Proud Boys storm drag queen event for children at Bay Area library, deputies say [San Lorenzo, CA]
SAN LORENZO, Calif. -- A group of five men police say appeared to be members of right-wing extremist group Proud Boys disrupted a LGBTQ event for children at the San Lorenzo Library on Saturday.
Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Ray Kelly said the group entered the library about 1:30 p.m., during an event called Drag Queen Story Time. Kyle Chu, also known as drag queen Panda Dulce, hosted a story hour meant for preschool-aged children in celebration of Pride Month.
RELATED: 'They came to riot': Members of white supremacist group arrested near Idaho pride event, police say
"The men made homophobic and transphobic remarks against a member of the LGTBQ+ community who was hosting the event," Kelly wrote in an email. "There was no physical violence. Deputies responded to the disturbance and are conducting follow up to identify the group of men and their affiliation."
"We will initiate our hate crime protocol and will also address the annoying and harassing of children. More details to follow," Kelly wrote. "The men were reported to be members of the Proud Boys organization."
RELATED: Who are the Proud Boys? Trump's debate callout bolsters far-right group
The sheriff's department Facebook page says "The men were described as extremely aggressive with a threatening violent demeanor causing people to fear for their safety. Deputies responded to the scene and were able to de-escalate the situation."
The Drag Queen Story Hour website describes the program as "just what it sounds like - drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. 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."
ABC7 News will bring more updates to this developing story at 11 p.m.
https://abc7news.com/san-lorenzo-library-drag-queen-story-house-kids-proud-boys-panda-dulce/11952043/
Alameda County Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Ray Kelly said the group entered the library about 1:30 p.m., during an event called Drag Queen Story Time. Kyle Chu, also known as drag queen Panda Dulce, hosted a story hour meant for preschool-aged children in celebration of Pride Month.
RELATED: 'They came to riot': Members of white supremacist group arrested near Idaho pride event, police say
"The men made homophobic and transphobic remarks against a member of the LGTBQ+ community who was hosting the event," Kelly wrote in an email. "There was no physical violence. Deputies responded to the disturbance and are conducting follow up to identify the group of men and their affiliation."
"We will initiate our hate crime protocol and will also address the annoying and harassing of children. More details to follow," Kelly wrote. "The men were reported to be members of the Proud Boys organization."
RELATED: Who are the Proud Boys? Trump's debate callout bolsters far-right group
The sheriff's department Facebook page says "The men were described as extremely aggressive with a threatening violent demeanor causing people to fear for their safety. Deputies responded to the scene and were able to de-escalate the situation."
The Drag Queen Story Hour website describes the program as "just what it sounds like - drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. 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."
ABC7 News will bring more updates to this developing story at 11 p.m.
https://abc7news.com/san-lorenzo-library-drag-queen-story-house-kids-proud-boys-panda-dulce/11952043/
