Madison Heights Council Votes to Remove Drag Queen Storytime from Sunday’s Pride Event
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 2, 2026)
UPDATE: MADISON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL HAS SINCE VOTED TO REINSTATE THE STORYTIME. READ MORE: https://oaklandcounty115.com/2026/06/05/drag-queen-storytime-to-continue-after-madison-heights-council-takes-new-vote/
Madison Heights, MI – Days before the city-sponsored Arts and Pride event at Civic Center Park, officials in the City of Madison Heights held a special meeting and voted to remove Drag Queen Storytime from the event.
The vote was 4-3. Mayor Corey Haines, Mayor Pro Tem William Mier, Toya Aaron, and Sean Fleming voted to remove the storytime. Councilmembers Laurie Geralds, Emily Rohrbach, and Quinn Wright voted to keep it. The special meeting was held June 1, and was not recorded by the City as regular council meetings are.
Arts and Pride, now its 5th year, is organized by Madison Heights Arts Board and Human Relations and Equity Commission. The June 7 events includes arts, activities, karaoke, and entertainment for the whole family. The event runs from 1pm to 5pm.
Assistant City Attorney Jeff Sherman introduced the discussion, stating that City Council had the legal right to alter or prohibit programming decisions by boards and committees. Sherman argued the debate was strictly about children, not anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
“Children are innocent, developing, and unable to protect themselves. They need our protection as they are growing up. All of us should strive to give children as carefree of a childhood as possible without exposing them to adult issues and adult disagreements,” Sherman said.
“So the question before this Council today really should be re-framed. It’s not about drag queens. It’s about children because the proposed programming decision specifically involves children. Many would claim that drag queens are historically tied to adult nightlife, cabaret, or sexualized entertainment for adults. And although the drag queen in question will not be engaged directly in their act, their costumes, humor, or themes, it may blur boundaries between children’s programming and the adult performance culture…I would not want a drag queen to read to my grandchildren any more than I would want an exotic dancer to read to them.
“My concern is not with adults expressing themselves to other adults, but whether this type of programming our performance is appropriate for children in a publicly sponsored event on publicly owned property. Government sponsored events should remain inclusive for families with a wide range of beliefs and values.”
Residents and council members shared views from both sides.
Jennifer Nagle, Arts Board Vice Chair and Subcommittee Member, said the group picked performer Jane Black because of their background as a state certified, background checked, k-12 teacher in Ypsilanti. She also said that labeling “a performance of femininity as something inherently sexual is something that is deeply insulting to the women here, period”.
Angel Simon expressed feeling unsafe that the program was even up for debate. They noted that drag is a foundational part of queer culture and stated, “If you do not want your children to participate? Do not bring them. It is that simple”.
Robert Young argued that true inclusivity means making space for everyone, even if some find it uncomfortable. He warned that the city is stepping onto a “slippery slope” by questioning who has the right to exist in public, noting this logic could easily be used to target Juneteenth or Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations next.
Bill Nalu, who owns Interstate Auto Care, said that he serves LGBTQ+ clients, but that he opposes the storytime.
“Sometimes, we have to have the courage in doing it with respect to saying that’s not for our community here. So, having had a business in Madison Heights for 25 years, one of the things I identify Madison Heights with is a city of law and order… I have a problem with people panhandling. I have a problem with going to Home Depot and finding things locked up behind gates. That is not the kind of community I want to be a part of… Sometimes you have to say No, These are inappropriate conversations we should be having in our parks. This is not something that I’m comfortable with, and so, as a matter of record, if this goes through, I would not be a sponsoring this event. It has nothing to do with LGBT community. It really isn’t. This is something about art, about expression of art, and I find it personally offensive. As somebody who lives and dies for the women in my life, that a man like me is going to pretend to be a woman and reach a children, I find that deeply offensive, and I apologize if it offends anybody here. But I say this, I would give my life up to any of you to protect you, but this is not appropriate. I’m sorry.”
Councilperson Aaron shared that she had previously proposed that the city host a gospel music concert at the bandshell, which was not approved because it was “preaching,” arguing that the same standard of neutrality should be applied to the drag queen storytime.
Councilperson Fleming shared concerns that a drag queen storytime would attract protestors, which would ultimately impact the children, saying it could cause PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
Councilperson Rohrbach argued that public institutions have a duty to create welcoming spaces for voluntary programs that serve minority communities. She noted that “parents are fully empowered to decide what activities their kids participate in.”
Councilperson Wright shared that as a black man it is exhausting to dilute myself to make others feel comfortable”
Mark Bliss is a former councilmember who now serves on the Arts Board, which he helped create when he was on council. He warned that micromanagement destroys morale and splits the community over unnecessary culture wars.
Apart from the removal of Drag Queen storytime, Art and Pride is expected to continue on Sunday. For more info on the event, visit Facebook
