NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An anti-LGBTQ protester picketing a Drag Story Hour event hosted by New York elected officials was arrested for assaulting a supporter of the event on Sunday, police sources told 1010 WINS.
The anti-LGBTQ protester allegedly attacked a counter protester there to show support for the event.
Video posted on social media showed police handcuffing a man in a gold-colored plastic mask and an American flag bandana.
Almost 200 guests attended the Drag Story Hour read-a-thon between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in the West Village, according to Attorney General Letitia James.
Outside the Center, protesters and defenders faced off on opposite sides
The attorney general attended the event alongside State Assemblymembers Tony Simone and Grace Lee, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilmembers Erik Bottcher, Shekar Krishnan and Crystal Hudson.
Drag Story Hour, is a non-profit that organizes storytelling and creative arts programs for children and teens.
The organization has become the target of anti-LGBTQ protests in New York City and across the country.
Earlier this month, Tennessee became the first state to ban drag performances. Republicans in at least 16 states have introduced bills that restrict drag performances to varying degrees.
The movement to do away with drag performance has progressed alongside a movement to limit gender affirming care for trans people. These legislative campaigns are set against a backdrop of right-wing media figures and politicians increasingly pushing a false narrative that gay and trans people are pedophiles conspiring to corrupt children.
“The recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ protests, rhetoric, and policies has left New Yorkers — myself included — devastated and disappointed,” said James in a statement. “But I know better than anyone that when the choice is between love and hate, between joy and venom, New Yorkers will always choose love, and New Yorkers will always choose joy.”
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