LANCASTER, Pa. — LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) —
A scheduled “Drag Queen Story Hour” at a Pennsylvania library that had drawn opposition was canceled Saturday after a suspicious package was found in the building and two blocks were evacuated after threats were reported, authorities said.
Police evacuated the Lancaster Public Library after the package was found. A state police bomb squad later cleared the library, but police said “additional reported threats” were still being investigated. Residents of the block and another block nearby were advised to evacuate.
A city spokesperson later told LancasterOnline that a dog had alerted on the package and that the contents were later found to be “benign” but “subsequently, we received additional written threats via email.”
Lancaster Pride, a nonprofit that celebrates the town’s LGBTQ+ community, posted a notice on social media that the “Drag Story Hour with Miss Amie” had been canceled, saying “the safety and well-being of our community are of utmost importance to us.”
The planned story hour drew impassioned opposition from some residents during a marathon county commissioners meeting Wednesday, the second meeting in a row marked by resident protests after Republican commissioners denounced the event as inappropriate, LancasterOnline reported.
Commissioner Josh Parsons wrote that libraries “should be places for kids to safely read and learn, not politicized social laboratories for woke ideology.” Commissioner Ray D’Agostino said he thought there was a link between children being more “confused, anxious and stressed” than ever and people ”trying to push adult themed issues at such an early age.” Scores of people attended a prayer vigil in the plaza adjacent to the library Friday night opposing the event.
Lissa Holland, the library’s executive director, told LancasterOnline that she was “really sad, very disappointed and angry” about the cancellation.
“The library should be a place of safety. … And as I’ve told people numerous times this week, like every book in the library is not for every person, every program is maybe not for every person. But we don’t censor,” she said.
The listing for the “Drag Queen Story Hour” on the library’s events page called on attendees to “Join Miss Amie Vanité as she spreads awareness and acceptance by celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, kindness and love through LGBTQ+ literature for young readers.”
The Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition noted “backlash” in a Facebook post earlier this month and decried what it called “hateful comments about the LGBTQ+ community” from public officials.
“We want to be clear that drag story hours for children are NOT the same as adult drag performances,” the group said. The performer, the group said, “is a professional who has done other story hours for children. She dresses up in fun, whimsical costumes, sings age-appropriate songs, and reads age-appropriate books.”
Christopher Paolini, who was to read in drag as Miss Amie Vanité, said he had just arrived and was getting ready “when the alarms went off.” He called the turn of events “insane,” LancasterOnline reported.
“It just hurts my heart that it came to this,” he said. “I’m not going to stop what I’m doing. This program is too important for too many people.”
Authorities in a small town have reported the cancellation of a Drag Story Hour event at the local library due to a suspicious package and threats. The event, which was scheduled to take place this weekend, was meant to promote diversity and inclusivity by featuring drag queens reading stories to children.
According to reports, library staff discovered a suspicious package outside the building early this morning. The package, which was unmarked and appeared to be homemade, prompted authorities to evacuate the library and surrounding area as a precaution. After further investigation, it was determined that the package did not pose a threat, but the decision was made to cancel the Drag Story Hour event in light of the incident.
Additionally, authorities have reported receiving threats against the event and its organizers in the days leading up to the scheduled date. These threats, which were deemed credible by law enforcement, further contributed to the decision to cancel the event for the safety of all involved.
The cancellation of the Drag Story Hour event has sparked controversy in the community, with some residents expressing disappointment and frustration over the decision. Supporters of the event argue that it is important to promote acceptance and understanding of different lifestyles, while opponents believe that such events are inappropriate for children.
In response to the cancellation, local officials have stated that they are working to reschedule the Drag Story Hour event at a later date, once security concerns have been addressed. In the meantime, they are urging residents to remain calm and respectful of differing viewpoints.
Overall, the cancellation of the Drag Story Hour event at the library serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by those advocating for diversity and inclusivity. Despite setbacks and opposition, it is important to continue promoting acceptance and understanding in our communities.
