“Drag queen”

Monterey Herald, July 10, 2026

In response to the Monterey Library’s sponsoring of a Drag Queen Hour for Children’s story time, my wife and I strongly felt the need to protest such a flagrantly illegal use of this fine public institution. From 1991 to 1996, we often brought our pre-school son to hear Ms. Karen’s well-done readings of age-appropriate children’s stories.

Our objections to the Drag Queen version of Story Time stem from our roles as parents, as citizens, as a former elementary school teacher, and as Christians.  What an adult chooses to partake in during their private moments is their own business. This was a misuse of public resources for a private agenda that was clearly not age-appropriate and not initiated by the children themselves.

What purpose does featuring such a sexually oriented,  adult-content point of view serve other than to confuse children about their identity, and to do so at an exceptionally vulnerable age?   We ask our local community of parents, teachers, religious leaders, and elected government officials whose duty it is to protect the most innocent in our society-

Where are your voices?

What will you do now to prevent such abuse of both the community’s library and our children?

— Jeff & Maria Ford, Carmel