Chicago City Wire

A Drag Story Time event at the Beverly branch of the Chicago Public Library on June 3 ignited fierce protest, with conservative activists and former political candidates decrying the program as morally and fiscally irresponsible.

At the center of the protest was David Dewar, a South Side activist and former Democratic primary candidate for Illinois House District 35, who led a contingent of demonstrators outside the 95th Street library branch. 

The story time event—part of the Chicago Public Library’s Pride Month programming—was intended for children ages five and under and featured stories and songs presented by a librarian and a drag performer.

David Dewar holds a megaphone mic up to the mouth of another protestor. | Facebook / David Dewar

“It was shocking to see the age group—from newborns, zero to five years old. And especially the fact that state-funded money, through taxpayer money, through the public library, was used to fund something of that sort,” Dewar told Chicago City Wire. “So that, you know, I have nieces and nephews, I don't have direct kids, but I felt it was right to give a voice to the people that anonymously oppose it on Facebook, but maybe don't have the time or the stomach to do it face to face. So it motivated me to get involved in a protest—against the drag queen story time, against the kids.”

Dewar was joined by members of ChicagoFlipsRed, a Black activist group, and activists affiliated with pro-Trump group Trump Illinois MAGA Official, which now has over 3,000 members. 

The group has emerged as a central hub for organizing conservative rallies and events across the state. 

Other opponents included Christine Maxwell, a candidate for the 1st Congressional District, and conservative activist Shanon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois. 

Maxwell, who is campaigning on a platform of “family-first values,” has labeled drag story hours “ideological grooming.” She distributed protest materials through her campaign and called on parents to demand cancellations of the Drag Story Hour at the Beverly Library and similar events elsewhere.

Dewar expressed his dual concern—both fiscal and moral—regarding the event’s funding, comparing it to other contentious issues. 

He stated that Chicago Flips Red, along with himself, oppose the use of taxpayer dollars for illegal immigrants while veterans, the homeless and social programs for seniors are neglected. 

“Chicago Flips Red and myself, we're against taxpayer dollar money going to illegal," Dewar said. “So this is just another way they're siphoning money to indoctrinate kids. And the age group, zero to five years old, they're not even starting to be developed. So it's appalling what they're knowing and then how they're doing it. And then to add on in our face by using taxpayer dollars. I find it very appalling.”

The Chicago Public Library's funding increased in fiscal year 2025, receiving $33.29 million in state grants—up from $26.95 million in 2024—contributing to a total appropriation of $122.11 million.

Dewar said he hoped the protest would alert more parents to what he sees as government overreach and misuse of public funds.

“This was a wake-up call, hopefully for people, to say, this is where your money's going, and you better be the parents of your kids and not the government,” he said. 

Dewar and others were met with a counter-protest organized by the Southsiders for Peace Facebook group, which is affiliated with the Beverly Unitarian Church.

The Beverly Unitarian Church notably held a “grieving session” after Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory.

Church member Anna Carvlin, who told Chicago City Wire that “MAGA is a bunch of rapey weirdos,” opened the church’s Givins Beverly Castle to support community members upset by the results.

The church’s parent denomination has expressed support for gender transitioning for children.

“It shouldn't be about party, but it's about policy and it's ‘We the People,’” Dewar said. 

“Starting out 250 years ago, we were founded on common, constitutional, conservative, Judeo-Christian principles. What has happened is we've gone away from that. Now, with the policies out there, there's no parental notification, meaning that anyone 18 or younger in Illinois can get a sex change or an abortion without the parents' knowledge and now what they're doing is they're going all the way from newborns to five years old.” 

Months earlier, Trans Up Front IL organized a large protest at Lurie Children’s Hospital in response to its decision to stop providing sex-change procedures to minors, which many opponents deem child mutilation, including for children as young as five years old.

Lurie Children’s Hospital discontinued these treatments following a federal executive order aimed at banning medical interventions like puberty blockers and surgeries for transgender youth, citing concerns about their safety and long-term effects.

“What’s appalling about this is the kids are being deceived; they're being indoctrinated when they're still not even at a developmental stage to make decisions. And now they're coming after the kids,” Dewar said. 

On the day of the event, Dewar and others held signs and spoke to local media, while a few protesters entered the library.

Dewar said he did not see attendees to the Drag Story time event enter the building. 

“They claimed it was full capacity and sold out,” Dewar said. “Most of them probably went early. Then we didn’t see any of them come out at 11:30, so they probably waited until afterwards. Daniel Carter actually went in there, and Fox News interviewed her and Zoe (Leigh) from Chicago Flips Red. Most of the parents came early and left late, so they weren’t seen.” 

Fox News reported that library officials said the event promoted early literacy with age-appropriate content as part of Pride programming. 

However, opponents like Leigh argued the programming was inappropriate for public funding and did not align with the community’s educational needs."Our kids can't read,” Leigh told Fox News. 

“We didn't need a drag queen to lead storytime," Leigh told Fox News. "We needed a phonics and literary coach to lead storytime. Why are you doing it in a public library with public dollars?"

"The community didn't know what was going on. You are teaching all children all kinds of crazy stuff." 

Chicago’s Morning Answer radio hosts Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson amplified criticism of the program on air, framing it as emblematic of a broader cultural shift they oppose. 

Proft linked the programming to “cultural decline,” while Jacobson suggested parents who object are unfairly portrayed as bigots.

Dewar said his protest was peaceful and aimed at informing the public.

“I wanted to make my point and share something I had on a couple signs. I said, God does not make mistakes, and there are only two genders: male, which is an XY chromosome, and female, which is an XX chromosome,” he said. “Science 101—God's the decider. It doesn't matter whose political agenda, policies, or feelings are involved; it's either one or the other. I wanted to portray that message, and we shouldn't use young children, especially those zero to five years old, to try to prove somebody's agenda or point.”

He insists his activism will continue throughout Pride Month.

“There’s going to be another event on June 9,” he said. “And then all the events that they’re going to hold. I will be there because I feel it’s my responsibility to educate, inform, enlighten, and empower people who share my views to have an active voice. Many people do good things behind closed doors or on social media anonymously, but now it’s time for people to show up physically and take a stand."

Dewar suggested those who would like to join text or call him at (708) 369-1153. 

Dewar — known for dressing as Uncle Sam in parades and public appearances — says he’ll be the Grand Marshal of the July 4 parade in Blue Island. 

Dewar belongs to the Facebook group Trump Illinois MAGA Official and has launched a new organization, All Trump MAGA Republicans of Illinois, which he says focuses on “just the policies of Trump,” rather than party politics. 

“The idea here is to empower people to have a voice,” he said. “Wherever you’re at, you should be out there, showing up.”

Despite the protests, the Drag Story Time event went forward without interruption. 

Pride Month programming remains scheduled across city branches.