‘LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE’: California parents shut down Drag Queen Story Hour at San Fernando Library

The San Fernando Library was set to host a children's Drag Story Hour event featuring "Pickle the Drag Queen" but concerned community members belonging to the groups "Leave Our Kids Alone" and "Parents' Voices of the Glendale Unified School District" protested the event, which resulted in it being canceled.

"Leave our kids alone!" parents chanted as Pickle arrived outside the library.

"Bye, bye!" a protester said to Pickle. "No pervert pedophiles are going to train our kids to be perverts like you."

The video shows the drag queen, who was surrounded by a group of police officers, attempting to enter the library which the group of parents were blocking the entrance to. Pickle had a flustered look on his face and made a phone call before the video cut out.

"What a powerful and successful day for parents in San Fernando Valley!! Pickles the Drag Queen Story hour was canceled," a protester said on Instagram, who uploaded a video of the protest.

However, not everyone was thrilled by the event being canceled.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, who organized the event at the library, slammed the protesters as "hateful" and alleged that their actions were an "incitement to violence" towards the LGBTQ community.

"Today, my office was set to host a Drag Storytime at the San Fernando Library as part of LGBTQ+ History Month. What was meant to be a celebration of love and inclusion turned into the opposite," Horvath wrote on X.

"Protestors claimed they want to keep children safe while they pounded on doors, shouted obscenities & slurs toward my staff and library staff, and used strollers to blockade moving vehicles. The hypocrisy is astounding," she continued. "These disgusting tactics and efforts to incite violence prevented Pickle and Library patrons from even entering the building. I hope no one does to their families what they did to their neighbors today."

"Libraries will not be breeding grounds for indoctrination of hate and contempt toward our fellow neighbor. I apologize to the families who were excited, but could not get in; to Pickle, a respected drag artist and West Hollywood’s Drag Laureate, who was determined that the program be held; and to the dedicated Library staff who have to show bravery by just showing up to work," Horvath added. "The protestors' message and actions today will not win in our continued fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality. We will continue to build communities where every person is treated with dignity and respect – and diversity is celebrated, not attacked or shamed."

Drag Story Hour has been at the center of controversy across the United States due to the many documented incidents of sexually explicit behavior aimed at children that often occur at these events.

Pickle was at a LA Public Library story hour event in June, featuring Idina and Cara Mentzel, and wrote on Instagram in regards to the event, "as always THANK YOU to the parents and their magical kids for turning out for these story hours. I am so blessed to have so many amazing friends and to see them grow up before my very eyes."

Pickle was also invited to read at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach in September, writing on Instagram, "Thank you First Congregational Church of Long Beach for having me this morning! Always a joy to spread the good word and meet with your wonderful congregation."