BETHLEHEM — The entrance to the Bethlehem Public Library was surrounded by rainbows Thursday as parents, children and other attendees headed inside for the library’s drag story hour.
Wearing a yellow vinyl dress resembling a school bus, drag performer Noelle Diamond began the story hour with a sing-along of “The Wheels on the Bus,” before reading a book about princesses who play sports, are messy and don’t like pink.
Backlash grew in the weeks leading up to the story hour, with some suggesting it would sexualize children. On Monday, a crowd of around 60 people speaking both for and against the event gathered at the library’s board of trustees meeting. So on Thursday, a crowd holding Progress Pride flags and signs gathered to welcome people inside. There were, however, some people in attendance opposed to the library’s decision to hold the event.
“I organized this not as a counter-protest, but as safe passage to people,” said supporter Jennifer Cardamone.
Cardamone, who was attending the event with her daughter, her girlfriend, Rev. Molly Dowell Baum, and her girlfriend’s children, said she posted on Facebook asking for support of the event.
“There are other families here that look like ours,” she said. “However, they don’t celebrate us. They don’t incorporate us into the community.”
Lauren Jack and Kate Okeeffe both attended in support after seeing opposition spread on area Facebook groups.
“If no one had talked about it or tried to organize against it, I feel like it would just be a normal library event,” Jack said.
While the story hour was a free event, the library quickly ran out of space in its community room, which can seat up to 95. A little under 200 people were there, with about half waiting outside. Some who couldn’t get inside tried to film from the doorway until it was closed by staff. Diamond led more sing-alongs and read from “Not All…
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