It was all sunshine, rainbow flags, loud dance music and positive signs on April 12 in the parking lot outside The Brewmaster’s Taproom in Renton.
Leading up to the April 12 Drag Queen Story Time — a monthly event at Brewmaster’s where drag queen Sylvia O’Stayformore reads books to children — a Facebook post calling for a protest against the event was being shared across the social media site.
For Brewmaster’s owner Marley Rall, getting messages and calls complaining about Drag Queen Story Time is nothing new, and having people make threats — both online and off — also is nothing new.
A call for a December 2022 protest (which was canceled when a still-unidentified person shot a ball-bearing projectile into the window of Brewmaster’s) was met with over 100 counter-protesters.
An August 2023 email claimed that a bomb had been placed at the taproom and at Rall’s home, temporarily disrupting that month’s Drag Queen Story Time. Rall was later told by authorities that the 2023 bomb threat was made by a “Russian bot farm,” and while the most recent Facebook post was made on a newer page that was filled with A.I.-generated content, she was on alert.
“This got posted and shared by actual humans in Washington and shared into groups with thousands of people, so I began to pay attention,” said Rall, who then shared the post to Facebook groups related to Renton. “I wanted to let people know that this is something to know of ahead of time so they can make their own decisions.”
Rall’s sharing of the post reached many people throughout the Puget Sound, leading to local religious leaders, members of the Dykes on Bikes Seattle chapter, activists and families coming to the business in support. One family even came from as far as Lynnwood to support Brewmaster’s Drag Queen Story Time.
Leah Figueroa, Foxx Carr and their daughter Moira, 3, made the drive south to Renton for Moira’s first story time hosted by a drag queen. “This was wonderful and it was a way to support our community,” said Carr of the event. The parents shared that Moira, who is autistic and non-verbal, loves drag queens and that she is now a “big fan” of Sylvia.
The post also reached Kate McClure of Auburn, who regularly comes to Renton for archery practice.
“I saw a post about a protest and decided to come out. I’ve never been to a Drag Queen Story Time event before, but when I saw the post, I said, ‘Oh hell no,’” she said. “I don’t believe people should hate people just for being who they are. Let people be who they are. It’s ridiculous. It’s nobody else’s business.”
Jacki Myers of Kent had come out in support of Brewmaster’s in 2022.
“When they got shot at, I was so sorry about that, so I came down for support. I really love this venue and Sylvia is just amazing,” said Myers.
Fairwood’s Phoebe Gathman and her son Declan, 6, also came out to show support for Sylvia. Declan, dressed in cowboy boots, a tie and a tiara, waved a large pride flag and held up many signs in front of Brewmaster’s for roughly an hour before heading inside the building for his first story time with Sylvia.
“He’s excited to be a good guy,” Gathman said of her son. “We’re active and try to find ways to support the arts and the LGBTQ+ community, and trying to find ways to support families targeted by ICE.”
Many families, allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community came out in support, including Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera.
“Renton is community oriented and protective of its queer community. We take care of each other. It’s all rooted in love,” she said.
Rivera is the council’s first openly queer member and she told the Renton Reporter that the city needs to make promises of protection for the LGBTQ+ community, and not just proclamations or resolutions.
“We need to protect these kids’ futures,” she said, gesturing to the small crowd of kids, tweens, teens and their families holding signs and flags in support of Brewmaster’s.
The counter protest, like in 2022, ended up being a musical parking lot gathering as no anti-LGBTQ+ protesters made themselves visible to the colorful crowd on the outside, the loyal patrons who packed the taproom on the inside, and the flock of kids who sat down to enjoy story time with Sylvia.
As for future story time events, Rall said that she will continue to be inclusive, despite any possible threats.
“I go in with my eyes wide open,” she said. “Do people feel emboldened? Absolutely. Do I know that I’m on the right side of history? Yes.”
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Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing Local kids showed up in support of Brewmaster’s and Drag Queen Story Time.
Declan Gathman, 6, waves a pride flag outside the kid-friendly and dog-friendly taproom. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing Sylvia O’Stayformore hugs Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera.
Local religious leaders were part of the crowd in support of Drag Queen Story Time. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
(Right to left) Renton United Church of Christ (UCC) Vice Moderator Cameron McLaughlin, UCC Rev. Amy Johnson and Eric Johnson were among the crowd at Brewmaster’s. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Rainbow flags were on display outside Brewmaster’s Taproom. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
