A Drag Story Time event at the Beverly branch of the Chicago Public Library on June 3 ignited fierce protest, with conservative activists and former political candidates decrying the program as morally and fiscally irresponsible.

At the center of the protest was David Dewar, a South Side activist and former Democratic primary candidate for Illinois House District 35, who led a contingent of demonstrators outside the 95th Street library branch.

The story time event—part of the Chicago Public Library’s Pride Month programming—was intended for children ages five and under and featured stories and songs presented by a librarian and a drag performer.

“It was shocking to see the age group—from newborns, zero to five years old. And especially the fact that state-funded money, through taxpayer

See Full Page