Republicans in Montana have taken a strong stand against drag queens reading books to children, banning the practice at libraries and schools.
Republican governor Greg Gianforte signed Montana HB 359 on Monday; over half of the state legislature cosponsored the bill, which bars minors from attending sexually oriented shows.
“A school or library that receives any form of funding from the state may not allow a sexually oriented performance or drag story hour &#8230; on its premises during regular operating hours or at any school-sanctioned extracurricular activity,” the bill <a href="https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0359.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a>, adding that a minor who attended such a performance “may bring an action against a person who knowingly promotes, conducts, or participates as a performer in the performance. The minor&#8217;s parent or legal guardian may bring an action in the name of the minor for an action commenced under this section.”
“In my humble opinion, there&#8217;s no such thing as a ‘family-friendly’ drag show,” the bill&#8217;s sponsor, Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell, <a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2023/02/23/montana-republicans-advance-drag-ban-for-public-spaces-near-minors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in April, adding that he sponsored the bill “because drag shows in recent years have been specifically aimed at children.” He also stated that drag queens reading to children were part of a “sick agenda” and drag shows were “damaging to a child’s psychology and general welfare.”
In signing the bill, Gianforte commented that he believed it was “wildly inappropriate for little kids, especially preschoolers and kids in elementary school, to be exposed to sexualized content.”
The bill passed the Republican-controlled House in a 66-33 vote in February. Democrat Minority Leader Kim Abbott <a href="https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/drag-ban-bill-for-public-places-schools-and-libraries-moves-through-legislature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>, “I’m going to object today every time we’re equating a drag performance to sexualizing children. And I just want the body to know that we can do it all day long.”
Democrats attempted to amend the bill and replace references to “drag” with “adult-oriented performance.”  Mitchell said the Democrats’ amendment “completely derails the intent of the legislation” while pushing for the motion to be defeated, which it was in a 58-42 vote.
Drag queens reading at libraries has been pushed for years; as far back as 2016 San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.radarproductions.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RADAR Productions</a> and New York-based <a href="http://www.feministpress.org/drag-queen-story-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Feminist Press</a> teamed up to bring “Drag Queen Story Hour” to life.
 “DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models,” explained the campaign&#8217;s YouTube promotional video. “In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, and where dress-up is real.”

Missoula Montana Public Library

Montana Bans Drag Queens Reading To Kids At Libraries, Schools

Drag Queen story hour

Greg Gianforte

Montana

U.S.

Washington state is preparing to spend an estimated $83,000 on an employee diversity training featuring the Director of Drag Queen Story Hour, information obtained by The Daily Wire reveals.
Titled the <a href="https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/workforce-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-council/deiconference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington DEI Empowerment Conference</a>, the training is set to include talks on diversity, “anti-racism,” and equity every Wednesday in June.
Hayden Michaels, the deputy communications director of the Office of Financial Management, told The Daily Wire that “We expect the cost of putting on the conference to be about $83,000. With 16 sessions and 5,000 seats each session, this works out to $1.06 per seat.”
The conference includes a keynote speech titled “Drag Story Hour and Fireside Chat,” which will take place on June 21st.
The speech’s description defends the performance of drag in front of children, explaining that Executive Director of Drag Queen Story Hour Jonathan Hamilt will share “the necessity of LGBTQAI+ family programming and how the powerful art-form of drag teaches young humans about inclusivity, celebrating diversity, and the vital freedom of self-expression.”
Hamilt, who himself dresses in drag, has a personal goal of &#8220;offering affirming and accepting programming for kids&#8221; in an attempt to heal his &#8220;inner child,&#8221; his biography states.
Drag Queen Story Hour has been caught bringing <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-public-library-admits-registered-child-sex-offender-participated-in-drag-queen-storytime/285-becf3a0d-56c5-4f3c-96df-add07bbd002a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">registered sex offenders</a> into close contact with children at their events on <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/second-drag-queen-story-hour-library-reader-exposed-as-convicted-child-sex-offender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multiple</a> different occasions.
The talk will also include Alex Petrovina and Sam Mendum-Purdy of the Trans Formations Project, a non-profit organization that <a href="https://www.transformationsproject.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claims to</a> &#8220;protect trans kids&#8221; and is &#8220;<a href="https://www.transformationsproject.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dedicated to tracking</a> and educating about the anti-trans legislative crisis currently sweeping the United States.&#8221;
Meanwhile, the conference will also <a href="https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/workforce-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-council/deiconference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include a talk</a> titled &#8220;Incorporating DEIB and Anti-Racism Work into Recruitment.&#8221; The talk&#8217;s description explains that those working in talent acquisition and Human Resources have &#8220;unique opportunities to create equity and inclusion in very intentional ways in our day-to-day workflow.&#8221; Speakers Lisa Grund and Tangi Tash hope to establish &#8220;authenticity and antiracism as a way of life at work.&#8221;
A session called &#8220;The Elephant in the Room&#8221; will discuss America&#8217;s &#8220;original and most persistent sin, racism.&#8221; The talk will be led by Phillip Jacobs, who previously directed the Washington Employers for Racial Equity.
The majority of the estimated sum, $48,000, is intended to cover speaker fees. Meanwhile, $17,923 is slated to go towards accessibility services such as transcription and sign language interpreters. Another $17,440 will be allocated to technology required for the virtual conference.
Michaels went on to add that the conference allows state employees to “learn more about the lived experiences and challenges of Washingtonians we often don’t reach or hear from,” before also claiming “These are people who regularly face systemic barriers, exclusion from accessing government services, harm from policies, or discrimination in the workplace.”

