A library in Massachusetts recently hosted a “Pastor Story Hour” – a not-so-subtle response to the popular and controversial "Drag Queen Story Hours" that have swept the country.
The Chelmsford Public Library initially canceled Pastor Kendall Lankford’s reservation of a meeting room to teach library goers about Jesus Christ. The library argued that hosting a Pastor Story Hour would violate their policies, and only relented when Pastor Lankford sought legal counsel and had his attorneys send a letter to library administration.
The reservation was reinstated the next day.
Pastor Lankford explained that he was directly inspired by the “Drag Queen Story Hour" trend in which drag queens read stories to children. Lankford wanted to host his own event as a pastor to draw comparisons to them.
“Drag Queen Story Hour” has been a nationwide flashpoint, with many events drawing large groups of protesters who believe that the incidents are inappropriate or sinful.
Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Is a “Pastor Story Hour” appropriate for public libraries to host?
Pastor Story Hour
In their reinstatement of the event, the library made sure to let everyone know that just because they were hosting the event, doesn’t mean they explicitly endorse it.
After receiving advice from legal counsel, the meeting room reservation for a “Pastor Story Hour” has been reinstated,” they wrote on their Facebook page. “The Library does not support or endorse this event and is not a sponsor or co-sponsor.”
It’s been heavily speculated that the original cancelation was because of controversial comments made by Pastor Lankford about the LGBTQ community, which the library deemed unsuitable with their own values of inclusivity and acceptance.
In online posts preceding the event, he said that “Drag Queen Story Hour” was an “abominable” attempt to “pervert our children.”
God Comes to the Library
To Pastor Lankford, hosting the event was nothing less than his duty as a Christian.
“The time has come for us to decide who will influence our children and shape the world around us,” he opined to a conservative media outlet. “Will it be a group of rabid activists denying basic things like sex and gender, cheered on by a gaggle of middle-aged perverts twerking in sequined dresses in public libraries? Or, will pastors and men and women across this country stand up and combat the lies with the truth of the Word of God?”
The library ultimately walked back the cancelation and issued an apology to Lankford. “We aim to make our decisions in a way that honors all of these principles and rights, and in our attempt to do so, we initially and unintentionally erred,” they wrote in a statement. “I sincerely apologize for the damage and hurt this has caused. We are unequivocally committed to providing this space for Pastor Lankford to hold his event as scheduled.”
During the event itself, Pastor Lankford reportedly read the books “God Made Boys and Girls” and “Jesus and My Gender” to an audience of roughly 50 children and parents.
As expected, the incident consumed the small town of Chelmsford, and not everyone agrees with the outcome.
Not on the Same Page
Numerous protesters showed up to express their disapproval. One resident described Lankford’s prior posts online about the LGBTQ community as “full of hatred and bigotry.”
“I have a lot of friends and relatives and friends with kids who are transgender and gay, and this is painful,” she explained. “I think it’s important for them to know that they are not alone, that this is the minority viewpoint and it will continue to be because it is not right.”
Comments on the library’s Facebook page are similarly heated. Allowing the pastor to spread his message at the local library was "blatant discrimination, homophobia, bigotry, transphobia,” per one commenter. And one even called the library out for what she perceives as hypocrisy. “You’ve always proudly displayed a ‘Hate has no home here’ sign. Will that be taken down during this event? Sure doesn’t seem to apply,” she wrote.
Although the library made sure to state that they do not endorse the message, Pastor Lankford’s already indicated his desire to host another “Pastor Story Hour” at the Chelmsford Public Library in the near future - Meaning that the library likely won’t be able to turn the page on this controversy any time soon.
What do you think? Was the library right to let “Pastor Story Hour” to take place? And when it comes to promoting a Christian worldview vs. promoting anti-LGBTQ bigotry, where is the line?
76 comments
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Clay Serenbetz
Have I missed the discussion of Separation of Church and State. The Pastor is using the library as to serve his purposes as an Evangelical for his Church and his beliefs. Apparently, the drag queens are giving their time for selfless purpose of entertaining and educating children and helping them learn how to read. The Public Library should not serve as a venue to proselytize a religion. It is properly used to educate children, however.
