Update, July 26, 2024, at 9:13 a.m. PT

The ACLU of Nevada announced its team was looking into the matter and would consider “every option available” to protect LGBTQ+ rights.

“Washoe County should be working to make sure everyone can express themselves safely, not pushing LGBTQ+ communities out of our public libraries because of the actions of a few extremists,” it said.

And Reno-based Our Center, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ community members, called on county staff to reverse their decision.

“We call upon County officials to reconsider their stance and take proactive measures to protect all community events from harassment and intimidation.”

But Republican activists, who had been pushing for such an outcome, had a muted response.

“I would categorize it as a wise decision,” said Bruce Parks, chair of the Washoe County GOP.

But Christopher Daniels was perhaps affected most of all. Daniels, who uses they/them pronouns, has been reading picture books to kids for the last six years as Miss Ginger Devine.

Daniels had been expecting the events to get canceled. But that didn’t make it any easier to take.

“When I heard the news, I was gutted,” they said.

Daniels added that losing the partnership that brought Drag Story Hour to libraries sends a message that LGBTQ+ people don’t belong in public spaces – and takes a valuable resource away from children who may be struggling with their own identities.

“To have a drag queen share messages of love and acceptance at a point in my life where I didn’t love myself and didn’t accept myself … would have done so much for me in my own journey of self-acceptance,” they said.

Now that Drag Story Hour has been forced out of libraries, Parks doesn’t plan to protest the events anymore. He insisted that his only problem with the event was its use of public resources.

In reality, Our Center picked up the tab.

Still, Parks and other local conservatives insisted the events be held in private venues – which is exactly what Daniels said they plan to do.

“If we can move forward, we’re gonna move forward,” they said. “And we’re gonna do even more.”

Organizers of the event are now looking for a new place to host a Drag Story Hour originally scheduled for September 8, 2024.

Original story below:

A spokesperson for the Washoe County Library System confirmed Wednesday that Drag Story Hour events have been canceled.

The decision comes after a librarian was injured when a self-described First Amendment auditor tried to force his way into a recent Drag Story Hour at the North Valleys Library.

In a letter to library staff, county manager Eric Brown said the Workplace Violence Committee unanimously voted to recommend the events be discontinued over concerns for staff safety.

“Despite ongoing efforts by library staff and volunteers to enhance safety measures, including increased security presence and de-escalation training, the committee concluded that the risks posed to county employees have reached an unacceptable level,” Brown wrote.

Brown cited ongoing protests against the events led by members of the Washoe County GOP as a concern.

Almost two years ago, far-right activist groups like Moms for Liberty pivoted from attacking public schools over mask mandates to targeting libraries. At around the same time, Washoe County Republicans started disrupting local library board meetings and Drag Story Hour events.

The decision came as a blow, according to Stacey Spain of Our Center.

“We are desperately disappointed,” she said.

Our Center, a Reno nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ residents, hosted the events in partnership with the library and paid for the drag performers.

Spain said that while they could find another venue for the events, it’s still a loss to the community.

“Separate is not equal,” she said. “The fact that we could produce Drag Story Hour at a venue that is not the library does not mean that it will have the same effect as having the program in the library, with other programs that celebrate other kinds of diversity.”

The next Drag Story Hour was scheduled as part of Northern Nevada Pride on Sept. 8, at the South Valleys Library.

But while the event series is canceled for now, the library system says it remains committed to working with Our Center and other LGBTQ+ groups.

The Nevada Independent is a news partner of KUNR. View the original publication of this story, reported by KUNR's Bert Johnson on July 25, 2024.