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How One Upper West Side Small Business Celebrated Pride Month

June 14, 2023 | 10:36 AM
in ABSURDITY, NEWS
15
Reese Havoc. Photo credits: Amanda Gay.

By Lisa Kava

Camp Canine, the longstanding dog daycare center at 46 West 73rd Street, hosted a “Drag Queen Story Hour” for their “campers” last week.

Local Drag Queen Reese Havoc made a guest appearance and read a book to the dogs called Pride Puppy — children’s story-hour style. Pet parents had dropped their dogs off at camp earlier in the day dressed in rainbow bandanas, bow ties, and scarves. Havoc is a NYC-based comedian and performer who hosts weekly Drag Queen events.

There was “a little bit of reading, followed by a lot of playing and posing for photos with Havoc,” Amanda Gay, Marketing Director of Camp Canine described the festive event to the Rag. The idea of a Drag Queen Story hour for dogs had come to Gay after she read about children’s story hours in various schools and libraries featuring drag queens as the reader. Gay had been searching for a way to celebrate Pride Month at Camp Canine and wanted to create an activity to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. “It is very important to Camp Canine as a small business that we support our LGBTQ+ staff, especially in the current political climate.”

The event was appreciated by both Camp Canine staff members and clients. “As a queer person, I’ve felt the lack of support from companies and businesses. On a personal level, having this show of support from my place of work makes me feel incredibly safe and uplifted,” said Lena, a Camp Canine employee. “We stand with the LGBTQ+ community and were so excited to have our fur-baby, Peabody, join Drag Queen Story hour at his happy place,” said clients Brendon and Anala.

Camp Canine also plans to host their second annual “Pride Pawrade,” on June 23rd, a day before NYC’s Pride Parade. During the parade, dog campers will march with their “counselors” (Camp Canine staff)  throughout the facility with rainbow flags and banners.

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15 Comments
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Lori
Lori
2 years ago

What a fun idea!

13
Reply
Alan S
Alan S
2 years ago

Enough already.

(That’s my opinion and WSR can censor it if they like, but I have a right to my opinion.)

39
Reply
Respectfully Disagree
Respectfully Disagree
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan S

Respectfully disagree. People are still incredibly hateful toward LGBT+ and until they’re not, and until everyone is safe, keep it comin’!

9
Reply
Virvir
Virvir
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan S

You can, you know, just not read it. 🙄

16
Reply
Alan S
Alan S
2 years ago
Reply to  Virvir

They could just not, you know, report it.
I think a lot of people are reaching their saturation point on this subject.

Last edited 2 years ago by Alan S
27
Reply
Matt
Matt
2 years ago

I used to like going to drag shows with friends in the past, it was fun. But this is pure lunacy – reading to dogs while wearing drag? Time to snap out of it.

32
Reply
Dana
Dana
2 years ago

Something is seriously wrong with our society and the neighborhood in particular, where essential programs like music and art for underprivileged children close down to provide free housing for economic migrants while drag queens are reading to dogs literally next door.

43
Reply
Amanda Gay
Amanda Gay
2 years ago
Reply to  Dana

Hi! This was my event. I agree with you, but unfortunately I do not have any control over programs for underprivileged children or where migrants are housed. I’m doing what I can in the sphere I have (and having some fun while doing it!) Supporting a local drag queen, making a statement in the current political climate and making sure our LGBT+ staff know they work in a safe space is what I can do in the space that I control. In addition to this, I use my position to amplify other small businesses (for free!), foster homeless dogs in our facility and support multiple dog rescues. If we all do our best in our own spheres, the world will be better for it. I wish you a great day and a Happy Pride Month 🫶🌈

25
Reply
Richard W
Richard W
2 years ago
Reply to  Amanda Gay

I love this so much! Thank you, Amanda!

5
Reply
RealityCanBeHard
RealityCanBeHard
2 years ago
Reply to  Amanda Gay

Brava Amanda!
Happy Pride Month to you!

6
Reply
Alejandro
Alejandro
2 years ago

Will this establishment be honoring the dogs who served and died protecting our soldiers on memorial Day and veterans Day?

21
Reply
OPOD
OPOD
2 years ago

This is New York City, Nobody cares, if you are Straight, Gay, Bi, Trans or whatever. Do you know who cares about this less than any New Yorker? Dogs.

27
Reply
Chris
Chris
2 years ago

The comments here are really telling. Some of our UWS brethren are clearly experiencing brain atrophy. Particularly Alan S, Matt, Dana, Alejandro, and Opod. Why bother writing a comment on what is clearly meant to be a puff piece of exposure for both the dog daycare and the drag performer. It’s not political, it’s business. Guess what? Gays have money and they love to spend it. Articles like this promote commerce and engage the neighborhood. Tired of the bs borderline homophobia I’ve been seeing on here and the total lack of awareness to the fact that more LGBTQ+ people are moving to the UWS every year. Get used to it.

10
Reply
Jordan
Jordan
2 years ago

I love that the staff gets an opportunity to participate and feel celebrated in their workplace! Even if it’s for dogs, this is a great way to show community love 🙂

5
Reply
Sackfull
Sackfull
2 years ago

That’s a dude!

5
Reply

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