{"id":1627515,"date":"2022-08-31T03:18:04","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T07:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1627515"},"modified":"2022-08-31T03:23:23","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T07:23:23","slug":"so-excited-emails-show-local-librarians-recruiting-drag-performers-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/so-excited-emails-show-local-librarians-recruiting-drag-performers-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018So Excited\u2019: Emails Show Local Librarians Recruiting Drag Performers For Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fso-excited-emails-show-local-librarians-recruiting-drag-performers-for-kids%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1627515&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Emails from librarians who brought cross-dressing performers to Republican-leaning Saint Louis suburbs this summer illustrate how easy it is for a few public employees to hijack tax-funded resources to promote sexual behaviors to children.<\/p>\n<p>Emails obtained by The Federalist show just a few local librarians in Collinsville and Glen Carbon, Illinois, working with other librarians to use their public positions to promote personal causes. The Collinsville and Glen Carbon Centennial public libraries this summer featured \u201cdrag queen storytime\u201d events on June 3, 7, and 21 to promote homosexual \u201cPride Month.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>National surveys show the profession is overwhelmingly white and female \u2014 87 and 81 percent, respectively, in a 2014 American Library Association (ALA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slj.com\/story\/survey-reveals-demographic-of-slj-reviewers\">survey<\/a>. That\u2019s the same demographic becoming Democrats\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/white-house\/587452-the-party-of-karens-the-new-democratic-party-alienates-non-white-voters\/\">most significant voting bloc<\/a> and often the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/04\/12\/while-everyone-else-is-kicking-themselves-for-voting-for-biden-college-educated-women-are-doubling-down\/\">most likely<\/a> to push identity politics, often for personal psychological reasons.<\/p>\n<p>While the ALA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theamericanconservative.com\/ala-guide-to-grooming-young-readers\/\">recently urged<\/a> librarians whose communities don\u2019t want public institutions to push sexual information on kids to \u201csneak\u201d LGBT materials in, these librarians wanted to go further. They wanted more than a Pride Month display that merely puts sex books at toddlers\u2019 eye level. They wanted drag shows for kids.<\/p>\n<h2>Librarians All-In for Exposing Kids<\/h2>\n<p>The obtained emails indicate professional librarians\u2019 networks enthusiastically assisted with creating and promoting these events. February 2022 emails The Federalist obtained through an open-records request in June show Glen Carbon youth librarian Aimee Villet asking Saint Louis librarians to recommend drag performers to hire: \u201c[W]ould love to offer a Drag Queen storytime at our library,\u201d Villet wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The emails show Villet also wrote seeking drag performer names from Library Director Ashley Stewart in nearby Caseyville, Illinois, which featured a drag performance last year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"440\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-1.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-1-232x300-1.jpg 232w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The response Stewart sent back wasn\u2019t shown in the records returned, but a follow-up from Villet was. It shows the librarians expected negative feedback from local taxpayers but wouldn\u2019t allow it to affect their plans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"477\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-2.jpg 477w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-2-204x300-1.jpg 204w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cLGBTQIA+ programming for kids always leads to complaints,\u201d Villet acknowledged. But, as she and Collinsville children\u2019s librarian Sam Camero agreed in other emails, they were \u201cprepared for hard conversations,\u201d as Villet put it to Camero on May 18.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"384\" height=\"762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VILLETT-TO-CAMERO.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VILLETT-TO-CAMERO.jpg 384w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VILLETT-TO-CAMERO-151x300.jpg 151w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Villet ultimately obtained a link to drag performer Maxi Glamour\u2019s contact page from Saint Louis Public Library Youth Services Manager Joe Monahan, the emails show. The performer\u2019s IMDB page says he also goes by Max Wright. Villet booked Wright for two events in the Glen Carbon Centennial Library this summer \u2014 one for children and one for adults only.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to do something special this year [for Pride Month] beyond our usual displays and passive programs,\u201d Villet told Wright.<\/p>\n<p>Glen Carbon Library Director Christine Gerrish told The Federalist the library paid Wright $300 for the two events.