Money 1.0

Washington State To Spend $83K On Training Featuring Drag Queen Story Hour Director

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Washington

A &#8220;drag mom&#8221; who mentored an 11-year-old at a Satan-themed pub in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/oregon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oregon</a> has been sentenced to less than a year in prison for 11 felony child sex crimes.
Kelsey Meta Boren, 31, pled guilty on March 23 to 11 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree. Another charge of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct was dismissed.
She will <a href="https://www.kdrv.com/news/regional/former-elementary-school-staffer-sentenced-for-encouraging-child-sexual-abuse/article_f2405819-6d53-5766-ad3f-b73c7ab8167c.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serve</a> 11 months in jail and five years probation. She will need her probation officer&#8217;s permission to have contact with minors, she will be banned from contact with the victim, and she will have to register as a sex offender.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&#39;Drag mom&#39; who mentored 11-year-old child drag queen at Satan-themed Oregon pub is sentenced to less than one year in prison for 11 felony child sex crimes
Kelsey Meta Boren, 31, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree <a href="https://t.co/o1PcwEogXU">pic.twitter.com/o1PcwEogXU</a>
&mdash; News News News (@NewsNew97351204) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsNew97351204/status/1649475961216180249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Boren was <a href="https://www.kdrv.com/news/regional/former-elementary-school-staffer-sentenced-for-encouraging-child-sexual-abuse/article_f2405819-6d53-5766-ad3f-b73c7ab8167c.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> back in August after police received tips alleging she was uploading child pornography to the internet, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in Eugene, Oregon, said.
A sexually explicit image of a girl estimated as 12 or younger was found to have been uploaded multiple times from email accounts that were traced back to Boren, a detective <a href="https://www.kezi.com/news/veneta-elementary-school-staff-member-arrested-accused-of-encouraging-child-sexual-abuse/article_2919dec2-1a77-11ed-9b97-b3aa4e217d9e.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a court document.
At the time, Boren was an instructional assistant in the Fern Ridge School District. After her arrest, she was suspended from her position and barred from school grounds and from having contact with students, the district said.
The sheriff&#8217;s office said no children Boren knew through her job were identified as victims.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Before her arrest, Boren posted several photos of herself with an 11-year-old girl, a young drag queen called Vanellope MacPherson DuPont, on her Instagram and said she was the child&#8217;s &#8220;drag mom.&#8221;
Boren&#8217;s Instagram handle was &#8220;alwaizcraving.&#8221;
In October, the Satan-themed Old Nick’s Pub in Eugene, Oregon, said it was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oregon-bar-to-have-child-drag-queen-perform-this-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hosting</a> Vanellope for a drag queen event.
&#8220;Vanellope is here to show you what an 11-year-old drag queen can do,&#8221; a Facebook post by the pub promoting the event read.
&#8220;With all the charm and sweetness of a bowl of sugary cereal, Vanellope is here to brighten up your morning with all her drag talent,&#8221; the post said.
Boren was part of the October event, which happened two months after she was arrested.
About 200 protesters and supporters showed up to the event, some armed with semi-automatic rifles, police said.
Protesters opposing the events carried a sign reading, &#8220;What kind of monster exposes kids to this?&#8221;
Supporters yelled &#8220;go home Nazis&#8221; and had a banner reading &#8220;protect trans youth.&#8221;
Vanellope <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11999861/Drag-mom-mentored-child-drag-queen-jailed-11-felony-child-sex-crimes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> did not end up performing in the event as planned.
However, the pub has also hosted Drag Queen Story Hour events featuring Vanellope, as well as drag burlesque events with adult drag queens that do not include the young performer.
The pub accused critics of sexualizing the child performer and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oregon-bar-to-have-child-drag-queen-perform-this-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a> in one Facebook comment, “it all boils down to fundamental misogyny.”
Vanellope&#8217;s family and friends have since released a statement saying the relationship between the child and Boren was &#8220;professional&#8221; only and they only met &#8220;maybe four or five time[s].&#8221;
&#8220;Meta-Boren was not a family friend, nor was she ever a mentor for V in the drag world,&#8221; their statement said. &#8220;They, also, have not had any contact since before covid, and all ties have been severed as of the time of Meta-Boren&#8217;s arrest in August.&#8221;

Tougher Sentencing Blamed For Crowded Prisons

‘Drag Mom’ Who Mentored 11-Year-Old At Satan-Themed Pub Sentenced For 11 Child Sex Felonies

'Drag Mom' Who Mentored 11-Year-Old At Satan-Themed Pub Sentenced For 11 Child Sex Felonies

Child Abuse

Child Sex Abuse

Crime

Drag Queens

Oregon

Sex Crimes

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.K.</a>’s largest teacher’s union said this week that schools across the country should welcome in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/drag-queen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drag queens</a> and promote more LGBT events. 
At a meeting of the National Education Union (NEU) this week at Harrogate, the teachers voted in favor of a motion to bring <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/drag-queen-story-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drag queen story hour</a> and other LGBT events to schools in order to take on “heteronormative culture.” 
“Initiatives like drag queen story time and inviting LGBT+ authors into schools can help challenge the heteronormative culture and curriculum that dominates education,” the motion<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-must-support-drag-queen-story-time-says-teaching-union-ncxkrpztl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> read</a>. 
According to NEU joint secretary general Mary Bousted, one reason for the motion was to counter the influence of online personalities like Andrew Tate. 
“The NEU is committed to sharing and disseminating teaching resources and strategies to help members support success and positive school experiences for all LGBT+ students, including trans and non-binary students,” she <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/schools-must-support-drag-queen-story-time-says-teaching-union-ncxkrpztl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
The motion was voted on after one teacher accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of “supporting the far-Right attacks on drag queen storytime” and “the murder of beautiful souls like Brianna [Ghey],” according to The Telegraph. Ghey, a trans-identifying teenager, was stabbed to death in a park earlier this year. 
The teacher later apologized, according to a spokesman for the union, saying that she did not mean to say that the prime minister was complicit in murder. 
“She apologizes and withdraws the specific allegation that Rishi Sunak supported the murder of a young trans girl. Many trans and non-binary teachers feel strongly that the Government is not doing enough to support them but it is essential that we always debate policy solutions in calm and measured ways,” the spokesman said. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1680979691116000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1YsafKPYyojrpCvxkZWlCU">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The teachers union’s acceptance and promotion of drag queen story hour drew criticism from conservative organizations and members of parliament. 
“It is highly concerning that the NEU is endorsing the exposure of young children to drag queens dressed and performing in a highly sexualized way in the supposed safety of the classroom. I can’t believe that most teachers or parents would support this and I would urge the NEU to revisit some basic safeguarding principles,” said Miriam Cates, an MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge. 
Safe School’s Alliance spokeswoman Tanya Carter said that the union’s “persistence in abandoning established safeguarding the minute they are distracted by glitter and rainbows brings the entire teaching profession into disrepute.”
Part of the impetus for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-k-government-blocks-new-scottish-transgender-legislation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">measure came from</a> the U.K. government blocking a Scottish measure earlier that would change the way that people officially alter their designated gender in Scotland.

