pinknews.co.uk  proudly reports that the Swedish government is investing SEK 1.7 million, the equivalent of $175,000, to fund drag queen story hour shows for children and those with disabilities.

The investment will come from the Swedish Inheritance Fund, a state body that manages the inheritance money of Swedes who die without a written will and next of kin.

The funds will be given primarily to Kulturföreningen Mums, a politically independent association in Stockholm that aims to broaden Sweden’s cultural offerings with a special focus on LGBT+ issues, diversity and gender equality.

“The project will, together with children, young people and adults with disabilities, develop available normative creative fairy tales in the form of drag shows,” said Sweden’s General Heritage Foundation.

“Together with the target group and several organisations, the established business Among Dragons and Drag Queens will create new fairy tales that reflect the target group.”

The initiative will promote projects “based on the needs and wishes of the target group,” which includes drag show workshops based around drag queens reading storybooks to children in libraries.

Drag queen Athena Kills (L) reads seated beside Scalene Onixxx to adults and children during Drag Queen Story Hour at Cellar Door Books in Riverside, California on June 22, 2019. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Drag queen story shows are gaining popularity as a fun and educational way to celebrate diversity, giving children a space to see people who defy gender restrictions.

The idea behind drag queen story hour began in San Francisco and quickly grew into a global phenomenon, but the backlash has been equally as strong.