Base at center of military drag show controversy hosts 'Pride' reading event for kids

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A U.S. Air Force base in Germany, which had been previously forced to cancel a drag event, hosted a "Pride"-theme story hour for kids at the installation's library.

Ramstein Air Base held the event, which it dubbed "Reading with PRIDE," on June 15, with the official base Facebook page posting photos while boasting that volunteers read books to kids in celebration of Pride Month that were "focused on inclusion."

Pictures of the event show the volunteers reading books to kids in a room decorated in rainbow colors, including a table with a placard informing children that the area is a "safe space."

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A sign promotes the "Read with PRIDE" event for kids at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as a "safe space." (Airman 1st Class Regan Spinner/U.S. Air Force)

The event comes a year after the same base found itself at the center of controversy over its planned "Drag Queen Storytime" event that was slated to take place last May but was canceled after receiving backlash from service members and parents, according to Military.com

"We're celebrating Pride Month at the Ramstein Library with Drag Queen Storytime," read a promotion for the event on the base Facebook page that was later deleted. "Be sure to wear your brightest and most colorful outfits!"

Another drag show event slated to take place at a Ramstein Air Base bar earlier this month was also canceled amid new guidance from the Defense Department that prohibited drag shows on military bases, according to a Military.com report.

The directive to ban the drag shows on military installations this month came from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in response to multiple lawmakers voicing concerns over a number of shows that were planned on bases both inside and outside the continental United States.

The apparent spread of such events was at the center of questioning Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley faced from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., during a March House Armed Services Committee hearing, with the two military leaders appearing surprised such shows were happening.

Volunteers at the Ramstein Air Base "Read with PRIDE" event read books to kids. (Airman 1st Class Regan Spinner/U.S. Air Force)

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"I'd like to take a look at those myself and find out what actually is going on there because that's the first I'm hearing about that kind of stuff," Milley said. "I'd like to take a look at those because I don't agree with those. I think those things shouldn't be happening."

The event also comes amid a military recruiting crisis that some critics have argued is at least in part because the military has shifted toward a focus on "woke" policies in recent years, alienating a good portion of the country that would otherwise be interested in serving.

But in interviews with reporters this month, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth argued that the military was not "woke" and charged its critics with contributing to the crisis themselves.

Decorations in the Ramstein Air Base library for the "Read with PRIDE" for kids event. (Airman 1st Class Regan Spinner/U.S. Air Force)

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"I think the more our military leaders are sort of dragged into spaces that have been politicized like that, I think the more it contributes to this perception that they’re political when they really aren’t," Wormuth said. "So, I hope that we don’t see more of the kind of talk that’s been out in the past few days."

Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, Ramstein Air Base leadership said the event was a "command-approved event intended to advance our progress towards a respectful and inclusive culture" but stressed that attendance "was strictly voluntary, and was conducted in accordance with DoD direction."

"Ultimately, all events held on Ramstein AB aim to foster an environment where all our members and families can thrive and feel valued as a part of our team as we continue to confidently execute our no-fail mission," the statement continued. "As Secretary Austin has previously stated during Congressional testimony, we do not host drag events at Ramstein AB facilities, and this event was consistent with such."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that last year's "Drag Queen Storytime" event scheduled to take place at the Ramstein Library and a drag event scheduled for earlier this month at a Ramstein bar were two separate events.