Officials in Montana have canceled an educational library event hosted by a Northern Cheyenne trans woman out of concern that the presentation would violate the state’s new anti-drag legislation.
Librarians at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Library said on Thursday that the county government abruptly forced them to cancel an event hosted by Adria Jawort, political director of the activist group Indigenous Vote, as NBC Montana reported. The event was previously scheduled for Friday, June 2.
Jawort was scheduled to speak as part of the library’s adult services programming about two-spirit and LGBTQ+ history in Montana. But according to NBC Montana, after one person complained to the county over Facebook Messenger, officials shut down the event for fear it would violate House Bill 359, the state’s drag ban, which Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law last month.
“In accordance with Governor Gianforte signing HB359 into law, our county cannot allow an event where a drag king or queen reads children's books and engages in other learning activities with minor children present,” the county said in a statement obtained by NBC. “Due to this law, we have had to cancel the speaker at the Butte-Silver Bow Library that was scheduled for Friday.”
The law considers “drag” to be any “flamboyant” performance of gender, defines a “drag story hour” as any learning-related event where both children and drag “may be” present, and equates “drag story hour” events to “sexually explicit” shows in general. Even though Jawort is not a drag performer or hosting a “sexually explicit” show, officials canceled it anyway.
“I will def have a book & sexuality will be discussed & minors may be present, & the State of Montana doesn't legally recognize people being trans, so…” Jawort wrote on Twitter last week. Jawort also noted on Thursday that she was among those who spoke out against HB 359 in the first place on the grounds that it would be used to prevent trans people from taking part in public life. “The irony is I testified against this bill saying it would target trans people that would include of course me. They denied it,” Jawort wrote. “Now here I am, targeted.”
Libraries have become a focal point of the conservative war on trans personhood, as some states contemplate jailing librarians who do not comply with book bans and white nationalist militias continue to threaten drag story hour hosts and attendees alike. Montana itself has also become a battleground over trans rights and legislation. Amid Republican efforts to silence trans Rep. Zooey Zephyr over the past two months, two trans teens and their families are suing the state in hopes of blocking its ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which also passed in May.
“I encourage all residents to support the visibility, dignity, and equality for all people in the community, including the LGBTQ+2S – am I correct – residents,” said Butte-Silver Bow County Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher, reading a proclamation in recognition of Pride Month on Thursday. Unfortunately, we will simply have to believe it when we see it.
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