Several things happened within just 24 hours of a digital flier being posted online announcing a Drag Story Hour to be held at the Uintah County Library. The flier was widely shared by those against an event involving drag at the library and those with concerns shared their opposition online, with many contacting the library and local officials. Also within that time period, spots for the event filled up and a waiting list was filled as well. The flier itself was short on information and gave the impression to many that this was a library sponsored event which is not the case. Event organizer Latrisha Fall shared with Evans Family Media on Monday that Drag Story Hour is an RSVP-only event being hosted by the Uintah Basin Equality Center during which drag queen Tara Lipsyncki will read 2 books, “The You Kind of Kind” and “My Shadow is Purple”. There will also be singing and parents must accompany any children that attend. It will be held in the upstairs conference room of the library. The follow up question for many concerned has been how is an event involving a person in drag allowed at the library? Library Director Sam Passey explains that meetings booked at the library are subject to availability of the space and willingness to abide by library policies and standards of conduct. This group was presented with the library policies and agreed to abide by them. The library has not and will not be advertising the event and there will not be any displays in the library related to the event. Like any group that books a space for a meeting, the group will be held to the policies and standards of conduct that can be found on www.uintahlibrary.org. Uintah County Library Board member Susan Horrocks provided the following response to the concerns expressed: “The Uintah County Library is a public facility and the constitution protects the rights of all people to peaceably assemble.” Sonja Norton, Uintah County Commissioner who serves on the library board, similarly stated: “In accordance with freedom of speech in reserved spaces, the Uintah County Library does not limit the content of these meetings/events, unless it violates their Meeting Room Policy or Standards of Conduct. Events that utilize the room reservation process are not sponsored by Uintah County or the Uintah County Library.”
