Pride Month with Drag Story Hour’s Lil Miss Hot Mess 🏳️🌈
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The Ten News Season 3: Episode 66
In today's episode: 🏳️🌈 Celebrate Pride Month & the LGBTQ+ Community with The Ten News ☕ Lil Miss Hot Mess from Drag Story Hour spills the tea on all things Pride 🐭 Ryan Nerz breaks down everything you need to know about the Disney vs. DeSantis debacle in Florida 🎭 Trivia with Tessa: what famous writer continued the tradition of Drag in their plays?
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Links
https://www.loc.gov/ghe/cascade/index.html?appid=90dcc35abb714a24914c68c9654adb67
https://apnews.com/article/target-pride-lgbtq-4bc9de6339f86748bcb8a453d7b9acf0
https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbkmkmn
TRANSCRIPT:
Pamela Kirkland 00:01
Hey, Ryan, almost ready for The Ten News Pride Parade?
Ryan Willard 00:04
Oh, yeah, Pamela, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the rainbow tie-dye t-shirts.
Pamela Kirkland 00:10
Wow, those look amazing!
Ryan Willard 00:13
Did Pete bring the glitter tiaras?
Pamela Kirkland 00:15
He did and he's already wearing his.
Ryan Willard 00:18
Gosh, I love Pride Month.
Pamela Kirkland 00:20
Me too. I'm Pamela Kirkland.
Ryan Willard 00:22
And I'm Ryan Willard. It's Wednesday, June 7th.
Pamela Kirkland 00:25
This is The Ten News.
Sound Bit 00:29
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Ryan Willard 00:36
Here at The Ten News, we're excited to celebrate Pride.
Pamela Kirkland 00:39
Pride Month has a long history. For over 50 years, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer community and their allies have taken to the streets to celebrate being who they are.
Ryan Willard 00:53
The LGBTQ+ community is made up of 20 million americans of all different backgrounds, ages, races and abilities.
Pamela Kirkland 01:03
Some folks feel like the LGBTQ+ community has already won enough battles. After all, laws protect the community from discrimination. Gay marriage is legal, and employees can't be fired for being gay.
Ryan Willard 01:17
But this year alone, more than 500 laws were proposed in the US to limit the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans youth.
Pamela Kirkland 01:27
One of the things conservative politicians are targeting is drag, including groups that focus on bringing the fun of drag to kids, like Drag Story Hour.
Ryan Willard 01:38
Pamela, you got to sit down with one of the queens from Drag Story Hour, right?
Pamela Kirkland 01:43
That's right, I got the chance to chat with Lil Miss Hot Mess, and I had so much fun. Check it out. So, I want to introduce the fabulous Lil Miss Hot Mess. She's a drag performer, an artist, a beloved figure in the LGBTQ+ community, and she's an author. She's written two children's books, 'The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish' and 'If You're a Drag Queen & You Know It'. She's also an incredible advocate for love acceptance and self expression. Lil Miss Hot Mess, welcome to The Ten News.
Lil Miss Hot Mess 02:22
Thank you so much for having me. It's so exciting to be here.
Pamela Kirkland 02:25
Let's get started. Can you tell me a little bit just about yourself? And of course, how did you get the name?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 02:32
Well, let me say that the name was something that I earned a little bit when I was a little bit younger and a little bit messier in my day to day life. Although I like to say now that the name Little Miss Hot Mess is less about who I am and more about the ways that I like to kind of shine a mirror onto the world and show everyone what a hot mess our world can be. And, you know, I am a drag queen. I have been doing drag for about 15 years now. Um, I got started in San Francisco and have. I've lived in many cities across the United States and gotten to perform in, in many, many more. Uh, and in my daily job, I'm also a professor. So I get to not only read stories to kids as part of Drag Story Hour, but also kind of teach some older kids as well.
Pamela Kirkland 03:23
Which is very cool. You get to be an artist and also a professor at the same time.
Lil Miss Hot Mess 03:29
Exactly.
Pamela Kirkland 03:30
And I think a lot of our listeners are probably familiar with story hour at the library. But can you explain what Drag Story Hour is for those who don't know?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 03:39
Yes, drag story hour is kind of just like any other regular story hour that you might go to at a library where, you know, a librarian or a teacher or volunteer reads books to kids. Only ours are fabulous drag performers. So we have drag queens, we have drag kings, we have other fabulous beings of many different identities and expressions, and we read books, we sing songs, we do a little dancing, sometimes we'll do an art project or a craft project or face painting, um, and it's really just a way to to celebrate kind of the diversity in children's books and to to celebrate our love for reading.
