events, intended to promote literacy and inclusion, are often targeted with claims of being inappropriate for children.
Despite the controversy, the Arts and Pride festival is still scheduled to take place this Sunday with other activities, including arts and crafts, music, and food trucks. Meanwhile, Jadein Black has since scheduled a new performance at a drag brunch this Saturday, where a story time has been added to the show.