Drag Queen Storytime In Brighton Attracts Protests

U.K.’s Largest Teacher’s Union Votes To Invite More Drag Queens To Schools

LGBTQ

Schools

Social Issues

Teachers Unions

U.K.

United Kingdom

World

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-reacts-to-library-harassment-at-faith-based-story-hour-says-lefts-playing-the-long-game">Kirk Cameron</a> reacted to his faith-based story hour being interrupted by Drag Queens and activists, noting the irony that the group that pushes &#8220;inclusion and tolerance&#8221; tried to ruin things — but he insisted they would not succeed.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kirk-cameron">52-year-old</a> actor appeared recently at the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where more than 500 parents and kids showed up to hear Cameron read his new book from Brave Books — &#8220;As You Grow &#8221; — and &#8220;Elephants Are Not Birds&#8221; read by de-transitioner Laura Perry Smalts.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-riley-gaines-and-duck-dynasty-alum-missy-robertson-harassed-by-library-staff-at-faith-based-story-hour">Cameron</a> spoke to The Daily Wire on Monday about how these parents had showed up and the &#8220;eye-sore of the event was these creepy, scary men in black and white dresses and heels and veils &#8230; blocking families&#8217; views and holding up scary signs &#8230; and really upsetting the families that were there.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_515351" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-515351" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-515351 size-full" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Library-protest-1.jpg" alt="Photo Credit: Joshua Smith" width="1200" height="675" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-1.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-1-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />Photo Credit: Joshua Smith</div>
&#8220;So, for the group that&#8217;s all about inclusion and tolerance, they sure are hell bent on excluding families &#8230; and really want to crash the party,&#8221; the actor explained. &#8220;They were accusing us of scaring children with our books, but they just looked scary. It was really weird and creeping everyone out. &#8221;
&#8220;We had to increase security because of the threats [at this event in particular] that were communicated and we want to make sure that kids are not a part of any sort of dangerous protest,&#8221; he added.
The &#8220;Growing Pains&#8221; star said this event wasn&#8217;t the only one were they have been notified ahead of time about a security threat to parents coming out with their kids to hear this book about love, kindness, family, and faith.
&#8220;There have been others the publisher has received for other story hours,&#8221; Cameron said.
<div id="attachment_515352" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-515352" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-515352 size-full" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Library-protest-2.jpg" alt="Photo Credit: Joshua Smith" width="1200" height="675" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-2.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/03/Library-protest-2-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />Photo Credit: Joshua Smith</div>
Several of the protestors have shared photos from the day, with at least one offering instructions on how to protest future Cameron story hour events.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Art Protest Leader Simone Cottrell <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sim1creates">shared on Facebook</a> a photo posing outside the library like a statue with a sign that read, &#8220;Where is Justice&#8221; and showing a children&#8217;s book that deals with sex.
Pro-LGBTQ Pastor Clint Snekloth <a href="https://www.facebook.com/schnekloth">shared tips</a> for &#8220;protesters at future Kirk Cameron book readings&#8221; warning them the event &#8220;will be triggering&#8221; and suggesting kids who were there with their parents are &#8220;currently in the cult.&#8221;
When pressed by the Daily Wire on what Cameron would like to say to those upset about his events or are planning to upset future ones,&#8221; the &#8220;Lifemark&#8221; star said that they would not stop him and Brave Books from hosting these story hours.
&#8220;An arthritic flea could more reasonably stop a stampede of wild elephants running to a mud bath, than a few sad, misguided individuals can stop the tidal wave of good families streaming in to join our fun, faith-filled, wholesome and patriotic Brave Books Story Hours,&#8221; Cameron said. &#8220;Early RSVP&#8217;s are in: Party-poopers will be outnumbered 100 to 1. See you at the library!&#8221;

Today – Season 67

‘The Eye-Sore Of The Event’: Kirk Cameron Reacts To Faith-Based Story Hour Interrupted By Drag Queens, Activists

'The Eye-Sore Of The Event': Kirk Cameron Reacts To Faith-Based Story Hour Interrupted By Drag Queens, Activists

Celebrities

Entertainment

Faith

Kirk Cameron

A “Drag Story Hour” event hosted by New York Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/letitia-james" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Letitia James</a> will have some competition from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-was-almost-in-tears-libs-of-tiktok-reveals-crazy-offer-from-ron-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Libs of TikTok</a>.
Chaya Raichik, who owns the popular anti-woke Twitter account, advertised her own story hour event this weekend that she said will be just right down the street.
&#8220;Protect your kids and come hear an important message at an event that’s actually family friendly,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1635649763352739841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said a tweet</a> on Wednesday.
Brave Books CEO Trent Talbot will join Raichik over the same four-hour period that James is hosting her event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and their respective books will be featured, according to the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brave-books-story-hour-tickets-590442277747" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eventbrite page</a>.
Raichik&#8217;s book, &#8220;<a href="https://bravebooks.us/products/no-more-secrets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No More Secrets: The Candy Cavern</a>,&#8221; is being advertised as a conservative tale that promises to be &#8220;a modern twist to the familiar Grimm&#8217;s-style fairy tale, even including a big bad wolf.&#8221; Talbot has a book titled &#8220;Fight For Freedom Island.&#8221;
James, who has been spearheading a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/06/nyregion/trump-letitia-james-lawsuit.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-profile civil investigation</a> into former President Donald Trump&#8217;s business empire, recently announced that she is hosting a &#8220;Drag Queen Story&#8221; event in Manhattan on Sunday.
&#8220;Families with children&#8221; were <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpn-N0xvjXW/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">specifically invited</a> in a flyer she posted to Instagram. James said drag storytellers, community leaders, and elected officials would be in attendance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
New York AG Letitia James is holding a drag queen event for children along with a number of other elected officials.
Our tax dollars are being used by government officials to fund and promote the sexualization of our children. <a href="https://t.co/uyDUwaTqYX">pic.twitter.com/uyDUwaTqYX</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1635649763352739841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A number of bills have been introduced in states across the country to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/arkansas-senate-bill-classifies-drag-shows-as-adult-oriented-businesses-in-effort-to-protect-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prevent minors from being able to attend</a> drag performances as “Drag Story Hour” events in particular became a focus of criticism.
Among those who chastised James for hosting such an event was Raichik herself.
“Our tax dollars are being used by government officials to fund and promote the sexualization of our children,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1635649763352739841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she tweeted</a>.

