Days before Madison Heights was set to kick off its Arts & Pride festival, the City Council voted 4-3 yesterday to pull a planned Drag Queen Story Time from the lineup. The scheduled reader, local drag performer Jadein Black, said the move blindsided her and that she now plans to host a substitute story time in Ypsilanti.
Council Vote Draws Local Debate
Supporters of the motion to remove the program told the meeting they were uneasy about whether Drag Queen Story Time was appropriate for kids and worried it could put a dent in festival turnout, Mayor Corey Haines said. The 4–3 decision came during last night’s council session and sparked both applause and boos from residents in the room, with some urging officials to keep Madison Heights welcoming for everyone, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Jadein Black Says She’ll Hold Story Time Elsewhere
Jadein Black said the last-minute cancellation caught her off guard and stressed that her story times focus on basic values like kindness and acceptance. "I used to teach elementary — 750 kids music here in Ypsilanti; I know what to say around kids and what not to say around kids," she told FOX 2 Detroit. She added that she intends to move forward with a reading anyway, this time at Sidetrack Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti.
Local Performer With Classroom Experience
Jadein Black, the stage persona of Paul Bowling, is a longtime Washtenaw County performer, founder of Boylesque Michigan, and a former music educator, a background that local outlets report helps shape his family‑friendly shows. A profile in the Ann Arbor Observer and an interview with WEMU describe his work reading to children, hosting fundraisers, and performing at Pride events around the region.
National Context
The Madison Heights move lands in the middle of a broader national backlash that has turned family‑oriented drag events into political flashpoints. Coverage of the trend has tracked more than a hundred protests and threats targeting drag performances in recent years and noted that organizers have tightened security plans in the wake of violent attacks, as reported by LAist.
What Comes Next
Arts & Pride is still set for next Sunday at Civic Center Park, according to the city’s event calendar. With Drag Queen Story Time now off the official bill, organizers and the performer are working to stage a replacement reading at Sidetrack while the Arts Board and Human Relations and Equity Commission put the finishing touches on the festival schedule.
