Fighting breaks out during discussion on closure of site of cancelled drag story hour and alleged staff harassment
H. Rose Schneider, Times Union
Warren County sheriff’s deputies were called to the Rockwell Falls Public Library Tuesday night following what other media outlets described as a heated board meeting in which punches were thrown.
It’s the latest controversy involving the Adirondack community’s public library, which remains closed after staff abruptly quit two months ago, citing harassment following some outcry over a drag story hour.
Warren County Undersheriff Terry Comeau confirmed deputies were dispatched to the library on Main Street in Lake Luzerne. A meeting discussing the library’s reopening was scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday. CBS6 News reported that meeting turned violent, sharing video in which a crowd can be heard saying someone hit one or two people before a sheriff’s deputy arrives. Comeau said he had no further information to disclose at this time.
The library has been closed since late September after the director and all but one staff member abruptly resigned. Library Director Courtney Keir previously said at a board meeting harassment of staff had “fallen on deaf ears” when reported to the library board. Since then, the Southern Adirondack Library System announced three of the library trustee seats are vacant — leaving the board without a quorum and effectively unable to function.
The resignations and vacancies followed a heated meeting in April over the library hosting a drag story hour, with a majority of attendees in opposition and saying it would lead to children becoming gay or transgender. The emergency meeting had been scheduled to accept the sudden resignation of the board president and choose short-term leaders. By June, the postponed story hour was canceled.
The difficulties in Lake Luzerne occur as Adirondack Park libraries change with the needs of their communities.
It is so very sad that uninformed, narrow-minded people like those cited in the article still exist in the twenty-first century. Saying that a drag story hour “would lead to children becoming gay or transgender” is the same thing as saying that allowing children to watch “Law and Order” will turn them into murderers. Of course, their point of view also makes it quite obvious that feel that the gay and transgender individuals in our communities are somehow “less” than those who are not.
Kudos to the staff for standing up for what they believe in!
There is definitely an element of “social contagion” to transgenderism, etc., much like there was with eating disorders. Personally, I DID develop an eating disorder, and am not trying to trivialize the struggles of the youth. In fact, I am fairly certain that I would have been quite susceptible to trans ideology if it had been around when I was younger. I empathize with people who are struggling. But I also see no reason to force these ideas and role models into the minds of young and impressionable children. Doing so is asking for trouble down the road. Adults can choose whatever lifestyle they wish, no problem! Please leave the children out of it.
Wow. “Social contagion?” Surely you jest. Show me one instance of this contagion as a result of a story hour.
Better not watch any violent films or read any violent stories or play any violent games.
Drag Queen story hour. My only comment is why?
This kind of ignorance and hatred of the other is why we have people like Stefanik and Trump threatening our very democracy!