Pamela Kirkland 04:21
And drag itself is very much about self expression. If you had to explain what drag is, what would you, how would you explain it?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 04:31
For me, drag... It's all about imagination and creativity and play, you know, it's kind of getting to do dress up for a living and, and extending it onto the stage and into the library and into the streets. And, you know, in many ways, drag is about sometimes creating a separate character, or sometimes it's about kind of accentuating aspects of yourself that you don't get to live. You know, in your everyday life. Um, and so we're fabulous, you know, we are glittery, we are sparkly, we have big hair, big shoes, you know, the more sensations and stimulations we can offer the better. Um, and I would also say that drag, you know, drag performers, we have a long history of. Being involved in our communities, we've always in some ways been leaders and role models, whether that is raising money for causes that we believe in or leading protests and parades and, and standing up for what we believe in .
Pamela Kirkland 05:41
What are some of the positive experiences you think for children in going to something like Drag Story ?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 05:47
You know, I always wonder how kids Interpret who we are and and make sense of us. And I think for some kids, you know, we're almost like Disney princesses come to life, or we're real life royalty, or maybe even superheroes. And, you know, we might not quite be any of those things. But at the end of the day, we're also not so far off. You know, I always like to say, the difference between kind of a real queen and a drag queen is that drag queens, we don't rule over people, we are of the people, we are part of your communities. And we might not quite have superpowers, but we find ways to, to really let our talents and our skills shine in service of our communities. And so yeah, for me, you know, as a drag performer, it's just so fun, to get to really kind of bounce that energy back and forth between myself and the kids and families that come to story hours. Because they are just such fun, magical experiences. And something that you know, I don't always get to do it's very different to perform, you know, for adults, versus getting to share that joy and energy with kids.
Pamela Kirkland 06:58
I think we're gonna have to start a campaign to get Disney for the next Disney Princess, it's going to be Little Miss hot mess.
Lil Miss Hot Mess 07:05
From your mouth to the goddess's ears.
Pamela Kirkland 07:08
So, there are some people who think Drag Story Hour is not for kids. Um, what do you say to those people? And what can be done in places where Drag Story Hour is actually being banned?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 07:22
You know, it's such a shame that some people really are so against drag story hour and against drag in general, because at the end of the day, drag queens, we want people to have a good time. We want people to celebrate themselves, to celebrate the diversity in their communities, to, to really let their inner sparkle shine brightly on the world. And I think some people, unfortunately, Are really afraid of that. There's a lot of people out there who who want us to kind of stay in our boxes to not color outside the lines to maybe be a little bit scared about the world and drag queens were all about being bold and fearless and and really knowing that sometimes Um You know, sometimes the best way to change the world is really to start with yourself and to give yourself a little bit of a transformation. And that may or may not involve, you know, a little bit or a lot of bit of glitter. Um, but, but sometimes by, by remaking ourselves, we can start to change the world around us. And so I think that's in some ways what we have to keep doing. We, we, we need more drag. We need more people to try drag. We need more people to support drag. Um, because Drag, it gives us that answer. It gives us that opportunity to think outside the box and to imagine a world that's not only, you know, more fair and more just, but also more fabulous and more fun to live in. So, you know, these days, unfortunately, We do need people to stand up. We need people to reach out to their elected officials. We need people to write letters to the editor of their newspapers. We need people to join us in protests. Um, and to say, you know, everyone, everyone deserves a seat at the table. Everyone deserves to express themselves creatively and authentically.
Pamela Kirkland 09:20
I love that. And I also love copious amounts of glitter. So, the month of June is Pride Month. What does Pride mean to you and how do you like to celebrate?
Lil Miss Hot Mess 09:36
Ooh, for me, I would say. Pride is all about being yourself and also celebrating a community of people like you, um, of getting to really, to really kind of showcase what makes you special and unique and different and to not feel, not feel sad or, or, You know, like you're somehow off, uh, because you're different, but to really, to really celebrate all those things that, that make us special.
Pamela Kirkland 10:11
Would you have any advice for kids who are listening who are maybe a little afraid of, you know, being different? It's hard to go out there and do something that you do would seem so naturally.