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018So Excited\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>The emails show multiple librarians expressing enthusiasm and anticipation for Wright\u2019s drag performance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was so excited when Aimee brought up the idea to have you come to our library,\u201d Glen Carbon librarian Betsye Stinson wrote on March 8 to the drag performer. She suggested that his adults-only event at the Glen Carbon library promote activist causes by sharing \u201cmore about the history of Drag in STL [Saint Louis], hearing about your personal interest, and providing insight on how to be a better ally and how to support and uplift marginalized QTPOC members in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"417\" height=\"719\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-3.jpg 417w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Villett-3-174x300.jpg 174w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The like-minded librarians eagerly plotted their 2022 LGBT programming and especially the drag storytime together, according to the emails. Librarians from different towns eagerly offered to help promote each others\u2019 LGBT events and offered emotional as well as strategic support for the community backlash they all expected.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"916\" height=\"741\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail5-LibrariansPartneringForPRomotion.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail5-LibrariansPartneringForPRomotion.jpg 916w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail5-LibrariansPartneringForPRomotion-300x243-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail5-LibrariansPartneringForPRomotion-768x621-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The librarians also coordinated on responding to community objections to the events once they were announced, the emails show. The executive director of Collinsville\u2019s public libraries, Kyla Waltermire, reached out to nearby Glen Carbon Library Director Christine Gerrish after local Republican politician Kurt Prenzler objected to their drag events on his email list. They decided not to publicly respond.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail7-CollinsvilleCoordinationWithGlenCarbonLibrarian.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail7-CollinsvilleCoordinationWithGlenCarbonLibrarian.jpg 912w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail7-CollinsvilleCoordinationWithGlenCarbonLibrarian-300x248-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail7-CollinsvilleCoordinationWithGlenCarbonLibrarian-768x635-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Drag Spreads One Suburb Over<\/h2>\n<p>In Collinsville, Waltermire started preparing for her library\u2019s separate summer drag performance in February, the emails show. Waltermire uses the salutation \u201cMx\u201d and specifies the pronouns \u201cshe\/her\u201d in her email signature. Collinsville is another Republican-leaning suburb of Saint Louis.<\/p>\n<p>On Valentine\u2019s Day, Waltermire also emailed Caseyville library director Stewart. In 2021, Caseyville featured a drag storytime for kids by a cross-dresser with the stage name Chasity Valentino. In the emails, the two discuss how to \u201ccoordinate\u201d and \u201ccross promote\u201d the drag programming.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d like to pick your brain about what you learned from Caseyville\u2019s experience \u2013 what to plan for, how to respond to critics, etc,\u201d Waltermire wrote Stewart.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"299\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail1-Coordination-To-Promote-1024x299-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail1-Coordination-To-Promote-1024x299-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail1-Coordination-To-Promote-300x88.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail1-Coordination-To-Promote-768x224-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail1-Coordination-To-Promote.jpg 1096w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail2-HelpingOtherLibrariesDoDQSHs-1024x582-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail2-HelpingOtherLibrariesDoDQSHs-1024x582-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail2-HelpingOtherLibrariesDoDQSHs-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail2-HelpingOtherLibrariesDoDQSHs-768x437-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail2-HelpingOtherLibrariesDoDQSHs.jpg 1196w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some of the Caseyville librarians \u201care members of the LGBTQ+ community and they would love to help in ANY way with flyers, materials, book recommendations, resources, community partners, etc.,\u201d Stewart wrote Gerrish. \u201c\u2026As a director, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you begin to receive negative feedback and would like some assistance and go-to responses.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gerrish-and-Stewart.