A rainbow of angels: group shields children attending Drag Story Hour

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Cleveland Angels in Action volunteers pose in front of Near West Theater Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action organizer Paula Kampf Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers ranged from teenagers to 91-year-old Judy Corrigan, shown here Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers turn up the music, dance and use noise makers to drown out the protesters across the street Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action provide a wall of rainbow umbrellas to block out the protesters as parents and their children walk in to attend Drag Queen Story Hour Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

NWT Executive Director Mike Obertacz escorts parents and their children as they walk in to attend Drag Queen Story Hour Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Children attending Drag Queen Story Hour hold up signs reading “Drag Queens Rule” and Drag Queens are the Best” Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers turn up the music, dance and use noise makers to drown out the protesters across the street Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action provide a wall of rainbow umbrellas to block out the protesters as parents and their children walk in to attend Drag Queen Story Hour Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Religious fundamentalists, and their allies demonstrated across the street intimidating the parents and children as they walked in and out of the theater Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action provide a wall of rainbow umbrellas to block out the protesters as a parent and her daughter walk in to attend Drag Queen Story Hour Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Positive messages written on the sidewalk outside the Drag Queen Story Hour at Near West Theater Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers turn up the music, dance and use noise makers to drown out the protesters across the street Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action volunteer Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers turn up the music, dance and use noise makers to drown out the protesters across the street Bob Perkoski

Veranda L'Ni reads to the children during Drag Queen Story Hour at NWT Bob Perkoski

Children and parents listen intently as Veranda L'Ni reads during Drag Queen Story Hour at NWT Bob Perkoski

Veranda L'Ni reads to the children during Drag Queen Story Hour at NWT Bob Perkoski

Children and parents listen listen intently as Veranda L'Ni reads during Drag Queen Story Hourr at NWT Bob Perkoski

Children were able to select free books Cleveland at Drag Queen Story Hour Drag Story Hour Bob Perkoski

Angels in Action volunteers turn up the music, dance and use noise makers to drown out the protesters across the street Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action organizer Paula Kampf, left, and NWT Executive Director Mike Obertacz , right, escort parents and their children after the event Bob Perkoski

Happy children and parents leaving Drag Story Hour flanked by Angels in Action volunteers Bob Perkoski

A child plugs his ears against the taunts of the protesters as they’re being escorted by organizer Pala Kampf after the event Bob Perkoski

Happy children and parents leaving Drag Queen Story Hour escorted against the protesters by Angels in Action volunteers Bob Perkoski

Cleveland Angels in Action pose with Drag Queens Veranda L'Ni and Zoey Zegai Bob Perkoski

Last Saturday, Aug. 25, the Near West Theatre in the Detroit Shoreway and Cleveland icon Veranda L’Ni hosted their popular Drag Story Hour for three- to eight-year-olds and their families.

The regular event has doubled in attendance from when it first started in 2019 and continues to grow. About 85 families signed up for Saturday's event.

Not everyone, however, is a fan of Drag Story Hour, however.

So, Paula Kampf and her nonprofit Angels in Action organized a group of about 40 volunteers, dressed in bright floral clothing and carrying rainbow umbrellas, to line a path of protection for the youngsters attending Story Hour.

They shielded the kids from the view of the Story Time protesters, as well as protecting the children from potentially ugly and angry words as the attendees entered and exited the theater.

In all, the event was a success—the children and their families had a wonderful Saturday morning story time, and the kids could choose a free book to take home at the end of the event..

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski attended Drag Story Hour as well and documented this rainbow of love and protection on a summer Saturday morning.

Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

See all of Bob Perkoski's Articles

A rainbow of angels: group shields children attending Drag Story Hour

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

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