SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, Calif. — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang on Wednesday in response to a Drag Queen Storytime event sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath being canceled at the San Fernando Library due to protests by far-right extremists.
“2023 has seen a marked increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence. Already this year, we have seen fistfights in Glendale, school board meetings filled with hate speech, and open and affirming churches vandalized for welcoming LGBTQ+ people. What happened on Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley is just the latest in a continued pattern of harassment and intimidation by far-right extremists. What should have been a fun and engaging event for children of all ages at the San Fernando Library instead became an all-too-familiar scene of far-right protestors — who claim to be protecting children — shouting obscenities, threatening violence, and impeding library staff and patrons from entering the building. Drag Queen Storytimes are beloved community events that encourage learning and reading comprehension in a fun environment. The queen who was to lead yesterday’s event, Pickle, is a respected drag artist and community member recently named West Hollywood’s Drag Laureate. Although the event could not proceed, we are grateful to those who ensured her safety, as well as the safety of the families present who had planned to attend. We are also grateful to Supervisor Horvath for her support for this event and for her ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community in her district and beyond. We will not back down from our fight to build a just and fully equal world for all LGBTQ+ people. The majority of Americans — particularly Californians — believe that their LGBTQ+ friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers should be treated with dignity and respect. These tactics by far-right extremists will not succeed, and we will not be cowed.”
“2023 has seen a marked increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence. Already this year, we have seen fistfights in Glendale, school board meetings filled with hate speech, and open and affirming churches vandalized for welcoming LGBTQ+ people. What happened on Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley is just the latest in a continued pattern of harassment and intimidation by far-right extremists.
What should have been a fun and engaging event for children of all ages at the San Fernando Library instead became an all-too-familiar scene of far-right protestors — who claim to be protecting children — shouting obscenities, threatening violence, and impeding library staff and patrons from entering the building.
Drag Queen Storytimes are beloved community events that encourage learning and reading comprehension in a fun environment. The queen who was to lead yesterday’s event, Pickle, is a respected drag artist and community member recently named West Hollywood’s Drag Laureate. Although the event could not proceed, we are grateful to those who ensured her safety, as well as the safety of the families present who had planned to attend. We are also grateful to Supervisor Horvath for her support for this event and for her ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community in her district and beyond.
We will not back down from our fight to build a just and fully equal world for all LGBTQ+ people. The majority of Americans — particularly Californians — believe that their LGBTQ+ friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers should be treated with dignity and respect. These tactics by far-right extremists will not succeed, and we will not be cowed.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