Letitia James

Libs Of TikTok Offers ‘Family Friendly’ Alternative To NY Attorney General’s ‘Drag Story Hour’

Libs Of TikTok Offers 'Family Friendly' Alternative To NY Attorney General's ‘Drag Story Hour’

New York

Transgender

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kirk-cameron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kirk Cameron</a> reacted to The Daily Wire&#8217;s report about how he, swim champion <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swim-champ-riley-gaines-drops-shocking-claims-about-lia-thomas-on-crain-co" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riley Gaines</a>, and &#8220;Duck Dynasty&#8221; alum Missy Robertson were harassed by library staff at his faith-based story hour in Tennessee on February 25.
The 52-year-old actor spoke to The Daily Wire on Wednesday about what happened at the Hendersonville public library and admitted he wasn&#8217;t sure how they were going to be greeted after dealing with some pushback by the the director Allan Morales. Initially, Morales approved the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-calls-attendance-at-faith-based-story-hour-overwhelming-after-he-says-nearly-1000-people-pack-library" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faith-based story hour</a> event for Cameron to read his book, &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=as+you+grow+book&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8lzWzAA-VXOAJxZE3swDeSSlJo22BHZy-6TEwUjvUUfU0SFiXMuY9gaAudNEALw_wcB&amp;hvadid=323067330915&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9031869&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=b&amp;hvrand=205687976781233372&amp;hvtargid=kwd-462106938386&amp;hydadcr=22535_10344669&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_1znpx9gz5f_b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As You Grow</a>,&#8221; by publisher Brave Books, but when he learned who Cameron was and that he would be joined by Robertson and Gaines, he wanted to cancel, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-riley-gaines-and-duck-dynasty-alum-missy-robertson-harassed-by-library-staff-at-faith-based-story-hour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;We didn&#8217;t know what was going to happen,&#8221; Cameron shared. &#8220;All we knew was that we had a reservation. We had rented [the room] and got a receipt. &#8230; And then they tried to push us off and kind of hide us in a little church down the street. We decided that I am not going to ghost hundreds of people at a public library who think I&#8217;m going to be there. I told them I would be there so I&#8217;m coming, and we will just see what happens.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kirk Cameron, <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Riley_Gaines_</a> And &#39;Duck Dynasty&#39; Alum <a href="https://twitter.com/MissyDuckWife?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MissyDuckWife</a> Robertson Harassed By Library Staff At Faith-Based Story Hour <a href="https://t.co/za5sjYWmnw">https://t.co/za5sjYWmnw</a>
&mdash; Katie &quot;Red Pickle&quot; Jerkovich (@redsoutrage) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsoutrage/status/1630732865389596672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The TV star wanted to reiterate that the story here is about &#8220;how people are coming out of the woodwork to support good values.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s not about this disgruntled library director,&#8221; the actor shared before taking time to clarify what had been reported about him and Morales exchanging some loud words before the event.
&#8220;And then when we were filming some things in the lobby,&#8221; he added, noting that this is during the time that the clanging of the books, the stomping, and the music took place. And that&#8217;s when I heard him [Morales] say, &#8216;No, we&#8217;re not going to turn off the music, we&#8217;ve got stuff to do. And besides, you guys aren&#8217;t even supposed to be here.’”
Cameron said he told the director, “‘Actually sir, that&#8217;s not true. We are supposed to be here. This is a public library and we&#8217;ve rented the space.’ And he [Morales] walked away.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-4883">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
He called the staff&#8217;s treatment of him and the others &#8220;disappointing,&#8221; but noted that Morales and his staff&#8217;s attempt to turn them away instead created a revival.
&#8220;It&#8217;s another example of another denial turning into a revival,&#8221; Kirk explained. &#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful gathering of people that are saying, &#8216;We don&#8217;t want this woke and broke ideology to come to our town.’ In a sense, I want to thank the disgruntled librarians for teeing up a local revival for us.&#8221;
The &#8220;Lifemark&#8221; star also backed what Gaines and Robertson told us about how hundreds of attendees were treated by the staff who made families stay out in the cold and rain, rather then let them inside the &#8220;big beautiful library&#8221; to wait until they could get into the conference room where the reading was taking place.
Cameron said trying to shut down events like his faith-based story hour is playing the long game; the Left knows that &#8220;the children of today become the leaders of tomorrow,” which is why he&#8217;s doing the book tour in order to reach as &#8220;many hearts and minds of children as possible.&#8221;
&#8220;Because love and kindness and faithfulness and self control, that&#8217;s the fruit that comes from the root of a Judeo Christian world view,&#8221; the actor explained. &#8220;So, it&#8217;s the root that they don&#8217;t like. So, the reason that they&#8217;re rejecting my book is not because they don&#8217;t like the word love. It&#8217;s because it&#8217;s connected to the root of a Judeo Christian world view, which is the foundation of this country and leads to liberty.&#8221;
The Daily Wire previously reached out to the director of the public library in Hendersonville, who told us that &#8220;with all the stuff that has gone back and forth,&#8221; he would &#8220;not like to comment&#8221; and that he&#8217;s &#8220;going to stay out of it.&#8221;
Cameron explained that this spring, he will be busy with several more stops on the book tour, including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Cameron encouraged people to hold their own story hour at their library. He also said that those who want to support their efforts can join the Brave Braves <a href="https://bravebooks.us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book of the month club</a>, which provides books that &#8220;teach these values to your own kids.&#8221;

