West Cook News

An upcoming fundraising event for the theatre program at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park is raising questions among parents and community members for featuring a drag show. 

Scheduled for Thursday, April 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Robert’s Westside in neighboring Forest Park, the event is limited to adults and explicitly states “NO STUDENTS” in its promotional materials.

“CAMP to Conture: COSTUMING CAST” will benefit the after-school drama program CAST at Julian, and is being advertised as a night of “Drag Show Bingo & Prizes,” along with a costume showcase, open bar and snacks. 

Flyer promoting the CAST at Julian fundraiser. | Facebook / CAST at Julian

"We'll be celebrating the stunning costumes that our CAST performers wear onstage," a Simple Tix landing page reads. "Though they seem to appear magically, they are truly a huge investment of time and treasury, and we need you to help make the magic happen!"

Promoted by the CAST Parent Council on Facebook, the event is framed as a “fabulous night” where “queens call numbers and our costume directors serve looks”—a play on theatrical flair and drag culture aimed at raising funds for the middle school’s costuming needs. 

CAST, which stands for Communication, Arts, Speech, and Theatre, is an after-school program known for using the performing arts to help students build confidence and communication skills.

Laura Stone Reeb, an Oak Park resident, also promoted the event via Facebook, encouraging local parents and community members to attend. 

“Come hang out with past, present and future OPRF parents & neighbors,” she wrote in a public post.

While the promotional tone is celebratory, some community members raised questions about the appropriateness of linking a middle school program to a drag-themed fundraiser, even though students are not permitted to attend. 

West Cook News attempted to access a QR code shared on social media to find out more information, but it appeared to have been deactivated, and the event page is no longer publicly available.

Percy Julian Middle School is a public school in Oak Park Elementary School District 97 serving over 900 students in grades 6–8. 

Parents have noted a pattern of introducing sexualized or sensitive content into Oak Park District 97 programming without adequate notification or input. They have previously questioned how LGBTQ topics are introduced in schools, particularly at the elementary level.

One such incident occurred at Longfellow Elementary, where an LGBTQ student group was launched in early 2023.

The initiative received praise from the school board. 

“Board member Spurlock commends Longfellow Elementary for starting the LGBTQ space. Making sure students of all ages are supported,” the district meeting minutes from a March 2023 meeting noted.

However, some parents said they only learned about the group from their children, not from the school.

“I have been an Oak Parker for 17 years. I have a daughter at Longfellow Elementary and a leader in this community,” parent Tania Haigh said during the 2023 board meeting. “About a month ago my student brought to me some information about a LGBTQ club starting soon at Longfellow. She had seen it on a white board. The reason I come to you is because I was surprised to have heard this information from my child first and not the school—similar to what we receive about sexual health education.”

Haigh said at the time her questions sparked online backlash. 

“People not understanding why I have put this out is a huge flag for me. How did this club come about? Roll out to elementary kids—is there any clear policy from ISBE on this topic as there is guidance on other areas of health education?” 

District 97 also formerly employed “Culture and Climate Coaches” who were noted for “support and coordinate services for LGBTQ+ students, which supports D97's initiative of inclusion.” 

Oak Park Elementary School District 97’s superintendent is Dr. Ushma Shah.