Inclusion Isn’t A Drag (with Tara Hoot and Cress Barnes)

We’re not afraid to tackle any topic on this podcast, and this week that topic is drag. It’s a new year, but right-wing extremists keep reading from the same old playbook, trying to find boogeymen to scare us… especially suburban women. Armed right-wing extremists have been showing up to protest drag storytime events, which seems far more traumatizing for a child than a princess reading them a book could ever be. So much for the party of personal choice.

The hosts are joined by Cress Barnes, a mom in North Carolina who’s had to deal with threats and calls to shut down her restaurant because she hosts family-friendly drag events. Cress talks about why it’s important to provide inclusive spaces, some misconceptions about drag, and how she always tries to lead with kindness. When she threw a "not a protest" party to celebrate diversity in her town, hundreds of people showed up to support her and the LGBTQ community... and the right-wing extremists were nowhere to be found.

Then Jasmine interviews Tara Hoot, a drag queen who regularly hosts storytime events for kids. Tara is a teacher and a parent, so events that bring joy to kids and parents alike has always been a passion. They discuss what exactly drag is, why drag events have become such a popular target, and why it’s so important for kids to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the books they read and the events they attend.

Finally, Amanda, Jasmine and Rachel raise a glass to not-so-expensive eggs, favorite flowers, and moms standing up for inclusive playgrounds in this episode’s “Toast to Joy.”

First Ron DeSantis passed "Don't Say Gay." Then he banned discussions about racism with the "Stop Woke Act." Now he’s banned AP African American History in the state of Florida. If you want to stand up for education, we encourage you to sign our letter to the Florida Board of Education here.

For a transcript of this episode, please email comms@redwine.blue.

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