Alamosa residents urge library to reconsider Drag Queen Story Hour; city attorney says law limits options

Dozens of residents urged the Alamosa City Council on Aug. 20, 2025, to stop a planned Drag Queen Story Hour at the Alamosa Public Library, saying the event is inappropriate for children and asking the city to intervene. City officials responded that the library has adopted a nondiscrimination-based program policy and that legal options are limited.

Many speakers framed their objections around children’s safety and developmental appropriateness. Senator Larry Crowder told the council he objected on community-value grounds, saying, “I do not believe that is the values of the people of the valley overall.” Chester Jones, co‑pastor at Calvary Bible Chapel, called the content “strongly condemned by the Bible.” Speaker Terry Hammond read a written statement that cited Colorado law and cited books that he said were developmentally inappropriate. Several other residents — including Ruthie Brown, Kaye Jones and others — expressed similar concerns during the public‑comment period.

Library‑policy and legal context: the city attorney summarized state and local constraints. He told the council the Alamosa Public Library had adopted a program policy informed by recent state legislative guidance addressing nondiscrimination in public libraries and that the library’s policy “shall prohibit discrimination based on age, background, political or religious views, origin, disability, race, color” and other categories. He said the library had limited wiggle room under that policy and related state guidance and that staff had discussed parental‑accompaniment rules with Maria Kramer, the librarian. Kramer suggested 18 as a conservative line for requiring a parent or guardian to accompany a minor to the program; the city attorney said the library would “try that and see what happens.”

Speakers on the other side of the issue did not appear in large numbers in the chamber, though councilmembers noted the library’s program staff and supporters had earlier addressed the council on scheduling and safety expectations. Several council members acknowledged listening to the public’s concerns and emphasized that the council itself would not intervene in the library’s programming decisions at this meeting.

What was not decided: no motion or ordinance regarding library programming was made or voted on during the meeting. The matter remained a subject of public comment and administrative policy at the library. The city manager said council comment would be possible later on the agenda but that legal and policy follow‑up would be led by library staff.

Next steps noted in the meeting: the library intends to require adult accompaniment for minors for this program (the librarian’s office recommended age 18 as a conservative line), and the city attorney said staff and the library would monitor how that approach works. Several public commenters asked the council to revisit appointments to the library board; no formal action was taken at this meeting.