By Deja Brooks, the drag persona of Brandon Eisman and the first and current Miss Gay Kansas
Every quarter for the past five years, I have been hosting Deja’s Reading Rainbow to the families of Lawrence, KS.
It is such an amazing feeling to see the joy and happiness on the faces of the kids and adults during these events. I am so thankful that the Lawrence Public Library reached out to me when they were thinking of starting a drag storytime. This opportunity has granted me the ability to spread the message of love and support, with the stories I choose mainly focusing on love, individuality, and inclusivity. I feel that it is very important for kids to hear that it is ok for them to be who they are. Through Deja’s Reading Rainbow, I help build pride within a person, to help them feel comfortable in their own skin; and being able to help make their day is the best feeling.
Watch: Deja’s Reading Rainbow with Family Equality and RSM
The in-person storytimes were extremely popular, with anywhere from 75 to 150 kids and adults attending each one. A wide spectrum of the community – families, individuals, city officials; people from all walks of life – would come to show their support.
With COVID, I was able to transition from in-person story times to virtual ones, which were just as popular. Last spring, RSM, a professional services firm focused on the middle market, reached out to me to collaborate on bringing Deja’s Reading Rainbow program to RSM families for Pride month. The collaboration was a huge success with families across the country getting to hear Deja’s messages of love and acceptance.
Now, both RSM and I are proud to once again collaborate to bring Deja’s Reading Rainbow to Family Equality.
So gather up your family and get dressed up in your favorite outfits to watch this special edition of Deja’s Reading Rainbow! And be sure to share it with other families you know.
About Our Sponsor
RSM US LLP (RSM) encourages its staff to be their most authentic selves, fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, as the leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market.
RSM US LLP is the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms with 48,000 people across 120 countries. For more information, visit rsmus.com.