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278303\" width=\"365\" height=\"722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gerrish-and-Stewart.jpg 365w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gerrish-and-Stewart-152x300.jpg 152w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thanks to the recommendations from Caseyville\u2019s Stewart, Collinsville also featured Valentino. Valentino was initially scheduled for an in-person performance in Collinsville but ultimately decided to read virtually, alleging concerns about safety once his performance became known in the local community. <\/p>\n<h2>More Public Employees Help Out<\/h2>\n<p>The emails also show how LGBT clubs in local public schools function as political outposts to help recruit volunteers and audience members for sexually charged events such as drag storytime.<\/p>\n<p>On May 6, Waltermire wrote special education teacher Cathy Kulupka, the gay-straight club sponsor at Collinsville High School, to say, \u201cBased on how a similar event at the Caseyville Public Library was received last year, we are anticipating protesters\u201d at their June 3 drag show. \u201cWould the GSA be able to support this program by attending the storytime and\/or by assisting at the library\u2019s entrances to welcome and direct families to the storytime?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail3-RecruitingGSAhelp-1024x300-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail3-RecruitingGSAhelp-1024x300-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail3-RecruitingGSAhelp-300x88.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail3-RecruitingGSAhelp-768x225-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail3-RecruitingGSAhelp.jpg 1052w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kulupka wrote back less than an hour later, \u201cAbsolutely!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet me talk to my students more and see, but I have mentioned it and they are down\u2026I will prep them on how to behave and to not react to protesters\u2026we can meet and discuss details further. Sidenote: I am super excited about this!\u201d Kulupka wrote Waltermire on May 9 after further back and forth.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail4-RecruitingGSAhelp2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail4-RecruitingGSAhelp2.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail4-RecruitingGSAhelp2-300x239-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail4-RecruitingGSAhelp2-768x613-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Camero, whose work email signature tells people to use plural, third-person pronouns for her as well as the gender-queer salutation \u201cMx,\u201d promoted Collinsville\u2019s drag storytime to multiple organizations and contacts. In one email, Camero refers to the event as \u201cmy Drag Queen Story Time program\u201d and comments that she is \u201creally excited, and I want to get the word out!\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail9-Collinsville-Librarian-Promotes-on-Personal-Facebook-1024x272-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail9-Collinsville-Librarian-Promotes-on-Personal-Facebook-1024x272-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail9-Collinsville-Librarian-Promotes-on-Personal-Facebook-300x80.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail9-Collinsville-Librarian-Promotes-on-Personal-Facebook-768x204-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail9-Collinsville-Librarian-Promotes-on-Personal-Facebook.jpg 1136w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another email from Camero to a librarian about a half hour away at Hayner Public Library in Alton, Illinois, invites the fellow librarian to the event as a personal matter.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"643\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail10-Collinsville-Librarian-Asks-Other-Librarians-to-Come-1024x643-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail10-Collinsville-Librarian-Asks-Other-Librarians-to-Come-1024x643-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail10-Collinsville-Librarian-Asks-Other-Librarians-to-Come-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail10-Collinsville-Librarian-Asks-Other-Librarians-to-Come-768x482-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail10-Collinsville-Librarian-Asks-Other-Librarians-to-Come.jpg 1179w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI hope they\u2019ll be able to get enough info and will see the support and be able to convince their director to let them try a DQST too,\u201d Camero writes in another email redacted so as to obscure what other librarians she appears to be encouraging to host more drag performances.<\/p>\n<p>Camero also emailed local LGBT organizations to recruit attendees, enabling the librarians to tell library trustees and others<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/?p=278275\"> including The Federalist <\/a>that there was a high interest in the program as measured by very strong attendance compared to other library programs. The emails show she reached out both to the Metro Trans Umbrella Group of Saint Louis, which partners with abortion industry giant Planned Parenthood to distribute disability-producing opposite-sex hormones, and the Southwest Illinois chapter of TransParentUSA to ask their members to come to Collinsville\u2019s library drag performance. Both organizations are located outside Collinsville.