Local Drag Kings Host Free, Bilingual Story Time Online

July 25, 2020 - San Antonio

Reading for the entire family. Gacho Marx points to a book used during the free, bilingual story time hosted in partnership with the Southwest Workers Union and Los MENtirosos. Photo: B. Kay Richter.

By Brigid Cooley - Staff Intern, San Antonio Sentinel

As the summer comes to a close, socially distant educational activities for children remain just a click away. Hosted in partnership with the Southwest Workers Union, Los MENtirosos, a local Latinx Drag King performance group, is hosting free bilingual story time events for children and adults alike.

“We have done D.R.A.G. King Storytime before, but it’s nice to be able to do it in a different platform that we’re being pushed into,” said SirGio, artistic director and Los MENtirosos performer.

Drag story time is no new phenomenon as kings and queens around the world have entertained children and adults through storytelling for some time. During their story time events, Los MENtirosos focus on topics like gender identity, body positivity and acceptance.

“We are activists first,” said Gacho Marx, event emcee and group member. “Before we’re Drag Kings, we are activists; drag is a form of activism.”

Pancho Panza of the local drag king group Los MENtirosos holds a colorful fan on a hot summer day. Photo: B. Kay Richter.

Gacho, who goes by Nacho around children, said the group has always intended on bringing drag outside of bars and clubs. Once the pandemic made in-person gatherings less possible, the group adjusted their programming to fit virtual spaces.

“We have done more work now on a virtual platform than we did in a real life platform,” Gacho said.

D.R.A.G. King Storytime will stream at 11 a.m. Aug. 1, 15 and 29 on both Zoom and Facebook live. Those interested in participating can visit the Southwest Workers Union Facebook page or register for the event here.

Along with the virtual show, early registrants were given story-time tool kits with crafts reflecting topics covered during the event. They also include foil crowns for everyone to wear so kids can relate to what they see on-screen. Members of the group will coordinate getting tool kits to new registrants.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that everybody has a little takeaway,” Gacho said.

In addition to crafts, SirGio leads participants in exercise breaks throughout the event, normalizing different body types children grow up around and promoting body positivity.

The members of Los MENtirosos have participated in Facebook events for their “home bases”, like La Botanica and Southwest Workers Union, to help keep their communities alive, SirGio said.

While the story time events are geared toward children, Los MENtirosos welcomes anyone interested to participate.

“I would like to encourage adults who don’t have littles to tune in and check out the show,” Gacho said. “It won’t cost anything but an hour of your time.”

Those interested in learning more about Los MENtirosos and keeping up with their programs can follow them Facebook or Instagram.