LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A planned “Drag Queen Story Hour” at a library in Pennsylvania that had faced opposition was canceled on Saturday after a suspicious package was discovered in the building and threats led to the evacuation of two blocks, according to authorities.
Law enforcement evacuated the Lancaster Public Library after finding the package. A state police bomb squad later cleared the library, but police stated that they were still investigating “additional reported threats.” Residents in the affected area were instructed to evacuate, but this order was lifted several hours later.
A city spokesperson later informed LancasterOnline that a dog had indicated the presence of the package, but it was later determined to be “harmless”. However, the spokesperson added that “further written threats via email” were received.
Lancaster Pride, a nonprofit celebrating the town’s LGBTQ+ community, posted on social media that the “Drag Story Hour with Miss Amie” was called off, emphasizing that “the safety and well-being of our community are of utmost importance to us.”
The planned story hour had faced strong opposition from some residents during a lengthy county commissioners meeting on Wednesday. This was the second meeting with resident protests after Republican commissioners criticized the event as inappropriate, as reported by LancasterOnline.
Commissioner Josh Parsons expressed the view that libraries should be places where kids can read and learn safely, not venues for promoting woke ideology. Commissioner Ray D’Agostino suggested a connection between children feeling more “confused, anxious and stressed” than ever and attempts to introduce adult-themed issues at a young age. A sizable number of people attended a prayer vigil near the library on Friday night in opposition to the event.
Both Parsons and D’Agostino issued statements on Saturday afternoon condemning the reported threats and urging the prosecution of those responsible, regardless of their motives, as reported by LancasterOnline.
“Threats of violence have no place in our debates,” Parsons stated.
Lissa Holland, the library’s executive director, expressed her sadness, disappointment, and anger 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 encouraged 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 highlighted “backlash” in a Facebook post earlier this month and condemned what it described as “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 stated. The performer, they noted, “is a professional who has conducted 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 going to dress up 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,” according to LancasterOnline.
“It just pains me 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.”
