A Missouri lawmaker says he has received hate-filled messages, including death threats, as a result of his decision to introduce a bill to stop drag queens from reading stories to children in public libraries.
“When you take on some of these issues that are controversial, the push back from media and from even the American Library Association, you know, was astounding,” Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker told the Daily Caller this week. “I got thousands of emails, I’ve had death threats for me and my family.”
“F—ing diseased pig and his disgusting inbred little piglets,” a Facebook user wrote on one of Baker’s family photos. “Hope you all die a slow and painful death.”
“Dear Rep. Baker,” read a note provided by Baker allegedly from local librarians, “Please just STOP it with your imbecile proclivities.”
A friendly note of inclusive tolerance of all views from “All librarians” at the St. Louis City and County Libraries.
In other words their desire is to censor the freedom of speech and any opposing views. Such blatant hypocrisy! #Hb2044 pic.twitter.com/j8GGzfBihP— Ben Baker (@BenBakerMO) January 23, 2020
The bill proposed by Baker, a Republican, would set up parental review boards that would be in charge of approving events and potentially penalizing librarians with fines and jail time if they violate the guidelines. The bill would also strip government funding from libraries that allow minors to view “age-inappropriate sexual materials.”
“They’ve had these drag queen story hours, and that’s something that I take objection to, and I think a lot of parents do,” Baker said when the bill was introduced. “That’s where in a public space, our kids could be exposed to something that’s age-inappropriate. That’s what I’m trying to tackle.”
Nonprofit organization Every Library pushed back on Baker and defended “Drag Queen Story Hour” in a statement when the bill was introduced.
“We are deeply concerned by Missouri House Bill 2044, ‘Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act,’” Every Library’s statement read. “It sets up quasi-governmental tribunals that circumvent the normal way libraries review materials challenges and imposes fines or jail time on librarians who violate the act. It’s a bad bill and needs to be stopped.”
Drag queen story hour events have been popping up at libraries across the country to mixed reviews.
“Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like — drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores,” the official Drag Queen Story Hour website reads. “DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.”
A bill similar to Baker’s was introduced by a Republican lawmaker in Minnesota, and it too received immediate backlash.
