Parents want to know why the Houston Public Library invited a convicted sex offender to read books to small children during Drag Queen Storytime.
Library officials confirm that Alberto Garza, a 32-year-old drag queen who goes by the name Tatiana Mala Nina, was part of a recent children’s program. In 2008 he was convicted of assault an 8-year-old child, television station KTRK reports.
Organizers of Drag Queen Storytime say it’s part of a national program that aims to promote love and acceptance.
But Houston MassResistance, a pro-family activist group, contends the program is targeting young children with transgender and homosexual propaganda.
Houston MassResistance is being credited with outing the sex offender after they conducted an investigation.
It turns out the library never did a background check, television station KHOU reports.
“In our review of our process and of this participant, we discovered that we failed to complete a background check as required by our own guidelines,” the library said in a statement. “We deeply regret this oversight and the concern this may cause our customers. We realize this is a serious matter.”
MassResistance spokesperson Tracy Shannon and many parents were outraged by that news.
“If they had done their job and due diligence, if they had said wait…maybe it’s not a good idea to have a sex offender who at 200 pounds and 5-foot-11 assaulted an 8-year-old boy,” Shannon said.
In October, a lawsuit was filed against the taxpayer-funded library — calling for an end to the drag queen event.
“We may not all agree that having adult entertainers is the right way to entertain young children or promote literacy and adversity and acceptance and inclusion,” Shannon said. “But we can all agree that it’s inappropriate to have a sex offender. And for someone to not do their due diligence, to have a sex offender entertaining children at the library.”
The library says children are never left alone with the drag queens and they have not received any complaints about inappropriate behavior.
Horrifying, folks.