Mount Clemens residents urge action over library drag‑queen story hour; commissioners say their authority is limited

Dozens of residents told the Mount Clemens City Commission they want the Mount Clemens Public Library to stop any drag‑queen story hours and to remove LGBTQ‑themed children’s books from children’s sections, saying parents—not librarians—should decide what young children are exposed to.

The comments, delivered during the city’s public comment periods, represented a sustained challenge to the library’s director and board and included calls for the city commission to use its appointment authority over the library board to change leadership. Speakers also warned of potential consequences for library funding if their demands are not addressed.

At the meeting, Mayor Laura Cropp opened the floor for public comment and later read a proclamation honoring longtime resident Nancy Donahue. The public comment period that followed featured multiple speakers who identified themselves by name and address and who urged the commission to take steps they said would protect children.

"Leave our children alone," said Carol Jarco, who identified herself as representing herself and "400 other concerned citizens," and asked the commission to act because the commission and the school board appoint library‑board members. "We emphatically request that our library, its director, and children's librarian lead the education of children to their parents," Jarco said.

Gwen Duckworth told the commission the "drag queen program programs for children" must be halted and that LGBTQ books and media aimed at minors "must be removed from our library." She urged the commission to begin actively vetting prospective library board members.

Several other speakers cited specific titles and national examples. John Foliano quoted a Washington Post article and described passages from the memoir Gender Queer, saying the book had been purchased by the Mount Clemens Library and objecting to its availability to young readers. A commenter who identified only as Jean discussed the Library of Michigan’s guidance on challenges and noted the Supreme Court’s Miller v. California obscenity test as a legal standard affecting how library staff and boards evaluate material.

Not all commentary was in favor of removal. Eric Rick said he opposed defunding the library and described removing funding as "reckless," while a commissioner who spoke in favor of the library said the collection and planned programs are intended to serve many community needs. "A library is a place for knowledge...a place for wonder," said a commissioner who identified their support for library services and noted plans to expand children’s programming and facilities.

City staff also provided routine administrative updates during the meeting. The city manager reported the Karnes Community Center parking lot construction was underway and that Mount Clemens had been sub‑awarded $39,862 by SMART through the American Rescue Plan Act to support operating costs for a Bridal A Ride program.

Commissioners repeatedly said they would investigate what authority the city commission actually has over the district library board, noting that many libraries in the region operate under a district structure that limits direct municipal control. Commissioner Fortier said the commission needed to separate personal views from legal or practical powers the commission can exercise and pledged to "look into this" and report back.

The commission ultimately moved to enter a closed session to discuss pending litigation and recessed briefly before doing so. The meeting ended after reconvening and taking a motion to adjourn.

What happens next: Commissioners said they would review the submitted materials, re‑examine the commission’s appointing powers, and watch recordings of the meeting; no formal policy change or directive regarding library programming was adopted at the session.