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A planned Drag Queen story hour at a Pennsylvania library was canceled after several bomb threats and the discovery of a suspicious package in the building.
The Lancaster Public Library and two blocks in the downtown area were evacuated on Saturday following the reported threats against a nearby Starbucks and the library’s executive director Lissa Holland.
The event, featuring drag queen Amie Vanité, had drawn 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.
‘I am appalled,’ the drag performer, whose real name is Christopher Paolini told WGAL after the event’s cancellation.
‘It’s very disappointing, disheartening and I am surprisingly unfazed because I’ve been dealing with hatred like this for years now with these programs, but it’s never been like this before.’
The event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, featuring drag queen Amie Vanité, had drawn impassioned opposition from some residents and lawmakers
A city spokesperson later told LancasterOnline that a dog had alerted on the package found in the library and the contents were later found to be ‘benign’
‘I am appalled,’ the drag performer, whose real name is Christopher Paolini said after the event’s cancellation
A city spokesperson later told LancasterOnline that a dog had alerted on the package found in the library and 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.’
Some 500 families had signed up for the event.
Commissioner Josh Parsons had previously said libraries ‘should be places for kids to safely read and learn, not politicized social laboratories for woke ideology.’ Fellow 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.
Both Parsons and D’Agostino issued statements Saturday afternoon condemning the reported threats and calling for the prosecution of those responsible regardless of their motives, LancasterOnline reported.
‘Threats of violence have no place in our debates,’ Parsons said.
Holland, the library´s executive director, told LancasterOnline she was ‘really sad, very disappointed and angry’ about the cancelation.
‘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 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
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.’
Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace said: ‘While we respect differences in opinion and the freedom of expression, the use of fear to manipulate and control our community will not be tolerated in Lancaster City. We will not be deterred from loving our neighbors — all of them.’