Kirk Cameron Reacts To Library Harassment At Faith-Based Story Hour, Says Left’s Playing The Long Game

Kirk Cameron Reacts To Library Harassment At Faith-Based Story Hour, Says Left's Playing The Long Game

Riley Gaines

Kirk Cameron, swim champion <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swim-champ-riley-gaines-drops-shocking-claims-about-lia-thomas-on-crain-co" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riley Gaines</a> and &#8220;Duck Dynasty&#8221; alum Missy Robertson said they were harassed by staff at a library in Tennessee where they spoke about traditional values about faith and family.
In the week leading up to the preapproved faith-based <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-calls-attendance-at-faith-based-story-hour-overwhelming-after-he-says-nearly-1000-people-pack-library" target="_blank" rel="noopener">story hour</a> event, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kirk-cameron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron&#8217;s</a> publisher Brave Books said they had started to get pushback from the director at the Hendersonville library Allan Morales, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/kirk-cameron-runs-trouble-tennessee-ahead-patriotic-book-event-negative-pushback" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> reported. The publisher said Morales &#8220;did not want a movement coming to his library&#8221; after learning who <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=as+you+grow+book&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8lzWzAA-VXOAJxZE3swDeSSlJo22BHZy-6TEwUjvUUfU0SFiXMuY9gaAudNEALw_wcB&amp;hvadid=323067330915&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9031869&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=b&amp;hvrand=205687976781233372&amp;hvtargid=kwd-462106938386&amp;hydadcr=22535_10344669&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_1znpx9gz5f_b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron</a> was and that he would be joined by Robertson and Gaines. However, the publisher said when the &#8220;library&#8217;s board of directors and the community&#8221; learned this, they were for the story hour and &#8220;the library staff backed down.&#8221;
Robertson told us that she was &#8220;taken off guard&#8221; by what happened that day after being asked to be a guest reader of her book &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Because-Youre-Family-Missy-Robertson/dp/1955550085" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Because You&#8217;re My Family</a>.&#8221; Robertson and Cameron started filming at the library for their joint promo hours before the event and that&#8217;s when the first trouble started.
&#8220;We kept hearing all these noises, people laughing and talking,&#8221; Robertson shared. &#8220;And then it just kept getting louder and louder. It sounded like they were slamming books together and kicking cabinets. And Kirk and the head of the library [Morales] kind of had a couple of shouting exchanges. And I thought, okay, something&#8217;s going on here.&#8221;
Robertson said that things became &#8220;almost explosive&#8221; when it was Riley&#8217;s turn to do her promos and that&#8217;s when she turned on her camera.
Gaines — who has been open about having to compete against biological male trans swimmer Lia Thomas — talked to us about what happened. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_4982.mp4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Video obtained</a> by The Daily Wire from Robertson supported the accounts.
&#8220;I&#8217;m in front of the camera and I&#8217;m filming my piece and all the sudden the staff started blaring music,&#8221; Gaines told us. &#8220;And so I asked them, &#8216;hey guys we have sixty more seconds … I just need to film this one time and then you guys can play all the music you want.'&#8221;
&#8220;And so these older women, librarians, came out from behind the desk and they said &#8216;well, actually we&#8217;re not turning the music off. We&#8217;re using the music, this is how we cope, with the stress that you&#8217;re putting us under. We don&#8217;t have to turn the music off because it&#8217;s for our mental health,'&#8221; she added.
Gaines spoke to Allan about needing the music down and the librarians turned it off. However, as she started talking about her &#8220;personal experience in competing against&#8221; Thomas, sharing that it takes &#8220;power to stand in the truth&#8221; and acknowledge that men and women are, of course, separate, the staff started making noise again.
&#8220;These ladies are slamming books on the counter,&#8221; Gaines said. &#8220;They are stomping their feet, slamming books, and slamming doors. And screeching. I was so baffled by their behavior. So I went up to the desk and I was like &#8216;Are you guys serious? This is the most blatantly disrespectful thing I&#8217;ve ever seen in my life.'&#8221;
&#8220;We are supposed to live in a country where we have freedom of speech, freedom of religion,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Which those both were things that myself and Missy and Kirk were exercising. And to have people look at you like you don&#8217;t belong … is disgusting. And this was in my hometown, I was like, this was supposed to happen in California, not Tennessee.&#8221;
Robertson said, &#8220;This did not happen in California or New York, this happened in Nashville. People are moving from CA and NY to Nashville to get away from this kind of stuff. I told my husband and my father-in-law today, they are coming for our children … I saw it with my own eyes on Saturday and it scared me to death.&#8221;
&#8220;You know we&#8217;ve heard about all the transgender books and the Drag queen [events],&#8221; she added. &#8220;For some reason they&#8217;re not having problems putting that stuff in libraries, but talking about love and joy and gentleness, that&#8217;s a problem? We&#8217;re pretty messed up if that&#8217;s the standard that we are living by, teaching our children now.&#8221;
Chief of Staff at Brave Books, Zach Bell, called the encounter with Morales and his staff &#8220;just terrible.&#8221;
&#8220;We weren&#8217;t trying to be divisive … he [Morales] wanted to give us as little access to the library as possible, just the room that we had rented,&#8221; Bell shared. &#8220;The library director starts acting like a three year old &#8230; Him and two older ladies are clanging coins, playing music.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s as simple as this.&#8221; he added. &#8220;Allan didn&#8217;t know who Kirk Cameron was. He would&#8217;ve denied us the ability to come to the library. He doesn&#8217;t want this movement coming to his library &#8230; And when he found out who we were and what we we were doing who Kirk was &#8230; his goal was for us not to come.&#8221;
Gaines, Robertson, and Bell told us the staff also made it &#8220;difficult for people who were there to attend the event.&#8221; Riley explained that they wouldn&#8217;t let the attendees enter through the main entrance which she said they closed to people who were there for the event. She said the staff then made attendees &#8220;enter through a side door.&#8221;
Robertson said after the public library opened, the staff &#8220;made everyone stand out in the cold and rain.&#8221; She said when she left &#8220;there were hundreds of people and families lined up down the sidewalk, around the building and down the street standing in the cold.&#8221;
Bell told us they estimate that 700 people showed up for two book readings and said he wasn&#8217;t sure why the staff made the families stay out in the cold and rain until they all could filter into the conference room that held 300 people at a time.
The Daily Wire reached out to the Director of the Public library in Hendersonville, who told us that &#8220;with all the stuff that has gone back and forth&#8221; he would &#8220;not like to comment&#8221; and that he&#8217;s &#8220;going to stay out of it.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cowardice-kirk-cameron-slams-hollywood-studios-that-passed-on-lifemark-with-message-about-life">&#8216;Cowardice&#8217;: Kirk Cameron Slams Hollywood Studios That Passed On &#8216;Lifemark&#8217; With Message About &#8216;Life&#8217;</a>

