Concerns over so-called “Drag Queen Story Hour” events hosted at libraries across the country were reignited earlier this month when photos of young children laying on top of adult male drag queens were exposed.
The photos, which were posted on a Flickr account for Multnomah County Library located in Portland, Oregon, have since been deleted. LifeSiteNews, however, preserved the images, which they have condemned as “child abuse,” before they were removed.
A Facebook user who posted the photos online captioned the pictures: “I wouldn’t let my kids crawl on top of random strangers no matter how said strangers are dressed.”
“Even as a day camp counselor 15 years ago, we were pretty carefully trained about not giving kids piggyback rides or letting them sit on our laps. And if they asked for hugs, we took the side hug approach,” the post continued. “Boundaries provide safety. They’re a form of love #DragIsntForKids.”
Multnomah County Library’s marketing and online engagement director Jeremy Graybill told The Blaze in a statement on Tuesday that “[t]he library will reflect on the feedback that members of the community have offered” with regard to the photos.
“Multnomah County Library offers a series of programs called Drag Queen Storytime. These events seek to explore ideas of difference, diversity and inclusion through stories, music and costume. The library serves a diverse population with a broad range of interests, preferences and needs. We strive to reflect our communities’ needs in selecting programs, books and other materials,” Graybill said. “We continually review existing policies to ensure that performers meet expectations to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Presenters and performers are instructed to follow library behavior policies and rules of conduct that protect the interest and safety of presenters, volunteers, staff and library patrons. Parents and caregivers are present at every program.”
“The library will reflect on the feedback that members of the community have offered,” he continued. “We will consider the views and concerns expressed and work to ensure that Multnomah County Library holds itself to consistently high standards.”
In April, CBN reported that two participants in “Drag Queen Story Hour” activities were revealed to be convicted child sex offenders:
The Houston, Texas group known as the Houston MassResistance activists have exposed a second “drag queen” as a convicted child sex offender, who was involved in reading stories to children at a local library.
LifeSite News reports the man was convicted of multiple sexual assaults against four young children (ages 4, 5, 6, and 8) in 2004. He was incarcerated and is listed as a “high-risk sex offender.” … [it was] also uncovered that the man had worked as a transgender prostitute and a porn actor.
In March, it was revealed that “another drag queen reading to children during a story time hour was also a sex offender,” the outlet noted. “Library officials later apologized for failing to conduct a background check on men who read to children at an event hosted by drag queens, according to MSN.”