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Large public comment period presses library over Drag Queen Story Hour; callers urge Friends not to co-host
Summary
Dozens of residents addressed the trustees during general public comment about a recent Drag Queen Story Hour co-hosted by the Friends/Foundation. Many speakers called the program "inappropriate" for young children and asked the Friends not to co-host future events; others urged a neutral children's-program policy.
A long stream of public commenters addressed the board over a recent Drag Queen Story Hour at the library. Shirley Sedich, who spoke during the public-comment period, told trustees, "This board recently allowed our taxpayer funded library to promote and host Drag Queen Story Hour," and said such presentations are "inappropriate" for very young children. Several other residents expressed similar objections and used terms such as "indoctrination" and "grooming."
Not all comments were framed the same way: one speaker, Yin Yang, urged the library to "adopt a clear policy of field point and neutrality for children's program[s]" and to stop promoting adult drag performances as official library programming for young children, suggesting those events be moved to private rentals and removed from public promotion. Trustees repeatedly reminded speakers that public comment is for statements, not back-and-forth discussion. The board thanked commenters for sharing their views; staff and trustees later said the library will consider public reaction and review how events are publicized and promoted.
