Protesters check-out all LGBTQ+ books in Pride library display

SAN DIEGO COUNTY - Two women have mounted a protest against the Pride Month display at the Rancho Peñasquitos Library in Inland San Diego County by checking out every book in the display, many only single copies held by the library.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Rancho Peñasquitos residents Amy Vance and Martha Martin, told head librarian Misty Jones that libraries are open, public spaces for children that should be free of references to gender identity and how adults experience sexual attraction.

“Minor children have the right to belong to a community that respects their innocence and allows families to have conversations about sex and sexual attraction privately, and only when parents deem it appropriate,” Vance and Martin wrote in a June 15 email to Jones after checking out the books in the Pride display.

“Displays such as the one at Rancho Peñasquitos send a powerful message that LGBTQ+ patrons and their allies are respected members of our community,” Jones wrote back to the pair. “They also serve to encourage conversations and dispel misconceptions and stereotypes that often surround the LGBTQ+ community.”

Jones added the display should not be viewed as the library endorsing one group over another.

“Pride displays are much like other displays that recognize other cultures, holidays or causes so that we can recognize the experiences of others and have a more inclusive and equitable society,” she said. “We are proud of our position in encouraging members of our community to learn, grow and celebrate our differences.”

Book bans have increasing become a source of contention across the nation as so-called family conservative groups, including Florida-based Moms for Liberty, which has been designated an extremist anti-LGBTQ+ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, battle to get books they deem offensive and inappropriate for minors removed from school libraries and placed in restricted areas of public libraries inaccessible to minors.

The two women responded to Jones writing: “It’s time for the American public libraries to once again be a respectful space for young children to freely explore great ideas that unite and inspire us all, rather than places where controversial and divisive new ideological movements are given free rein to promote their theories and policy positions about sexuality to children without the consent or notification of parents.”

The Union Tribune also reported that San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, whose district includes Rancho Peñasquitos, said she is working with nonprofit and civic groups to raise enough money to quickly replace the 14 books the protesters checked out.

They include The New Queer Conscience by Adam Eli, Rainbow Parade by Emily Neilson, Gay Rights by Tina Kafka, Goldenboy by Michael Nava, Wild Things by Karin Kallmaker and Pride: An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Stella Caldwell.

The total replacement costs would be just over $235, according to head librarian Jones.

“I’m frankly shocked by this because eliminating LGBTQ content from libraries is what you might expect in Mississippi, but never here in San Diego,” von Wilpert said. “Denying others the right to read LGBTQ-a rming books is just another way of telling LGBTQ people they don’t belong — and that’s dead wrong. Everyone has the right to read what they want, but absolutely no one has the right to keep others from reading books that reflect their experiences and backgrounds.”

In a phone call with the Blade, a spokesperson for the Rancho Peñasquitos Library confirmed that the maximum number of books a patron can check out at a single time is 50. The Union-Tribune reported the city library system also gives patrons five automatic renewals, unless someone else has requested the book they have out.

If the protesters don’t return the books after five renewals, the matter will be forwarded to the collections division.

Hermosa Beach Pride event disrupted, police search for suspect

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. - During a LGBTQ+ Pride Silent Disco Ball event on June 17th, 2023, at the Vista bar and grill at 11 Pier Avenue at approximately 9:45 PM, units from the Hermosa Beach Police Department responded to a call about an unknown subject throwing a firework into a crowd of people. In social media posts HBPD wrote that o cers spoke with the caller who told o cers the firework exploded in the middle of the crowd and frag- ments of the firework hit multiple people. At this time, the injuries sustained are non-life threatening.

HBPD have asked for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information about the suspect or case is encouraged to contact detectives at the Hermosa Beach Police Department at 310-318-0360.

BRODY LEVESQUE

Drag Queen Pickle is named inaugural Drag Laureate of WeHo

WEST HOLLYWOOD - The City Council of the City of West Hollywood, at its regular meeting on Monday, June 26, 2023, unanimously approved Pickle Drag Queen as the City’s inaugural Drag Laureate.

Pickle was selected through an application process with a selection committee comprised of members of the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. The public event for the Drag Laureate installation will take place on International Drag Day, Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 3 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

“West Hollywood has been one of the centers of drag culture for decades,” said Councilmember Lauren Meister. “Drag performers are often a thrilling attraction at many of our restaurants and bars and West Hollywood’s drag performers take center stage in a wide range of our City’s arts and culture events. This year, we’ve witnessed conservative attacks on drag performers by those who seek to ban culture and expression. Plain and simple, this is a proxy for homophobia and such ‘drag bans’ attack LGBTQ people. I’m thrilled that West Hollywood’s Drag Laureate program will raise awareness about drag culture and I’m overjoyed to welcome Pickle as our inaugural Drag Laureate.”

Pickle is a powerhouse host, performer, and community ac- tivist. She is a singing drag queen and comedienne who values education, community, and humor. She has been performing in drag professionally for eight years and has collaborated with many people and organizations to bring drag into people’s lives.

A Los Angeles native, she received her BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College. Pickle has focused on blending education initiatives into her drag work and runs the LA chapter of Drag Story Hour. She has partnered with many organizations to present unique and dynamic drag programming. Pickle is dedicated to expanding drag as a medium both for herself and for the community.

She has appeared on television on NBC’s The Weakest Link, the Discovery Channel’s Dodgeball Thunderdome, and Tyler Perry’s Sistas. She collaborates regularly with live musicians to incorporate big-band sound into her performances and is committed to exploring new technologies for the art of drag, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

As West Hollywood Drag Laureate, Pickle will serve a term of two years from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025. During the term, the Drag Laureate is expected to enhance the presence and appreciation of drag culture and arts in West Hollywood; promote partnerships with West Hollywood business and commu- nity organizations; celebrate the spirit and special qualities of the City of West Hollywood and its residents; and inspire an emerging generation of drag artists by celebrating and promoting drag history.

The Drag Laureate will work with City staff to serve as an ambassador for West Hollywood. Pickle will attend approximately 15 events throughout the year, including WeHo Pride and West Hollywood Day. The City will also organize a yearly event to celebrate drag history, promote West Hollywood drag culture, and invite the West Hollywood community to attend.

Recently, the City of San Francisco announced its inaugural San Francisco Drag Laureate, D’Arcy Drollinger, and it is anticipated that West Hollywood and San Francisco will work together to share best practices and ideas to enhance Drag Laureate programs.

The West Hollywood Drag Laureate program provides a $12,500 honorarium each year, and a $2,500 stipend for the annual City drag event, totaling $15,000 per year.

Editor’s Note: For more information about Pickle, visit www. pickledragqueen.com

The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.