Kirk Cameron, Riley Gaines And ‘Duck Dynasty’ Alum Missy Robertson Harassed By Library Staff At Faith-Based Story Hour

Kirk Cameron, Riley Gaines And 'Duck Dynasty' Alum Missy Robertson Harassed By Library Staff At Faith-Based Story Hour

Duck Dynasty

Lia Thomas

Library

Woke Culture

The Arkansas Senate advanced a bill on Tuesday that would designate drag shows as &#8220;adult-oriented businesses&#8221; to protect children and block minors from attending.
The legislation also proposes a ban on drag queen performances on public property in a move that would end Drag Queen Story Hour-like events at public libraries.
“I can’t think of anything good that can come from taking children and putting them in front of a bunch of grown men who are dressed like women,” <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/3829078-bill-to-classify-drag-shows-as-adult-oriented-businesses-clears-arkansas-senate/?utm_source=hill_app&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=share-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Republican state Sen. Gary Stubblefield, who introduced the legislation earlier this month.
The bill passed 29-6 along party lines in the Republican-controlled Senate. The proposal now moves to the Arkansas House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass under the 82-18 GOP majority.
Eric Reece, director of the Human Rights Campaign in Arkansas, condemned the legislation in a <a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/breaking-human-rights-campaign-condemns-arkansas-senate-for-advancing-bill-restricting-drag-performances" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
“Many drag performances – such as Drag Queen story hours at schools and libraries – are age appropriate for children and can teach important lessons like acceptance and openness,&#8221; Reece wrote.
&#8220;This is just another example of radical politicians in Arkansas spreading propaganda and creating more stigma, discrimination, and ultimately violence against transgender and non-binary people just to rile up extreme members of their base,&#8221; he added.
In addition to Arkansas, Republicans in Tennessee have <a href="https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Bill/SB0003.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> a similar drag queen ban that would prohibit minors from events and performances. The Volunteer State legislation also seeks to add drag performances to its list of adult-oriented businesses that would be unable to operate within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, or houses of worship.
The Tennessee bill would allow some exceptions, focusing specifically on performances that are sexual in nature, <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/tn-gop-files-bill-to-ban-drag-shows-that-are-sexual-in-nature-in-public-spaces-around-kids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
Oklahoma state lawmakers are also pursuing a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oklahoma-bill-fine-jail-drag-queens-20000-performing-minors-2023-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">law</a> against drag queen events involving minors that would fine offenders up to $20,000 and potentially jail those performing in front of children for up to two years.
West Virginia is also among the states reportedly <a href="https://www.lootpress.com/senator-proposes-bill-that-would-ban-minors-from-attending-drag-shows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering</a> similar bans.
The movement to enact anti-drag queen bills to prevent minors from attending such activities follows the growing popularity of Drag Queen Story Hour events held at libraries and schools across the nation. Past readings have included strong protests from parents and community members concerned over introducing children to sexualized content.
Actor Kirk Cameron recently added to the controversy after he proposed a values-based alternative to read his &#8220;As You Grow&#8221; children&#8217;s book at public libraries. He was reportedly turned down at many of the same public libraries that had previously held Drag Queen Story Hour events.
Cameron ultimately challenged what some describe as a double standard and secured readings in multiple library locations. Earlier this month, his publisher said nearly 1,000 people packed a Southern California library for Cameron&#8217;s event.
“All the forces of darkness are no match for moms and dads who are committed to God, and to their family, and to teaching their children,” Cameron told the crowd.

Drag Queen Story Hour

Arkansas Senate Bill Classifies Drag Shows As ‘Adult-Oriented Businesses’ In Effort To Protect Children