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail11-Collinsville-Childrens-Librarian-Asks-Trannies-to-Come-1-1024x626-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278300\" width=\"905\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail11-Collinsville-Childrens-Librarian-Asks-Trannies-to-Come-1-1024x626-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail11-Collinsville-Childrens-Librarian-Asks-Trannies-to-Come-1-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail11-Collinsville-Childrens-Librarian-Asks-Trannies-to-Come-1-768x469-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail11-Collinsville-Childrens-Librarian-Asks-Trannies-to-Come-1.jpg 1142w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>While a number of the public employees involved appear to have personal motivations for pushing these performances, they are a divisive issue even among people who support LGBT behaviors. Prenzler told The Federalist that his friend, a gay man who married his partner two years ago, signed <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/?p=278275\">a local referendum that successfully put<\/a> the drag shows onto November\u2019s ballots in Glen Carbon: \u201cHis point was, this is not for kids and it brings shame on the gay community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two lesbians joined several other locals this summer in going door to door to collect signatures to put the referendum on ballots, Prenzler, chairman of surrounding Madison County, also said: \u201cBoth of them thought this was outrageous, it was inappropriate.\u201d While collecting some 200 signatures for the initiative, Prenzler said he noticed that the majority of those who answered their doors had not heard about the local drag events even though they were extremely controversial locally.<\/p>\n<h2>Emails Show Multiple Complaints from Locals<\/h2>\n<p>The Federalist asked for all Glen Carbon library records containing the terms \u201cMaxi Glamour,\u201d \u201cMax Wright,\u201d \u201cdrag queen,\u201d \u201cand\/or the dates \u2018June 7\u2019 and \u2018June 21\u2019 over the last six months; and any other reasonably available library records from the last six months that contain the terms \u2018Maxi Glamour\u2019 and\/or \u2018Max Wright.\u2019\u201d Gerrish, Glen Carbon\u2019s library director, is responsible for collecting and disclosing the records requested by the public about her own and her staff\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n<p>It appears from the records that she allowed library staff to select the records disclosed from their work email accounts in response to the requested open-records search. This setup effectively allows public employees to oversee legally mandated disclosures of their own activities, a clear conflict of interest.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/GERRISH-TO-ALL-STAFF-1024x752-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/GERRISH-TO-ALL-STAFF-1024x752-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/GERRISH-TO-ALL-STAFF-300x220-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/GERRISH-TO-ALL-STAFF-768x564-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/GERRISH-TO-ALL-STAFF.jpg 1084w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>A Federalist review of the records Gerrish returned <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/?p=278275\">also shows<\/a> both multiple complaints and positive notes about the drag show from locals. Some complaints include pictures of Wright\u2019s social media pages where he displays a sex toy, nudity, and illicit drug use as well as making profane comments about Christianity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, after researching this person further, I discovered there is also a video on Maxi Glamour\u2019s social media of Maxi bathing while completely nude with genitalia exposed. This post was from January 2022,\u201d wrote one alarmed community member to Villet in May.<\/p>\n<p>When The Federalist asked Gerrish what her line would be for deciding whether specific content was too risqu\u00e9 for sponsoring with public resources, she responded, \u201cPersonally I generally go by PG-13 and milder. This performer is providing that tomorrow night and much milder for the children.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Trustees Refuse to Stop Drag Shows for Kids<\/h2>\n<p>The emails also show members of both libraries\u2019 boards of trustees discussing community reactions to the event. In Collinsville, Waltermire sent trustees a list of talking points about the event in response to community backlash.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"913\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail8-CollinsvilleLibrarian-To-Trustees-May-26.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail8-CollinsvilleLibrarian-To-Trustees-May-26.jpg 913w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail8-CollinsvilleLibrarian-To-Trustees-May-26-300x281-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail8-CollinsvilleLibrarian-To-Trustees-May-26-768x718-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>An email from Collinsville library board Vice President Laura Gottschalk to Waltermire includes screenshots from the Collinsville mayor\u2019s wife, Diane Miller, expressing concerns about the drag show: \u201cI cannot fathom you would have voted to allow this,\u201d Miller texts Gottschalk. Later in the conversation, Miller appears to relent a bit, texting Gottschalk, \u201cI agree. Parents should decide on this.