RuPaul is sending Rainbow Bus to give away LGBTQ+ books targeted by bans around the country

One of the biggest perks of being influential is having the ability to voice in favor of those who are oppressed. Many celebrities put their popularity to good use supporting a cause. American drag queen and TV personality, RuPaul has recently ventured into a wholesome business, Allstora, an all-inclusive online bookstore that emphasizes LGBTQ+ books and authors. As part of this venture, RuPaul is giving away books prone to bans through a Rainbow Bus that travels across the country, reports The New York Times. There's more to how Allstora boosts the visibility of LGBTQ+ literature.

As the country faces the banning of certain books and drag shows, RuPaul hopped onto the business bandwagon. On Monday, the nation's biggest drag star announced his new endeavor Allstora. This online bookstore business not only encourages books targeted by bans but also supports undervalued writers providing them with a more generous share of profits compared to other online booksellers. Considering the unrest in the country with queer people facing subjugation, RuPaul's goal is to support the ideas of people who speak their minds in favor of the LGBTQ+ community.

RuPaul has shifted the dynamics of Drag over the years with his popular reality competition show "RuPaul’s Drag Race," which brought to light the talent of several drag performers. Despite some prohibitions on drag shows and LGBTQ+ literature, RuPaul has kept his game going strong for sixteen seasons. Speaking about those who restrict the LGBTQ culture in the U.S., Paul told the news channel, "They have so much pain and it’s being projected outwardly. And the truth is, I just hope that the child that lives inside of every one of them will revolt and have a voice and say, 'I want to use all the colors in the crayon box. I will not be restricted.'"

So, when Adam Powell, a drag performer and actor connected with RuPaul while fund-raising for Allstora, the popular drag star decided to team up with them. Powell and their partner Eric Cervini launched ShopQueer.co in October 2022 at their Los Angeles apartment. Soon the business grew significantly selling over 1 million books to LGBTQ+ authors online. Now, the company has transformed into Allstora with RuPaul on board as the Chief Creative Officer. "I wasn’t very good in school, but I read books and I watched television and those are the ways that I was able to find my way in this great big world," the drag star told the news channel. A crucial part of Allstora is its philanthropic mission, the Rainbow Bus which started its outreach this month.

The Rainbow Book Bus is expected to grace the country traveling from Los Angeles to the South to fight book bans and give away at least 10,000 books by the end of the year. Allstora will associate with local LGBTQ organizations to lend books targeted by bans. For younger generations who face the viles of LGBTQ book bans in libraries, Cervini says, "There is an organization, there’s a community, there’s a family for them. And even if we’re not always there, books are always there. They’re always available. They’re always a safe place." Allstora also organizes a "RuPaul Book Club" where people can get limited edition signed prints and exclusive access to podcasts and playlists from RuPaul and his favorite authors. This month's pick in the RuPaul Book Club is the drag star's memoir, "The House of Hidden Meanings."