STAFF AND STORYTELLERS
Yun-Hee Proffit, Executive Director
Yun-Hee Proffit has worked within the non-profit sector in New York City for over fifteen years. From acting as Co-Director of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, to overseeing programming at Creative Art Works and Arts & Democracy Project, they continuously strive to unify the arts, education, and equity building. They are an active member of Artists Co-Creating Real Equity (New York, NY) and a trainer with People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (New Orleans, LA), both of which work to undo systemic racism and intersectional inequities. Yun-Hee is currently a board member of Artbuilt, NY and Skylar Storage Project.
Sanina Clark, Program Director
Sanina L. Clark is a nonbinary, speculative fiction editor and drag artist with a background in journalism, theatre and childhood literacy. They are the editor of Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve (longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature) and the creator of the Black Dawn Series under AK Press, a speculative novella series. Under their drag name, Noctua, they model, cosplay and voice act. They were the winner of the 2018 Miss Piggy Pageant and are the producer of Grippy Sock—a mental health awareness show. Their choreography has been featured in music videos, Bushwig, and the Mr. Coney Island pageant. Their bookcase is filled with YA, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, horror, plays and queer literature. They REALLY love cats.
Harmonica Sunbeam, Coordinator of the Storytellers' Committee
Harmonica Sunbeam, the Comedy Queen, has been delighting audiences at nightclubs, cabarets, fundraising events, and supermarket openings throughout the United States and abroad for over 29 years. Since the inception of DSH NYC, Miss Sunbeam has been featured in the New York Times and interviewed for a now-viral video on Buzzfeed. She is also the North Jersey coordinator of Drag Queen Story Hour.
Rev. Yolanda, Storyteller and Organizational Building Committee
Rev. Yolanda is a trans femme gender queer actor/singer/songwriter/performance artist & interfaith minister, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama - The Hit Recording Capital of the World. Rev. Yolanda has been making music, theater TV, film, and performance art for well over 35 years, winning the NYC MAC Award twice and inducted into both the NY Blues Hall of Fame and the GLBT Hall of Fame. Rev. Yolanda is also a founding storyteller of the NYC-based organization, Drag Story Hour NYC! Her most recent projects during the Pandemic years are Sounds of Awakening -an inspirational music program hosted by Awakening-Together.org, "YolandaNanda" a cd, based on her love for mantras of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh traditions, "Skeleton Crew" a 5 season LGBTQAI Soap Opera webseries, and Alien Love Child Musical, an autobiographical "muscial concept EP". See and hear more music at www.yolanda.net
Cholula Lemon, Storyteller
Cholula Lemon is a NYC Drag Queen and stand-up comedian who is committed to educating families and children about gender and family diversity. Over the course of three years, she has worked with Drag Story Hour as a fundraiser, advisor, teacher, and storyteller. She also leads DSH bilingual readings and works with teens teaching makeup tutorials. She performs around New York City in and out of drag.
Professor Lionel Longlegs, Storyteller
Professor Lionel Longlegs (fae/faer, it/its, & they/them) uses stories, gestures, dances, & silly voices to comprise its "lectures". Often found at the tech booth when out & about, fae has as much fun making everyoen on stage look great as being up their faerself. It loves when drag can be communal & wants you to get in on the fun too! Dress up, make funny sounds & be your truest self!
Ash Blight, Storyteller
Ash Blight (they/them) is an artist, educator, and non-binary drag performer. They are passionate about the revolutionary power of drag as an art form, storytelling medium, and teaching tool for learners of all ages. When they're not teaching art classes in Brooklyn's public schools and parks, you might be able to find them sharing words and rituals on stages across the city as Ash Blight.
Yuhua Hamasaki, Storyteller
Always 25-years-old, Yuhua Hamasaki is a fun and campy queen from New York City! Yuhua’s drag character is her own invention of her superhero that has given her courage, confidence, and happiness. She especially loves to explore the city and be creative during her spare time!
Miz Jade, Storyteller
Miz Jade (She/They) is a trans Black queer drag performer, event host, and professional dancer. A queen known for her teaching, activism, and quick wit, she’s bound to gag you and turn the party. Known throughout NYC, Miz Jade has been described as fierce, sophisticated, and full of surprises.
Oliver H, Storyteller
Oliver H (he/they) is a non-binary, trans masc Puerto Rican drag king from NY! He is a high energy punk performer who travels all throughout the sewers of New York City. He was formerly a day care teacher and has a passion for working with children and education about what it means to be queer and trans. He is a cartoon villain and a storyteller at heart! He loves using color and strong shapes to push the boundaries of masculine and feminine.
Bella Noche, Storyteller
Bella Noche, New York City's premiere mermaid queen, lures onlookers in with her fantastical spark of color, creativity and charisma. With a combination of both beauty and brains, you'll become part of her world before you know it, hook line and sinker.
Flame, Storyteller
Flame is an indigenous 2 spirit person of Ecuadorian descent, who is well known in NYC and Queens for their activism and mutual aid support. They are a community leader at the forefront of fighting for equity and queer, trans, nonbinary immigrants. They are also a drag queen, peer educator, motivational speaker, hairstylist, and world traveler. Flame does DSH NYC readings in Spanish and Engilish and is currently learning several other languages. Flame's life goal is to spread the message of love, equality, and unity for all.
Paradise, Storyteller
Paradise (they/she) is a trans and gender non-conforming rainbow unicorn princex hailing from the Queendom of Bushwick. Their favorite stories often explore themes of gender & creative self-expression. Through DSH, they seek to create a more inclusive community, one story at a time.
Lori Lu, Storyteller
Lori Lu is a Mexican Drag Queen and singer based in NYC who is committed to educating families and children about gender and family diversity. She started the first Drag Queen Story Hour in Mexico and organized more chapters throughout the rest of Mexico. Now Lori Lu works as a storyteller in NYC. She also leads DSH bilingual readings and works performing throughout New York City in and out of drag.