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail13-Mayors-wife-concerned-screenshots-passed-to-LD-1024x665-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278294\" width=\"820\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail13-Mayors-wife-concerned-screenshots-passed-to-LD-1024x665-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail13-Mayors-wife-concerned-screenshots-passed-to-LD-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail13-Mayors-wife-concerned-screenshots-passed-to-LD-768x499-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail13-Mayors-wife-concerned-screenshots-passed-to-LD.jpg 1129w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail14-Mayors-wife-concerned3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278295\" width=\"816\" height=\"841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail14-Mayors-wife-concerned3.jpg 739w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/CollinsvilleEmail14-Mayors-wife-concerned3-291x300-1.jpg 291w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Glen Carbon Board Vice President Marcella Starck and Trustee Kevin Tellor forwarded to Gerrish both positive and negative emails they received from local residents, and Gerrish did the same with the entire board, at their request.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-1-1024x573-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-1-1024x573-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-1-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-1-768x430-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-1.jpg 1121w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-2-1024x713-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-278293\" width=\"915\" height=\"637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-2-1024x713-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-2-300x209-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-2-768x535-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Glen-Carbon-Trustees-and-Board-2.jpg 1115w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The emails also show the trustees were aware before the program occurred of the drag performer\u2019s public pornographic materials available to anyone who searched for his stage name. Tellor forwarded to Gerrish the below email that included explicit photos backing up the community member\u2019s claims. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Regardless of this foreknowledge, <a href=\"https:\/\/glencarbonlibrary.org\/library-board-staff-members\/\">the Glen Carbon Centennial Library trustees<\/a> did not step in to stop the in-person drag programs. The Collinsville trustees also allowed the drag performer to read to children from their library\u2019s online platform and be promoted under their library\u2019s name all over town and the Saint Louis suburbs.<\/p>\n<p>Two of Glen Carbon\u2019s seven library trustees are up for re-election in April 2023. Four of the seven Collinsville <a href=\"https:\/\/mvld.org\/board\">library trustees<\/a> are also.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">\n  Joy Pullmann is executive editor of The Federalist, a happy wife, and the mother of six children. <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/iX1dsZnedpJjPMoP7\">Sign up here to get early access<\/a> to her next ebook, &#8220;101 Strategies For Living Well Amid Inflation.&#8221; Her bestselling ebook is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/payhip.com\/b\/R1JL\">Classic Books for Young Children<\/a>.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Pullmann identifies as native American and gender natural. She is also the author of &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Education-Invasion-Parents-Control-American\/dp\/1594038813\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1486730068&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=education+invasion\">The Education Invasion: How Common Core Fights Parents for Control of American Kids<\/a>,&#8221; from Encounter Books. In 2013-14 she won a Robert Novak journalism fellowship for in-depth reporting on Common Core national education mandates. <\/p>\n<p>Joy is a grateful graduate of the Hillsdale College honors and journalism programs.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-comments mt-30 mt-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-comments-container d-flex flex-column align-items-center py-30\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"110\" height=\"106\" src=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fdrlst-mark.svg\" class=\"img-fluid mb-20\" alt=\"The Federalist logo eagle mark\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p>Unlock commenting by joining the Federalist Community.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/plans\/pricing\/\" class=\"btn btn-on-white\">Subscribe<\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Emails from librarians who brought cross-dressing performers to Republican-leaning Saint Louis suburbs this summer illustrate how easy it is for a few public employees to hijack tax-funded resources to promote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":519,"featured_media":1627517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1627515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/519"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1627515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1627515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1627517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1627515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1627515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1627515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}