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A class with children’s stories at a California library was interrupted by several members of the Proud Boys on Saturday, prompting local authorities to launch a hate crime investigation as LGBTQ and anti-extremism advocates warn that such threats from far-right extremists are mounting.
About 25 miles from San Francisco across the East Bay, the San Lorenzo Library hosted the Drag Queen Story Hour, when a group of five men interrupted the event and began throwing homophobic and transphobic insults at those present, including a drag artist known as Panda Dulce, officials said. The Drag Queen Story Hour, where performers read children’s books, is held in a section of the library where any member of the community can hold a meeting, according to Lt. Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
“The men have been described as extremely aggressive with threatening violent behavior that makes people fear for their safety,” Kelly said in a statement. In addition to investigating hate crimes, authorities have also launched an investigation into whether Proud Boys’ actions “irritate or harass children,” in violation of the penal code.
Detectives were still investigating on Monday. They were expected to hand over all evidence to the district attorney, who will determine whether charges of hate crimes should be brought against the Proud Boys, a far-right group with a history of violence.
Because the Gulf region is the epicenter of the Pride movement, LGBTQ events often go smoothly and “go smoothly,” Kelly told The Washington Post on Monday.
“As for hatred and being a focal point, I haven’t seen that in years. This is something new, “Kelly said. He also noted that members of the Proud Boys who violated Saturday’s reading event are not considered to be from the San Lorenzo community.
“We don’t have right-wing extremist groups out in the open in the Gulf region so much,” he said. “We believe there is a group affiliated in San Mateo County, so we believe these people crossed the bay for this event.
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Kelly said investigators believe the confrontation was sparked by the Libs of TikTok Twitter account, which trafficked anti-LGBTQ sentiment and spread inflammatory stories in the right-wing media.
Across the country, extremist groups with far-right or white ideologies are increasingly uniting around LGBTQ-targeted events and individuals, seeking to justify their attacks with false allegations that gays and transgender people – and sometimes considered ideological opponents – persecute children. .
Dulce, one of the co-founders of the Drag Queen Story Hour program, said the men paraded with white hand gestures and had “flaming cameras”.
Yesterday, the Proud Boys stormed a children’s story event in San Lorenzo. It was held from the public library and drag queen Panda Dulce in the bay area. Tonight I sat down with Panda to talk about the experience and will share the story tonight at 11 on @ abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/L8GTUupLwn
– Tim Jones (@tim_johns_) June 13, 2022
“They said, ‘Who brought the trance?’ This is a groomer. This is a pedophile. Why are you taking your children to this event? ”Dulcie said in an interview with KGO-TV in San Francisco.
On the same day in Idaho, police arrested 31 men allegedly linked to the Patriot Front white group on charges of plotting to revolt at a local Pride event. Researchers of extremism say that hate groups that target LGBTQ-friendly organizations or individuals are motivated by often overlapping beliefs in hyper-masculinity and archaic gender roles, fear of people who are different, and incorrect queer groups. from beliefs they gain power and privileges at their expense.
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In the last two years, conservative activists and lawmakers have increasingly fought for transgender and LGBTQ inclusion and visibility in sports for girls, school programs and public libraries.
In recent years, libraries in the United States have seen a sharp increase in attacks and protests against inclusive reading or book lists, while the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Office has seen an overall increase in targeting libraries in general, said Emily Knox. , who teaches at the University of Illinois School of Information Science and is the editor of the ALA magazine on intellectual freedom and confidentiality.
Libraries are also one of the few public figures in local government where people feel they can be heard, Knox said. Most people don’t go to city council meetings, Knox said, but many go to the library.
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History classes have long been a major part of public library programming designed to promote literacy and engage young readers, although the Drag Queen Story Hour program is organized in local chapters and hosted by a local library.
Jonathan Hamilt, executive director of Drag Queen Story Hour, said the program received a strong positive response when it began in 2015, as it brings fun and glamor to the time of children’s stories, although it has always been repulsed by some conservatives. groups.
Over the years, however, Hamilt said, repulsion has turned into hatred and is now more focused on drag culture instead of gay people in general.
“With right-wing conservatives and Republican groups, outspokenly saying they don’t like gays sounds homophobic. He doesn’t play well, “he said. The pursuit of the culture of pulling provides a cover for the argument that reading drag queens to children is inappropriate or unfavorable.
Contrary to what opponents of Drag Queen Story Hour claim, Hamilt said, the group is not trying to convince or “indoctrinate” anyone. It exists for people who want and need it, he said.
“Our program is for queer families and their allies,” he said. “It’s not our job to teach people [about] the difference between gender and gender, or to make people like us. People who are against us, no matter how much we explain what we do, they will not understand or hear us. “
Dulce, the drag artist who was allegedly harassed by the Proud Boys at the San Lorenzo Library, told KGO that there was no reason to fear or hate them.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Dulcie said. “I just want to tell you a story. It is.”
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