Arkansas

Politics

A drag queen story hour for children held inside the New York Public Library on Saturday night resulted in authorities arresting a man for shoving an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nypd">NYPD</a> detective monitoring the situation after clashing with several protestors boycotting the event.
Local independent media captured 28-year-old Chase Catapano of Manhattan shouting obscenities and making insulting gestures at a group of protesters known as the Guardians of Divinity inside the Midtown branch of the second-largest public library in the United States, which hosted the &#8220;Drag Story Hour&#8221; for children between the ages of three and nine years old.
&#8220;Get the f*** outta here! You&#8217;re a f***ing disgrace,&#8221; Catapano repeated a few times while ripping one of the male protestor&#8217;s signs that read &#8220;&#8216;leave our kids alone&#8221; from his hands before throwing the property back toward the crowd and walking in the opposite direction.
The crowd followed Catapano.
&#8220;Go ahead,&#8221; one protestor responded. &#8220;Take the first shot.&#8221;
At that point, the large plain-clothed New York Police Department detective intervened, pressing his hand against the small-statured agitator in the middle of the crowd of demonstrators.
Catapano quickly pushed the detective&#8217;s hand from him.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t give a f*** who you are,&#8221; Catapano can be heard saying in the video.
&#8220;You better watch who you&#8217;re touching,&#8221; one protestor said. &#8220;He&#8217;s an officer.&#8221;
&#8220;That&#8217;s an officer fool!&#8221; another protestor added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A man was arrested for assaulting a police officer at New York Public Library in Manhattan during a protest after a heated argument with protesters over Drag Story Hour <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/news?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#news</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nypd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nypd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nyc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nyc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Police?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Police</a> <a href="https://t.co/THSruI27l1">pic.twitter.com/THSruI27l1</a>
&mdash; NJEG Media (@NJEGmedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJEGmedia/status/1601701586731823104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Drag queen story hour events have recently popped up n bookstores and libraries nationwide, drawing staunch criticism from parents and protestors.
The Daily Mail <a href="https://archive.ph/LAhEj#selection-2925.207-2925.242">reported</a> parents and library staffers were huddled around the drag queens with objects barring the doors shut to keep the event space private, which was described to children as a &#8220;trans and gender non-conforming rainbow unicorn princex.&#8221;
Staffers wrote the event was to &#8220;celebrate gender diversity and all forms of difference to build empathy and give kids the confidence to express themselves, however they feel comfortable.&#8221;
Video footage showed one member of the Guardians of Divinity saying he was proud of shutting down the Drag Story Hour event early.
&#8220;They&#8217;re using our taxpayer dollars to fund this,&#8221; the unnamed man said, according to NJEG Media. &#8220;As taxpayers, we have a right to say where our money goes — this is a public library. We went in there, and we protest at the drag story, and we shut it down early,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It was a big success.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A protester speaks about why they are trying to shut down Drag Queen Story Hour at New York Public Library. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYC</a> <a href="https://t.co/DfOKmAeZI8">pic.twitter.com/DfOKmAeZI8</a>
&mdash; NJEG Media (@NJEGmedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJEGmedia/status/1601730648678756352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Police reported that Catapano was not attending the drag queen event or involved with the protestors.
Catapano appeared later in the video, struggling with officers arresting him in a stairwell until authorities put him in handcuffs and escorted him out of the building.
The Daily Mail reported police said Catapano faces charges of disorderly conduct, harassment, attempted assault, and obstructing governmental administration for attacking the on-duty officer.
Before Saturday&#8217;s run-in with law enforcement, the Daily Mail reported Catapano was cited for criminal contempt in the second degree after apparently disobeying a court order barring him from a property in Staten Island in 2018. Two years later, authorities arrested him again in Long Island for misdemeanor aggravated harassment.
Catapano has not received a court date yet.

public library in New York

NYPD Arrest Man Assaulting Undercover Cop After Altercation With Drag Queen Story Hour Protestors

Manhattan Man Arrested After Assaulting Undercover Cop During Altercation With Drag Queen Story Hour Protestors

New York City

Actor <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/cowardice-kirk-cameron-slams-hollywood-studios-that-passed-on-lifemark-with-message-about-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kirk Cameron</a> — and a proposed story hour event promoting his latest faith-based book — have been rejected by 50 public libraries so far, publisher Brave Books says.
According to a Fox News Digital <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/kirk-cameron-denied-story-hour-slot-public-libraries-faith-kids-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published early Wednesday morning, Cameron&#8217;s team reached out to dozens of public libraries in the hopes that some would be willing to host an event for his latest book, &#8220;As We Grow&#8221; — but at the time of publication, not a single one had returned a &#8220;yes.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kirk Cameron is denied story-hour slot by public libraries for his new faith-based kids book <a href="https://t.co/nJZUsl3Zob">https://t.co/nJZUsl3Zob</a>
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1600407296705716224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Among those rejecting <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/kirk-cameron-talks-lifemark-movie-that-proves-why-life-should-be-defended-at-all-costs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron&#8217;s</a> event was Rochambeau Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island — a library that hosts a recurring program for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are aged 12 or older called &#8220;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/385173210342395/385173227009060/?active_tab=about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queer Umbrella</a>.&#8221;
Queer Umbrella is billed as a &#8220;club and safe space where teens can learn, discuss and connect over queer history, art, community resources, and more.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/readers-pass/read-only-v2?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dwsite&amp;cid=dwplus&amp;mid=z&amp;xid=0" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">TIRED OF THE LEGACY MEDIA’S BIAS CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE AND OBSCURING THE TRUTH? JOIN US.</a>
A representative from the Rochambeau Public Library told Cameron that they did not have any interest in hosting his event.
&#8220;No, we will pass on having you run a program in our space,&#8221; the library said, adding, &#8220;We are a very queer-friendly library. Our messaging does not align &#8230; You can fill out the form to reserve space, to run the program in our space — but we won’t run your program.&#8221;
Brave Books also reached out to City Heights/Weingart Branch Library in San Diego — another library that regularly hosts <a href="https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/events/month/2022/11?program_types%5B478%5D=478&amp;branches%5B764%5D=764&amp;branches%5B416%5D=416&amp;branches%5B418%5D=418&amp;branches%5B419%5D=419&amp;branches%5B420%5D=420&amp;branches%5B421%5D=421&amp;branches%5B422%5D=422&amp;branches%5B796%5D=796&amp;branches%5B423%5D=423&amp;branches%5B424%5D=424&amp;branches%5B425%5D=425&amp;branches%5B426%5D=426&amp;branches%5B427%5D=427&amp;branches%5B428%5D=428&amp;branches%5B429%5D=429&amp;branches%5B430%5D=430&amp;branches%5B452%5D=452&amp;branches%5B431%5D=431&amp;branches%5B432%5D=432&amp;branches%5B433%5D=433&amp;branches%5B434%5D=434&amp;branches%5B435%5D=435&amp;branches%5B436%5D=436&amp;branches%5B437%5D=437&amp;branches%5B438%5D=438&amp;branches%5B439%5D=439&amp;branches%5B440%5D=440&amp;branches%5B441%5D=441&amp;branches%5B442%5D=442&amp;branches%5B443%5D=443&amp;branches%5B444%5D=444&amp;branches%5B445%5D=445&amp;branches%5B446%5D=446&amp;branches%5B447%5D=447&amp;branches%5B448%5D=448&amp;branches%5B449%5D=449&amp;branches%5B450%5D=450&amp;branches%5B451%5D=451&amp;branches%5B417%5D=417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ+ events</a> — and received a similar response.
&#8220;I don’t think that’s something that we would do,&#8221; someone from the library explained. &#8220;Because of how diverse our community is, I don’t know how many people you would get.&#8221;
After receiving dozens of similar responses, Cameron observed, &#8220;This is proof that more than ever, we are getting destroyed in the battle for the hearts and minds of our children &#8230; Publicly funded libraries are green-lighting ‘gender marker and name change clinics’ while denying a story time that would involve the reading of a book that teaches biblical wisdom. How much more clear can it get? We have to start fighting back, or we will lose our kids and this country.&#8221;
A number of people on Twitter made the same assessment that Cameron had.
&#8220;The day has officially come where drag queen book stories are encouraged but Kirk Cameron and his Christian books are banned &#8230;&#8221; Graham Allen tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The day has officially come where drag queen book story&#39;s are encouraged but Kirk Cameron and his Christian books are banned&#8230;.
&mdash; Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrahamAllen_1/status/1600513790226960386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Todd Starnes added, &#8220;50 taxpayer-funded libraries reject a story time for a faith-based book for kids written by Kirk Cameron. Those same libraries host queer story time hours. Gays are welcome, but God is not.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
50 taxpayer-funded libraries reject a story time for a faith-based book for kids written by Kirk Cameron. Those same libraries host queer story time hours. Gays are welcome, but God is not.
&mdash; toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) <a href="https://twitter.com/toddstarnes/status/1600523009927831552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

