Khole Kash picked up the children's book "Stella Has a Family," and paused just before reading as a packed auditorium of parents and children stared intently at the stage.
"I'm excited," said Kash, dressed in over-the-top clothing and makeup while grinning as more than 200 people looked on and applauded. "This is the first event of its kind like this in Mobile. We are having fun today, but we are making history."
Indeed, a historic first occurred in downtown Mobile Saturday during the Drag Queen Story Hour event in Alabama.
The event, hosted by nonprofit group Rainbow Mobile, took place inside the nearly 90-year-old Ben May Main branch library
Kash, the drag queen persona of 28-year-old Wade Brasfield of Mobile, read two books while on stage. In addition, Kash led the children in a playful rendition of the song, "Shake Your Sillies Out" and followed up by taking pictures with children and their parents.
"I love it," said Denise Miller of Mobile, whose 3-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Rose, sat in the front row to watch Khloe Kash read books. "I am happy they finally have stuff like this."
"It's wonderful," said Carrie Eldridge, whose 7-year-old daughter, Avery, sat in the front row and who delivered a "Thank You" note to Kash following the event.
Added Bryan Fuenmayor, who founded the nonprofit Rainbow Mobile, which coordinated and hosted the event: "This is great. Everyone is happy here and talking to one another. This has turned out better than I expected."
'More accepting'
But outside the nearly 90-year-old library building, a clash of cultures occurred several hours before the story reading.
Separated by barricades, proponents representing mostly the LGBTQ community and opponents backed by the Common Sense Campaign tea party, expressed their viewpoints during peaceful demonstrations.
Though dressing in drag isn't solely an activity of the LGBTQ community, it is often associated with gay men and gay culture.
Proponents outside the library carried Rainbow flags, held supportive signs or wore T-shirts that read, "Free Hugs." Medical school students like Kay Ann showed up to support the event, as did the statewide personality and drag queen Ambrosia Starling.
Proponents gathered through a word-of-mouth "Wall of Love" campaign on social media and ended up far outnumbering opponents. Colorful homemade signs supporting the event and the LGBTQ community read, in part: "God Has No Gender," "Stand up for Diversity," and "Love Trumps Hate."
"We are here to show that Mobile should be more accepting," said Stuart McFarland, a University of South Alabama College of Medicine student and a member of the USA MedPride & Allies group.
Starling, of Dothan, said Drag Queen Story Hour represented an equally historic moment for the LGBTQ community than previous confrontations against former Alabama State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore over legalizing same-sex marriage.
"Alabama is the last stronghold for ignorance in the United States and brick-by-brick, we are taking this wall down," said Starling. "We got to make Alabama beautiful. We just have to treat others right."
'Appropriate for children'
For the local tea party group, which held a rally opposing the event more than an hour before it started, the biggest concern was mixing drag queens - men who dress in elaborate female clothing for entertainment - with young children.
They, too, held signs: "You Lifestyle Isn't for My Children," "Age Appropriate for LGBTQ Is Not (3-8 Years Old)," and "Sex Education = Parents Job."
Another opponent held a sign chastising the Mobile City Council and County Commission for not ending the event. The library, while governed by a separate board from city and county governments, is largely funded through the city's annual budget.
Mobile city and county officials, last month, listened to representatives with several local Baptist churches who urged against the library hosting the event. Among their concerns was an "indoctrination" of children to the LGBTQ community.
But city and county officials agreed that they could not constitutionally interfere with Rainbow Mobile's desires to hold Drag Queen Story Hour inside a public venue.
Pete Riehm, a local radio show host and a representative of the Common Sense Campaign in Mobile, said he felt that elected officials "failed us" by "hiding behind the First Amendment."
Said Riehm: "This is not a First Amendment issue. No one goes over to Conti Street and says they can't live their lives or that they have to be banned of silenced. The whole point is, 'What is appropriate for children?' A public institution should not be promoting anything that is harmful to children."
Kay Day, a Mobile representative with the Common Sense Campaign, said she felt that the City Council, in not stopping the event, "is letting this agenda take over the family unit."
"The parents should take care of their children ... let the people teach their children," said Day. "But don't bring it to a public forum and ram it down people's throats."
'Replicate it'
Drag Queen Story Hour events have occurred in mostly large cities since a writer in San Francisco got the idea to host one around the same time same-sex marriage was legalized.
But in smaller cities, especially in the South, the events have sparked protests similar to what has occurred in Mobile since Saturday's event became public knowledge.
In Lafayette, Louisiana -- about four hours west of Mobile on Interstate 10 -- Mayor Joel Robideaux has considered canceling an Oct. 6 event. In Houston, area church leaders and a Houston councilman argued against the library hosting them.
Fuenmayor admitted that Mobile's event was being carefully monitored by other LGBTQ organizations in Alabama. The state is one of the most conservative states in the U.S., with recent polling showing it as the lone state where a majority of its residents oppose same-sex marriage.
"A lot of cities are looking to us," said Fuenmayor. If this goes well, they are looking to replicate it."
He added, "I've gotten so many messages of thanks. I've almost teared up a couple of times. I had no idea this would cause all of this. I'm in shock."