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Nina West Author Visit
No Tea, No Shade: Life as a Drag Queen
Wednesday, May 20
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Bexley Public Library
Bexley Library AuditoriumThe iconic Nina West visits the Bexley Public Library to celebrate their collaborative book, No Tea, No Shade: Life as a Drag Queen. The reading and discussion will be followed by a book signing.
Join us for a night of inspiration as the iconic Nina West visits the Bexley Public Library to celebrate their collaborative book No Tea, No Shade: Life as a Drag Queen. Booklist calls the book "an essential read for anyone who has searched for a way to feel like themselves." Densil Porteous (he/they), Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, will moderate the conversation.
Thank you to Gramercy Books for partnering with us on this event for the booksale and signing following the reading and discussion.
About the Author:
NINA WEST (Andrew Levitt) rose to international prominence on the 11th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Other notable credits include Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead (Ginsey Tonic), Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Divine), “Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch” (Alice), and voiceover work for Nickelodeon’s “Blue’s Clues,” “Baby Shark’s Big Show,” “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race,” the recent “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 9,” “Drag Me To Dinner,” Bobby Moynihan’s “Loafy,” Hulu’s “The Bravest Knight”, and documentaries Lady Like and Kings, Queens, and In Betweens. On stage, he starred as Edna Turnbald in the national tour of Broadway’s Hairspray The Musical.
Nina has hosted events around the world. Of note: 74th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, Disney+ Pride Special, events at San Diego Comic-Con, and galas for SAGE and Bring Change to Mind, among others.
His charitable foundation, The Nina West Foundation, has raised over $3 million dollars for charities in central Ohio and around the world.
His first children’s book, The You Kind of Kind was published in 2022 by PA Press. 2025 saw the publication of a book of essays by drag authors, including Nina, entitled No Tea, No Shade: Life As Drag Queen. It is available from Harper Collins at bookstores everywhere.
Nina has performed with Kermit the Frog and The Muppets. It does not get better than that.
About the Moderator:
Densil R. Porteous is the Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus. Densil has over 20 years engaging in nonprofit work as a volunteer and leader, at local and national levels, primarily working with organizations focused on issues of equity and access. Porteous’ nonprofit service work has been with groups like Advocates for Youth (Board Secretary), Human Rights Campaign (Board of Directors; former national Board of Governors), Equitas Health (Board Vice Chair), the Legacy Fund of the Columbus Foundation, and Create Columbus Commission (Chair).
Alongside his engagement in the nonprofit social service space Densil has had a notable career in [higher] education administration which encompassed a mixture of admissions/enrollment management; strategic marketing and communications; and development/advancement with roles at Kenyon College, Stanford University, Columbus College of Art & Design and the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University.
Porteous received his Master of Business Administration, with a focus in Marketing & Communications, from University of Phoenix and Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College.
About the Book:
No Tea, No Shade is a collective anthem written by six drag queens who believe in equality, peace, and in a world that loves and respects all people. The defiant legacy of drag will endure fearmongering and hate because their hearts have endured the unthinkable, their courage has been relentlessly tested, and to be blunt, they have the balls to prevail.
When these gorgeous queens wear a stunning gown with picture perfect makeup, haters label them as inappropriate and unlawful. They are entertainers not predators. Drag is an art of self-expression that, at its core, affirms and uplifts LGBTQIA+ people.
No Tea, No Shade features thirty essays discussing:
- Social activism, Drag Story Hour, and education.
- Coming out, gender, and equality.
- Relationships, setting goals, and rejection.
- Celebrating womanhood, family, and image.
Kennedy Ann Scott was awarded Teacher of the Year in Nashville, Tennessee. Lagoona Bloo starred on the Off-Broadway hit Drag: the Musical, and Alex Michaels received a stellar review from the New York Times for their role in La Cage Aux Falles at Barrington Stage Company. Olivia Lux starred in Rent and Kinky Boots. Julie J raised more than $100,000 for trans and LGBTQIA+ organizations. Nina West received an honorary doctorate in May 2024 and is a well-known entertainer, having worked with everyone from Glenn Close to Kermit the Frog.
Despite the pervasive danger of being authentic and real, these drag artists have chosen to fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. They remind us that a person’s identity shouldn’t be marginalized to genitals. Identity categories are not as important as we have been led to believe, and the shade casted on drag is just a scapegoat. It is a distraction political figures and trolls use to lure people away from caring about serious issues like equality, gun violence, poverty, and racism.
No Tea, No Shade shines a light on a community of people who are paving the way for a better world and holding the light for others to step up.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Global and Cultural Awareness | Books Reading and Storytelling | Art Music and Culture |
Bexley Public Library
Bexley Public Library was founded in 1924 and first housed in Bexley High School, now Montrose Elementary School. The present building opened in 1929 and was designed by architects O.C. Miller and R.R. Reeves who drew upon French and Italian architecture from the 17th century for the design.
The library is located at 2411 East Main Street, at the intersection of East Main Street and Cassady Avenue. Parking is available in our parking lot on Euclaire Avenue and in front of the library on Main Street. Main Street is a No Parking Tow Zone from 4:00-6:00 p.m. weekdays.