Lil Miss Hot Mess 10:25
Yeah, it is and it can feel really hard. And, you know, even Even for me, a, a 15 year old drag queen, uh, who's been doing this for quite a while, it can still feel hard, especially when people, yeah, maybe tease you or, or just aren't always the most friendly to you. And I think it's, it's really important to remember that we all have, you know, Not only inner value, but an inner sparkle that that the world needs to see. You know, we're doing a disservice if we hold back parts of ourselves and don't let the rest of the world know and celebrate that with us. Um, one of the things that I think is so magic about drag is that. Sometimes it feels a little bit like an armor, you know, sometimes when I'm putting on all of these sequins and painting my face, it's a ritual that lets me step into my power in a new way and to feel like I [00:14:30] can really move through the world, you know, literally with my head held higher and my shoulders back and And also literally a little bit taller when I'm wearing, you know, a pair of high heeled shoes.
Pamela Kirkland 11:33
I think that's great advice. Finding something that helps give you your confidence, whether it is a fabulous wig, or a pair of glasses or your favorite book and just going out there and getting it. Lil Miss Hot Mess, thank you so much for spending time with us on The Ten News.
Lil Miss Hot Mess 11:52
Thank you so much. This has been such a treat.
Ryan Willard 11:56
Lil Miss Hot Mess is serving the tea and realness.
Pamela Kirkland 11:59
That was such a fun interview. It’s more important than ever to celebrate Pride, and learn about the LGBTQ+ community. One place LGBTQ+ rights are especially under attack is Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has passed laws that affect the community, but he’s also gone after one of the world’s biggest and most powerful corporations: Disney. We asked Ten News Correspondent Ryan Nerz to break down what’s happening in Florida: take it away Ryan.
Ryan Nerz 12:35
In the past few years, there have been some truly epic battles in the news. There's Biden vs. Trump, and also the COVID pandemic vs. well, all of humanity. And there's even Will Smith vs. Chris Rock. But as a Florida resident, I personally think no fight has been more shocking than Disney versus DeSantis. Before we get into the details, let me set this up like a proper fight. In this corner, coming to you straight out of the Capitol Building in Tallahassee, the man who will battle Donald Trump and the 2024 Republican presidential primary weighing in at well, I don't actually know. But as he tells everyone, much less than he weighed a year ago. It's the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. And in this corner at the ripe old age of 99 years, with over 220,000 employees and weighing in at a total value of $167 billion. It's the biggest entertainment company in the world, The Walt Disney Company who was tired. Oh, okay, so anyway, here's how the fight has gone down so far. Round one. DeSantis threw the first punch in March of 2022 when he signed the parental rights and education bill. It does not allow lessons about sexual identity or gender identity to be taught in Florida public schools from kindergarten through the third grade. And it does allow parents to sue any schools that violate that bill. Why? From day one, it had many critics who labeled it the don't say gay bill, and angry people from California to Florida started protesting. Despite the protests and pressure from its many LGBTQ employees, Disney stayed silent. When CEO Bob J. Peck finally wrote a letter to employees. It basically said Disney didn't want to get involved and become a quote, political football. Protesters were not satisfied. Governor DeSantis sensed weakness and kept swinging DeSantis had Already one, round one. Round two DeSantis started calling them woke Disney and acting like a cowboy in some old timey western movie.
Sound Bit 15:11
Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy.
