June 11, 2019
 
Andrew Chanse, Director and
Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees
906 West Main Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201-0976
 
Dear Mr. Chanse and members of the Board of Trustees,

We are writing in support of the City of Spokane Public Library’s decision to host Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) at two local branches in the coming month. We are so glad that you have not backed down from this decision, despite the threatening responses from local, regional, and national far-right conservative groups and hate groups. The public library system is a critical institution supporting inclusive democracy and equitable access to information in Spokane.
 
We write as Spokane’s educators, parents, students, activists, members of the LGBTQ+ community, residents, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations. We applaud your fortitude and thank you for organizing, educating, and supporting your community in the goal of promoting cultural diversity. This is a value that we share with the government of the City of Spokane.
 
Thank you for maintaining the Spokane Public Library as a safe haven for freedom of expression and intellectual freedom as protected by the First Amendment. DQSH supports people of all ages in promoting this freedom of expression. Supporting folks as they express gender identities outside of stereotypical gender binary is necessary and empowering, especially given that we live in a city where LGBTQ+ youth are far more likely to attempt suicide than their straight and gender-conforming counterparts. We appreciate the lessons that DQSH brings to our community, including education about drag as a cultural art form that is deeply rooted in our shared history, teaching about empathy, and embracing difference.
 
We also appreciate the imaginative play and literacy skills that are promoted by DQSH. This kind of gender-creative event encourages important conversations between children and their parents about gender, stereotypes, and creativity. The fact that drag queens who read to children are trained on how to engage with kids, how to create an age-appropriate environment, and how to ensure that outfits are suitable for children further ensures that this will be a family-friendly event. Those who read to children during DQSH are often volunteers and along with the national organization, are committed to promoting children’s literacy.
 
Thankfully, support for DQSH will far outweigh the backlash to it, in the end. We are sad to hear that your staff has received such hateful messages in response to the event. We hope that you will share our message of support with all of them to help them understand that they are appreciated, celebrated, and loved as our community’s public servants on the front lines of so many important issues.
 
Sincerely,
 
Lisa Logan, Eastern Washington University Women’s and Gender Education Center Manager

Liz Moore, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane

Kate Bitz, Western States Center

Greater Spokane Progress

Autumn Reed, Spokane NOW
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