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Woodstock Library to consider requests to cancel Drag Story Time and Sparkle Party

Jun 14, 2023 12:51 pm

William J. Kemble reports for the Daily Freeman that on June 15 Woodstock Library board members will consider three requests to have the Drag Story Time and Sparkle Party cancelled from a planned show June 17 on the facility’s lawn. Two Woodstock residents and one person in Shandaken made the complaints. Board President Jeffrey Collins said, “The tone and tenor (were) that … they do not believe it’s appropriate for us to have events that do not agree with their beliefs that there are only two genders and God only made two genders and we shouldn’t introduce kids to the possibility of a spectrum of genders.... That’s putting it as mildly and generically as I can do it. It was a diatribe against LGBT inclusion.” The event is part of National Pride Month. Library Director Ivy Gocker said, “This has been in the works for several months and it was in response to members of the community in person and social media asking us at the library why we haven’t done one yet given how popular they are." Performers Amber Guesa and Katarina Mirage will be at the event on the themes of “supporting your community the way you wish to be supported” and spreading “love, kindness and acceptance.” Collins said, “Given the context of the nation it’s not necessarily unexpected but it’s the first time this has ever happened as far as I know at the library.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.