The Downtown Spokane Public Library held a second Drag Queen Story Hour on Saturday, a controversial event in which people dressed in drag read books to children during Gay Pride Month.
The Saturday afternoon reading drew roughly the same crowds as last week’s event at the South Hill Spokane Public Library.
Outside the library, around 150 protesters gathered on West Main Avenue and also on North Lincoln Street hours before the reading. Some used megaphones and signs to show concern about drag queens and the library supporting reading time.
The canyon effect of the buildings made megaphones ring much louder, said Caris O’Malley, deputy director of Spokane Public Libraries.
About 300 counter-protesters stood on the sidewalk lining the downtown library and wore rainbow clothes and blowing bubbles. Some held up white sheets to prevent children from seeing the protesters.
Both groups brought instruments to play and muffle the music and speech of their opponents.
The reading began at 2 p.m., when about 275 people, including parents and children, packed into a downtown library hall. Staff have asked families with at least two parents present to have time off so more children can enter the room.
The first book, read by drag queen Tirrany Hex, was titled “Not All Princesses Wear Roses.”
Afshin Yaghtin, who has been arrested for at least a week’s reading time, arrived at Saturday’s event with a press badge for his publication, SAVED Magazine, and was cleared by library staff to observe and record story time.
“It’s not worth deciding what a valid news agency is,” said Jason Johnson, public engagement manager for the Downtown Spokane Public Library.
Yaghtin said SAVED was founded about six months ago with the goal of fighting abortion and promoting Christianity in Spokane. It was not founded in response to Drag Queen Story Hour, he said.
Yaghtin and a group of four other SAVED employees quietly recorded in the back of the room during the playback without any problems. They left before the end of story time.
Yaghtin said his arraignment at the Spokane County Courthouse was Wednesday and he also plans to file a countersuit.
Johnson said the library has no plans to hold another drag queen reading event, but the library would likely accept if it received another proposal.
“It’s a valuable program, and we will continue to do so,” he said.
Police had less of a visible presence on Saturday compared to reading last week, Sgt. Spokane Police Department spokesman Terry Preuninger. Preuninger said police did not arrest anyone during Saturday’s reading or the protests before and after.
The reading ended around 3 p.m., and protesters and counter-protesters lingered for a while after.
Outside the library before reading, Jen Goe stood in line with her daughter Aubrey Goe. The two didn’t make it to last week’s event but decided to come on Saturday because “we live to love everyone,” Jen Goe said.
“I’m teaching (my daughter) how to be a good citizen for this city,” she says. “Love is love.”