Ryan Nerz 15:16
he wrote in a fundraising email. Then he went a step further signing a bill that removed Walt Disney World special self governing district and turning it over to the state of Florida. To which Disney responded. Hi, everybody. It's me, Mickey Mouse. Say you want to come inside my clubhouse. Okay, so maybe the Disney company didn't actually say that. But they did seem confused by the Santas is aggression. And we're basically staggering around the ring, which is why round two went to DeSantis. But in round three, Disney found its footing, or I should say Disney found its lawyers and fastest Buzz Lightyear, they came up with a strategy Oh infinity and beyond. The day before the state of Florida was scheduled to take over the Disney District. The board legally approved a new 30 year development agreement, which basically transferred all the power directly to Disney. And just how long would Disney maintain this power? The agreement said and I will quote with the proper accent. This declaration shall continue in effect until 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles the third. So basically, if the grandchildren of the current king of England makes it to the age of 80 this contract would exist for 100 years. Do I even have to say who won round three. And round four DeSantis was so enraged that he started just flailing wildly. In interviews, he suggested all kinds of possible punishments, like raising Disney's taxes, building a non Disney theme park nearby, or maybe even a prison right next to Disney World. But while DeSantis was talking smack, Disney went in for the knockout punch. On April 26 of 2023. Disney sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming he had waged a targeted campaign of government retaliation. The House of Mouse claimed DeSantis his actions had violated their First Amendment rights. They were basically saying you can't punish a company for speaking its mind. And you definitely can't just discard our contracts because you don't like us. The court battle will rage on but round four goes to Disney. Since then, they have both just kept swinging DeSantis countersuit Disney in state court, Disney, which is Florida's top taxpayer announced that it would scrap plans to build a $1 billion corporate headquarters that would have employed over 2000 workers in the state. So after all this fighting, who's the winner? Well, no one's down for the count yet, but Disney definitely has the momentum. The fight has not hurt the House of Mouse financially, while Governor DeSantis appears to be losing political support for the fight. I guess it's no surprise the potential big business donors to his campaign are not excited that DeSantis is going after like the biggest business. But in the end, it's hard to pick a winner here. You can make the case that the real loser in this fight is the people of Florida who will lose tax money, potential jobs, and according to Disney CEO as much as $17 billion in future business. If there are winners, maybe it's Disney fans and the forces of inclusion. Case in point, Disney recently announced that they plan to host what they call the world's largest LGBTQ plus conference. They plan to host it every year. And guess where it will be held? That's right. Walt Disney World. Right and Governor DeSantis is back yard.
Ryan Willard 19:17
Thanks, Ryan Nerz! Keep us posted on what’s happening in Florida and we’ll be keeping an eye on the upcoming Presidential race.
Tessa Flannery 19:32
Welcome to the trivia room.
Leilani 19:35
Hey, Tessa, can I try trivia?
Tessa Flannery 19:37
Of course you can. Leilani, we're so excited to have you. Hop on up on the trivia throne for today's trivia question. Are you ready?
Sound Bit 19:49
What is going on here?
Tessa Flannery 19:58
It’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and we got to chat with Lil Miss Hot Mess from Drag Queen Story Hour. Drag is the art of dressing as an exaggerated version of a different gender or your own. Drag started LOOOONG ago - I’m talking thousands of years! In Ancient Greece, men performed all the roles of women in Greek plays. And that tradition continued for hundreds of years. Including in the plays of one famous writer - but do you know which writer? Is it: a) William Shakespeare, b) Dr. Seuss, or c) Jane Austen? Ten'ers, did you guess it? Leilani? What's your answer?
Leilani 20:39
I think I'm gonna go with a) William Shakespeare.
Tessa Flannery 20:43
The answer is…A! Shakespeare! Back when Shakespeare was writing, in the late 1500s and early 1600s, women weren’t allowed to perform on stage. So all the roles for women were played by men. And the word ‘Drag’ might have even been invented around the same time, because the dresses the male actors wore ‘dragged’ on the stage.
Leilani 21:08
Wow, that is really cool. Thanks for having me, Tessa. And a big Happy Pride Month to all my gay friends and my two moms.
Ryan Willard 21:19
Alright, let’s get this Pride Parade started! But before we do, here's a quick note for the grown ups. Time for Ten News Snaps.
Pamela Kirkland 21:39
Ten’er ‘fan letter’ wrote this review of The Ten News: “Love it: I love you hosts! You guys are really funny with the gasps lol! When I was on vacation I got the app because it was a really long drive and when I found this I listened to so many. Keep making them!”
Ryan Willard 21:56
Thanks, ‘fan letter’, we will keep making them! And thanks for listening to The Ten News! Ten Things You Need to Know drops every Tuesday and our in-depth reports drop every Wednesday. But if you want some bonus content, you could join the Ten’ers Club on our website or on Apple Podcasts.
Pamela Kirkland 22:12
The Ten News is a coproduction of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts.
Ryan Willard 22:17
The Ten News creative team is reading Samantha Berger’s book, Rock What You Got and includes Tracey Crooks, Pete Musto, Logan DeYoung and Tessa Flannery. Big thanks to Ryan Nerz for contributing to this episode!
Pamela Kirkland 22:29
Our Production Director is Jeremiah Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan.
Ryan Willard 22:37
I'm Ryan Willard.
Pamela Kirkland 22:38
And I'm Pamela Kirkland. Thanks for listening to The Ten News. Now, go celebrate Pride!
