In a tweet posted Thursday evening, NYC Mayor Eric Adams promoted “drag storytellers” and “the libraries and schools that support them,” claiming they are advancing the city’s core values.

“Drag storytellers, and the libraries and schools that support them, are advancing a love of diversity, personal expression, and literacy that is core to what our city embraces,” he wrote.

In, Adams argued that the education system must “educate” and make students “emotionally intelligent” through such programs.

“At a time when our LGBTQ+ communities are under increased attack across this country, we must use our education system to educate,” he added in a follow-up tweet. “The goal is not only for our children to be academically smart, but also emotionally intelligent.”

A wave of online backlash ensued.

“No @NYCMayor men dressed as highly sexualized women do not belong in schools. It has nothing to do with diversity or literacy,” wrote New York congressional candidate Maud Maron.

“Why not just advocate for taking kids to strip clubs while you are at it?” asked media personality Lisa Boothe.

“They are just dudes in women’s clothes grooming kids. Stop it,” wrote journalist Kyle Becker.

“Grooming is at the core of what NYC embraces?” asked Claremont Institute Communications Director Nick Short.

“Flee NYC while you still can,” wrote Rubin Report host and free speech advocate Dave Rubin

“This is the hill the Democrats want to die on. Pushing drag queens in schools. What insane clownworld are we living in?” wrote President of the New York Young Republican Club Gavin Mario Wax.

The mayor’s comments come as New York City’s public schools continue to use tax money to pay drag queens to perform for children, often without parental knowledge or consent. Since its creation in 2018, Drag Queen Story Hour NYC — which recently changed its name to Drag Story Hour NYC — has received $207,000 in taxpayer funds.