Nearly a year after a controversy over a drag queen story hour at the Wichita library, the library board is considering a policy to require that program presenters be background-checked for sex offenses before they take the stage.
The city library director said it’s not a direct response to the backlash over the September 2018 drag queen event, but she acknowledged that event was the genesis of ongoing talks that led to the proposed policy, which would cover all programs at the library.
“The conversation started in conjunction with that particular program, but it is not a response to any program,” said Cynthia Berner, library director. “What happened was as a result of the conversation about that program, we had conversations with the library board and we talked about the fact that for a long time, we have had policies about materials collections to guide what goes into a collection. We have not had corresponding policies about programs.”
Thomas Witt, director of the LGBT rights group Equality Kansas, said it’s an insult to the Wichita LGBT community.
“It’s clear why they’re checking for sex offenses only,” Witt said. “They’re trying to label the LGBT population in this city as sex offenders, which is offensive in and of itself.
“If that’s what the city wants to do, to try to isolate a certain population, then hey, this is why we’re having an election in November.”
He said it doesn’t make sense to check volunteer presenters for sex offenses because it would be practically impossible for anyone to commit a sex crime at a library program.
“These are public presentations in one of the most open and public places in the city of Wichita,” he said. “I doubt very seriously it’s a venue for predators.”
Story cited here.
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