The Thomaston Public Library is “so excited” to host a “drag story time and rainbow crafternoon” event on October 19, aimed at children in collaboration with Out Maine, an LGBTQ non-profit that promotes gender ideology to children.
The taxpayer-funded library announced its excitement via Facebook, stating that the event will take place from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., but provided few details on what they termed an “epic afternoon.”
Notably, the library appeared reluctant to publicly release the location, claiming that it would be held in Thomaston, but stating that the specific address would only be provided upon registering for the event.
The event does appear on the calendar of upcoming events being held at the library, and the Maine Wire can independently confirm that the library is both hosting and sponsoring the event.
Out Maine, which distributes pro-transgender books to children as young as kindergarten, posted its own advertisement for the event, offering a few more details.
Their post makes it clear that the event is directed at “youth and their families.” They clarify that a Maine-based drag queen will be reading children’s books aloud, after which children will participate in arts and crafts.
It is not clear what books the drag performer will read during the event. Out Maine has previously worked to distribute children’s books like “When Aiden Became a Brother,” “Bodies Are Cool,” and “It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity” through their Read the Rainbow program.
According to the non-profit’s 2024 Form 990 tax filing, it received $384,306 in government grants that fiscal year.
None of the materials related to the event specify who the drag performer will be.
“Drag is not inherently sexual, nor is it necessarily related to gender identity. It can be simply a fun form of creative expression. The books that will be read and crafts we will do will be completely age-appropriate for the children in attendance and vetted by librarians,” head librarian Caroline Ward-Nesbit told the Maine Wire on Wednesday evening.
“the library always has many safeguarding procedures in place, including: background checks on staff; outside presenters are never left alone with children; and contact information for patrons and program attendees is only accessible to staff members. In addition, parents or guardians will be in attendance at this particular program with their children. This event is being held outside of our usual library hours – not as our typical storytime, which is Saturday mornings – and again, registration is required, so it’s not a program that anyone would accidentally stumble upon,” she added.
