Marjorie Taylor Greene Targets Drag Queen Story Time Amid Defense of Trump-Epstein Ties

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has reignited national debate over LGBTQ+ representation and free speech, targeting drag queen story time events in recent public remarks while defending former President Donald Trump’s controversial friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein. In a series of interviews and social media posts, Greene claimed that “drag queen story time” has replaced “good old Sesame Street” on PBS, using these comments to frame her ongoing campaign to defund public broadcasting organizations such as PBS and NPR .

Fact-checkers and media analysts have quickly debunked Greene’s assertions. “Sesame Street” continues to air on PBS, and no evidence supports the claim that drag queen story time programming has supplanted it . The specific segment Greene referenced involved a 2021 episode of “Let’s Learn,” a local PBS initiative that briefly featured drag performer Lil Miss Hot Mess reading a children’s book. The segment was never nationally broadcast and was removed after being mistakenly posted online .

Greene’s rhetoric has drawn sharp rebuke from LGBTQ+ performers and advocacy groups. Lil Miss Hot Mess, the drag artist at the center of Greene’s criticism, condemned her remarks as “hateful” and accused the congresswoman of spreading disinformation and fostering a climate of fear . “My book and my performance are about joy, inclusion, and celebrating difference,” Lil Miss Hot Mess stated, refuting Greene’s baseless allegations of “grooming” and “sexualizing children.”

Community activists have responded with counter-programming and inclusive initiatives. During a recent public appearance by Greene, LGBTQ+ groups and allies organized an alternative event, the “Marjorie Taylor Queens Book Drive,” collecting over 400 books for a local diversity library and hosting their own story hour . “Every child deserves representation without resentment,” said Deanna Wolf, president of the advocacy group Rainbow Trouble.

Greene’s latest comments come amid renewed scrutiny of Donald Trump’s historical relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier facing widespread allegations of sexual abuse prior to his death. While Greene has attempted to downplay Trump’s connection to Epstein, critics note that her focus on drag queen story time serves as a convenient distraction from pressing questions about accountability at the highest levels of government .

Observers point out that Greene’s framing of drag queen story time as a threat to children is part of a broader trend among some conservative lawmakers to conflate LGBTQ+ visibility with moral panic. In congressional hearings, Greene has repeatedly called for the defunding of public media, alleging that PBS and NPR have become “radical left-wing echo chambers” .

Drag queen story time events, which typically feature LGBTQ+ performers reading age-appropriate books to children, have become a symbol of inclusive education and community engagement, celebrated by many families for promoting diversity and acceptance. Advocates argue that attempts to restrict or ban such programming threaten the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and undermine the principles of representation and free expression.

Dr. Marisa Allison, a community organizer involved in the Huntsville book drive, highlighted the shifting nature of attacks on inclusive programming. “It began with claims about sexually explicit books and now includes books about racial justice and transgender lives,” Allison noted, warning that these efforts may escalate further if unchallenged .

As debates over public broadcasting, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and political accountability intensify, advocates urge lawmakers and the public to focus on evidence-based policy and to reject harmful misinformation. “Our children deserve stories that reflect the world they live in,” said Wolf. “We will continue to respond to censorship with inclusion.”