The library board voted on April 13 to postpone the event, saying in a statement it was “necessary for us to do additional research into the performer and the content of the show, and to share that information with the community.” The current alert states the library was unable to reschedule the event.
A library worker reached on the phone declined to comment outside of the alert online. The library director had not returned an email for comment Saturday.
The library held an emergency meeting April 11 to accept the sudden resignation of the board president and choose short-term leaders. At the meeting more than 40 people came, with a majority in opposition to the drag queen story hour, calling drag “deviant behavior” and claiming it could cause their children to become gay or transgender.
Albany drag queen Scarlet Sagamore was scheduled to read three books to children: “All Are Welcome,” in which students from different backgrounds are welcomed at school; “Just Add Glitter,” about a little girl who adds glitter to everything; and “Red: A Crayon Story,” about a crayon that was made with the wrong color label.
Jake Evans, who performs as drag queen Scarlet Sagamore, previously told the Times Union the event would not be a drag show performance, but rather reading books and singing songs.
“I’m not wearing anything that’s revealing,” he said at the time. “I’ll be wearing a T-shirt accompanied by a tulle skirt, with gym shorts underneath.”
Evans, who grew up in a small town outside of Rochester, said he thought it was important for children especially in rural communities to learn about people different from them. He had not yet returned an email for comment Saturday.
Adam Foti, owner of PDT Market, said a recent cancelation of a drag brunch at his gourmet grocery store in Saratoga Springs was due to logistics and lower than normal ticket sales, and that it would be rescheduled. As an openly gay man, he said his customers have always been supportive and pushback or safety concerns were not a factor.
“It’s very concerning to what is happening out in the world, in our community,” he said. “I can understand why people thought it might have been the case.”