A Drag Queen Story Hour Simply Observed in “It’s Okay”

The New Yorker

Amid an overheated national argument, David France, the director of “How to Survive a Plague,” replaces perception with reality.

Transcript

00:00Thank you so much for joining us today, and we'll see you next time.

01:00Thank you so much for joining us today, and we'll see you next time.

01:30Are you feeling good, Leo?

01:39Yeah, I'm feeling good.

01:52Is Mateo asleep?

01:56No.

02:06Incoming.

02:56Incoming.

03:16Go, go, go.

03:44I kind of want to sit down on a chair.

03:47On a chair, please.

03:49Sit down like your brother.

04:37It happened after the church announced it was hosting multiple drag events.

04:41The Department of Justice has charged Penny with malicious use of exclusive materials.

05:17Hi, friends.

05:21Hello.

05:23How are we today, everyone?

05:26We're really beautiful.

05:28Yeah?

05:30You look beautiful, too, and we're both in purple.

05:32Yeah.

05:33Can we play a game?

05:34Yeah.

05:35Yeah.

05:36Yeah.

05:37If you've ever been to one of my story hours, you know exactly what Shalita says.

05:41All right, here we go.

05:43Wait, do I have to?

05:45So remember, I'm going to say command.

05:47Can I go over to one of the stands?

05:51I think so.

05:52All right, here we go.

05:54So remember, you only do it if I say, Shalita says.

05:59Can we practice?

06:00Yeah.

06:01All right, sit down.

06:03Now, wait a minute.

06:07Did I say, Shalita says?

06:09No.

06:12Shalita says, bark like a dog.

06:16Bark, bark.

06:17Bark, bark.

06:18Bark, bark.

06:19Bark, bark.

06:20Shalita says, give a high five to a friend.

06:24Easy, easy.

06:26Remember, friendly touches, friendly touches.

06:31If you're ready for our book, have a seat.

06:41How many people like to read?

06:43Me!

06:44Yay!

06:45So can I share some stories with you?

06:47Yes!

06:48It's okay to be different.

06:53It's okay to be embarrassed.

06:58It's okay to be missing a tooth, or two, or three.

07:06Or 19.

07:09It's okay to have a different nose.

07:18It's okay to have no hair.

07:24Do you know anyone with no hair?

07:29I'm looking at some of the dads in the background.

07:31I see you, dad.

07:32I see you, dad.

07:35It's okay to have big ears.

07:40It's okay to be different.

07:42You might not have the same skin color or the same hair, but that's okay, right?

07:46Or you might have the same hair, or the same color, or you might have the same lips.

07:51You know what?

07:52I think you might be on to something, my absolute beautiful friend.

07:56You are exactly right.

08:01Some families are big.

08:04Some families are small.

08:10Some families live in a house by themselves.

08:15Some families share a house with other families.

08:21Some families have two moms or two dads.

08:28Some families have one parent instead of two.

08:36All families are sad when they lose someone they love.

08:45All families can help each other be strong.

08:54It's okay to dance by yourself.

09:01And it's okay to be proud of yourself.

09:07It's okay to have different kinds of friends.

09:16It's okay.

09:46It's okay.

10:16It's okay.

10:46It's okay.

10:47It's okay.

10:48It's okay.

10:49It's okay.

10:50It's okay.

10:51It's okay.

10:52It's okay.

10:53It's okay.

10:54It's okay.

10:55It's okay.

10:56It's okay.

10:57It's okay.

10:58It's okay.

10:59It's okay.

11:00It's okay.

11:01It's okay.

11:02It's okay.

11:03It's okay.

11:04It's okay.

11:05It's okay.

11:06It's okay.

11:07It's okay.

11:08It's okay.

11:09It's okay.

11:10It's okay.

11:11It's okay.

11:12It's okay.

11:13It's okay.

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