‘Our Messaging Does Not Align’: Dozens Of Public Libraries Reportedly Reject Kirk Cameron Story Hour Over Faith-Based Book

Dozens Of Public Libraries Reportedly Reject Kirk Cameron Story Hour Over Faith-Based Book

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans</a> in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tennessee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee</a> have introduced legislation aimed at protecting children from sexualized drag queen events.
Tennessee&#8217;s Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson last Wednesday introduced <a href="https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Bill/SB0003.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate Bill 3</a>, which would make it an offense for &#8220;adult cabaret performers&#8221; to hold shows on public property or at any location where it could be viewed by minors.
The bill defines these performances as “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, and male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest.&#8221; 
Effectively, the bill seeks to keep sexual performances away from kids. 
Any performer violating the potential law would face a class A misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of about a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Repeat offenders would face a class E felony, punishable by up to six years behind bars and a $3,000 fine.
“This bill is about protecting children,&#8221; Sen. Johnson told The Daily Wire. &#8220;It is dangerous to expose children to inappropriate sexually suggestive drag shows. Early exposure to sexually explicit content can have harmful effects on children’s developing brains. I am trying to prevent that with this bill.”
The measure seems to be, in part, a reaction to footage of sexualized, so-called &#8220;family friendly&#8221; drag queen events across the nation. In one <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dallas-gay-bars-drag-show-for-kids-obscene-sign-draws-angry-protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailywire.com/news/dallas-gay-bars-drag-show-for-kids-obscene-sign-draws-angry-protests&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1668705842025000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2s6bfHW5xKo8SBdWKn3guq">example</a>, a Dallas gay bar hosted a &#8220;Drag the Kids to Pride” event over the summer where drag queens were taking dollar bills from children, as you might see a stripper do. A sign at the show also read, “It’s not gonna lick itself!”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-makes-move-against-florida-bar-that-held-sexually-explicit-drag-shows-with-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-makes-move-against-florida-bar-that-held-sexually-explicit-drag-shows-with-kids&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1668705842025000&amp;usg=AOvVaw15KM4klPWak-48aMUz7WHl">Video</a> out of a bar in Florida over the summer showed sexualized drag queens entertaining young children, too. In one instance, a young girl is seen walking hand-in-hand with a drag queen with exposed breasts and a thong with dollar bills hanging out.
And <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1582819545441390592" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1582819545441390592&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1668705842025000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0m51SHlP7aMTFX8ZA5dV2I">footage</a> from an outdoor pride event in Columbia, South Carolina, shows a drag queen performing with a young girl in his arms on stage, showing the girl how to take dollar bill tips from a rowdy crowd.
Critics claim the bill potentially infringes on the First Amendment rights of drag queens and view the legislation as targeting the LGBT community. 
Human Rights Campaign legal director Sarah Warbelow <a href="https://www.advocate.com/law/2022/11/09/bills-introduced-tenn-ban-drag-shows-gender-affirming-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Advocate that SB3 amounts to intimidation of LGBTQ+ people and “perpetuates false, offensive narratives.&#8221;
&#8220;A drag performance at a bar for adults is very different from a drag story hour at a library; the first is theatrical entertainment and creative validation, while the second is about diversity and inclusion,&#8221; Warbelow said, seemingly suggesting kids are already effectively banned from sexualized drag show performances.
&#8220;This proposal as written should not impact drag story hours and similar events because they are not &#8216;prurient&#8217; performances, but it is evident that the legislation aims to mislead the public and intimidate LGBTQ+ people by perpetuating false, offensive narratives,&#8221; the director added.
Notably, Tennessee Republicans have also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-tennessee-introduces-legislation-to-ban-trans-treatments-for-minors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> Senate Bill 1, the Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act, which would prohibit doctors from prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and performing gender-related surgeries on minors for the purpose of medical transition.
SB3 is set to be debated during the next legislative session, which begins on January 10, and is likely to pass since Republicans hold super-majorities in both legislative chambers.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-tennessee-introduces-legislation-to-ban-trans-treatments-for-minors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee Introduces Legislation To Ban Trans Treatments For Minors</a>

Zeisloft – Texas Drag Queen Show Controversy

Tennessee GOP Moves To Protect Children From Sexualized Drag Queen Events

Republicans

Tennessee

Menu