Listen to my story

Brooklyn Public Library is among the borough’s most democratic civic institutions, serving patrons in every neighborhood and from every walk of life. Established in 1896, BPL is one of the nation’s largest public library systems and currently has more than 850,000 active cardholders. With a branch library within a half-mile of the majority of Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents, BPL is a recognized leader in cultural offerings, literacy, out-of-school-time services, workforce development programs, and digital literacy. In a borough of wide economic disparity, where the costs of basic necessities often take priority over spending on cultural enrichment opportunities, BPL provides a democratic space where patrons of all economic standings can avail themselves and their children of cultural and educational programs in a broad range of disciplines.

In 2016, BPL was awarded an IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museum and libraries.

Drag Story Hour NYC produces storytelling and creative arts programs for children and teens, presented by local drag artists, in libraries, schools, and other community spaces in 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.

National Queer Theater is an innovative theater collective dedicated to celebrating the brilliance of generations of LGBTQ artists and providing a home for unheard storytellers and activists. By serving our elders, youth, and working professionals, NQT creates a more just future through radical and evocative theater experiences and free community classes.

Believing in the power of theater to effect sweeping social change, NQT cultivates a more just, joyous, and empowered intersectional queer community that is celebrated in all corners of society. Through our art and free community programs, we work towards a more equitable vision of a world bursting with pride.

We believe that everyone deserves to create and enjoy theater, to see their stories on stage and to be seen in their full complexity, that theater, like social change, must be made courageously without reservation, and that everyone in the LGBTQ community deserves to feel proud of their identity.

Bella Noche, New York City’s premiere mermaid queen, lures onlookers in with her fantastical spark of color, creativity and charisma. With a combination of both beauty and brains, you’ll become part of her world before you know it, hook line and sinker.

Harmonica Sunbeam, the Comedy Queen, has been delighting audiences at nightclubs, cabarets, fundraising events, and supermarket openings throughout the United States and abroad for over 29 years. Since the inception of DSH NYC, Miss Sunbeam has been featured in the New York Times and interviewed for a now-viral video on Buzzfeed. She is also the North Jersey coordinator of Drag Queen Story Hour.

Always 25-years-old, Yuhua Hamasaki is a fun and campy queen from New York City! Yuhua’s drag character is her own invention of her superhero that has given her courage, confidence, and happiness. She especially loves to explore the city and be creative during her spare time!