Democratic members of the Arizona Legislature hosted a “Drag Story Hour” event in partnership with Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, sparking a backlash from Republican colleagues who said the event’s plans were “deceptive.”
“Democratic Rep. Lorena Austin deliberately misled House leadership by reserving a conference room with Planned Parenthood to host a cross-dressing story,” House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican, said in a statement. The use of House facilities for radical activism to promote dangerous perverse ideologies will not be tolerated as Speaker.”
Toma said Democrats “lost the privilege of retaining the House chamber” “until trust can be restored.” Drag story time took place in the copper basin room in the basement of the house.
Arizona Supreme Court upholds near-total abortion ban
Arizona lawmakers have been criticized for hosting a drag story hour at the Capitol. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A state Senate spokesperson told Fox News Digital that a video shot by an intern attending the event shows a man wearing a shiny blazer and pink and white makeup reading from “Queer People” and Fearless: Celebrating Poems.
“When is it time to choose a new name? Why does someone become an activist? How does one get started?” the man can be heard saying in the video.
Lorena Austin, a non-binary Democratic member of the state House of Representatives, co-organized the event with Planned Parenthood. Fox News Digital sought comment but had not heard back from Austin or the abortion network as of press deadline.
Supreme Court deeply divided over emergency room abortion access in states’ rights challenge
Austin also helped plan Wednesday’s LGBTQ+ Youth Day at the Capitol event.
“As legislation continues to focus on queer youth, it is imperative that these policymakers see and hear the voices of young people impacted by the policies they pass. This is also our opportunity to build community and lift each other up,” One-n-Ten LGBTQ+ Advocacy the organization wrote in a post on Instagram.
“We hope you can attend the 2024 Arizona State Capitol Youth Festival!”
Arizona Democrat arrested for allegedly having sex with minor in 2019: report
Women protest in support of the LGBTQ movement. (Yffy Yossifor/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Click here to get the Fox News app
In a statement released to .
“At Planned Parenthood Arizona, we are proud to offer gender-affirming care and make essential health care accessible to everyone,” the organization said. “We thank Rep. Lorena Austin for serving as a committed allies for their continued support of our fight for reproductive freedom. We will definitely invite Speaker Toma to our next drag story hour.”
State Sen. John Kavanaugh told Fox News Digital that this was the first time such a cross-dressing incident had occurred at the Capitol.
“If they had been honest and said they wanted a drag queen story hour, this wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “I mean, that in itself is very inflammatory and controversial, which is probably why they didn’t mention that. So, in fact, their explanation is deceptive.”
