Memorial Hall Library Hosts Drag Queen Missy Steak
Julie Mahoney
COPY EDITOR
Drag Queen Missy Steak taught teens how to apply makeup at a program hosted by Memorial Hall Library on Monday, October 23.
Trying to get more teens involved, Anna Tschetter and Renata Sancken the Teen Services and Reference Librarians, brought in Missy Steak, a Drag Queen from Boston. Missy taught teens, ranging from 6th grade to seniors in high school, how to apply makeup like a true drag queen.
Memorial Hall Library has been trying to make not only the collection of books more diverse, but also the programs hosted at the library. “We wanted to do something fun and make everyone feel welcome,” Tschitter said. “To send a signal to the queer teens in Andover that they are welcome here and we appreciate them and that this is a good place to find themselves.”
Since COVID, fewer teens have been spending afternoons at the library due to the district changing school times, and Tschitter and Sancken have been trying new ways to get more people interested.
Tschitter said how they used to “have big, huge crowds every Friday and now we have less of that.” While there are many goals at the library, Sancken said that it is their goal “to be a safe space for everyone. We want to learn new things and explore new interests.” Tschitter and Sancken are aware of how busy teens can be but they love it when kids “just come in and check out books.”
Missy poses for a photo with Memorial Hall Library staff.
In the past, the library has held other Pride events but this is the first drag-related event and likely not to be the last. “Drag is an artform,” Sancken said. Missy added how amazing it is to work in a new environment: “I remember not having a place [like this] when I was younger. I can’t even imagine what change that could have made if I did.” What’s most important to Missy is “the individual impact.”
There has been talk about a drag queen story hour in the children’s room and there is much excitement about continuing to show kids what drag is. “We do a lot of programs and we want to put on programs for everyone,” Tschetter said, “but maybe not every program is for everyone but we want to present a wide variety of things.”
Missy thinks right now more than ever it is important to show the beauty and fun drag can be. “We are seeing a lot of pushback across the country right now. And that shows exactly why this is important right now. I do not expect everyone to understand what I do or for every event to be packed to the brim with people,” Missy said. “But people come and have a good time and that’s important. And I think that’s something to be celebrated. And again if it makes people angry then it shows that there is a power to it.”
Furthermore, a message from the librarians, there is no longer a need to call the library to ask about volunteer hours, simply visit mhl.org/volunteers.