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Lady Victoria
While I am not a Christian I believe that there are some wonderful stories in the bible worth sharing with children. That being said there are also many stories that should not be shared as well with a young audience. Children are there for the stories and nothing else. Love is love and these groups should keep that in mind. Children need love and understanding if to grow up strong in this world, not to be given fear, hatred, and intolerance. Be mindful of the children by both sides. I know that there is going to be quite a bit of people on here that will have opinions on this from both sides but the views should always be about the children not some ones' political or prejudice views. I don't care what someone's religion is as long as they spread the love for all. This is the basis of EVERY religion. People on every side seem to have forgotten this.
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Robin Turbyfill
WELL NO MATTER THE AGE THEY NEED TO LEARN WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT IT AND AS FAR AS LOVE GOES YES THEY NEED TO KNOW LOVE AND THE LOVE OF JESUS AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU WHICH IS SAYING GO AHEAD AND GET WITH THE SAME SEX AS YOU THATS OK NO IT SURE AINT THATS STRAIGHT UP A LIER CAUSE GOD DIDNT MAKE ADAM ANS STEVE HE MADE ADAM AND EVE AND HE HATES WHEN YOU GET WITH SAME SEX HE DESTROYED A WHOLE CITY OF SODDOM AND GAMORIA BECAUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY SO YOU ARE TELLING THEM ITS OK TO DO IT AND GO TO HELL YOU ARE SICK YOURSELF YOU NEED TO GET YOUR BIBLE AND READ IT YOURSELF CAUSE IT SEEMS YOU ARE STRAIGHT UP IN SANE
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Christine
Not Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve. And then Adam and his daughter and Eve and her son. Then sibling and sibling, then Adam and his granddaughter, etc etc. Yes; god's plan for loving relationships is incest and pedophilia until the world is populated! What a perfect model only a supremely wise being would devise. And people who say that silly phrase call gay people perverts and groomers hahahahahahahahahhahahaha! Also, if you want to read the bible, start with Ezekiel 23:20 for some wholesome, non-perverted, non-gay, god-ordained material.
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Lionheart
Nah! I’ll stick to the best bits in The Songs of Solomon. The rest is pretty boring unless you want to weed out the juicy bits with Lot, and also Noah.
I purposely skipped over the Jesus bit where he’s all alone talking to himself in the Garden of Gethsemane, recorded by someone in fine detail that wasn’t there. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Amber Fry
So much for "God's love". huh? Really? He hates... anything at all? So much for a god of love. And when did you or anyone else get to say what God things?
BTW, Sodom and Gomorrah was a bout hospitality to strangers. It's no wonder so many people are leaving Christianity. Those clinging to that cannon cant seem to get straight what's even in it.
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David Cox
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good
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Lady Victoria
I'm sorry that you are so full of anger. I hope and pray that you find some peace in your life and are able to allow others to exist in their own lives without fear, hatred, and bigotry. I also hope that you never have to deal with that same hatred, fear, and bigotry that you are giving to others. Last time I checked your Jesus spoke only of love and peace never of hate your neighbor
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JPrime
Really, MUST you shriek? There is no need for that unless you’re feeling so insecure that the “louder is more correct” rule is in play.
As for Adam and Eve, it was Adam and Lilith first. So we have the first divorce because Lilith wouldn’t be the easily-controlled, meek, mousey little wife that Adam wanted. But I digress.
Let me ask you this: are we or are we not “made in god’s image”? If the Bible is correct and Gen 1:26-28 applies, then god made gay people too…therefore your hate has no place here. We are ALL made how god made us. Period.
And stop yelling. It’s doing you no favours.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
we know how perverted some of these talibangelists can be, abusing minors so as they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. this said, it should be acknowledged that the pastor made some disparaging remarks about/towards the LGBTQ community so it's pretty clear he thinks they're an abomination and going to hell so not really seeing the need for this idjit to use the premise as he's preaching intolerance. and while the talibangelists are clearly frightened of the gays, it's not like the drag queens were trying to convert the children. any child who at that age is entertaining the idea of dressing up like mommy is most likely already on the way to gaydom. the pastor on the other hand wants to terrify children with stories of demons, devils, hell and damnation. what a comforting story hour that will be.
in the end, it will be allowed and if I were local to this event, I'd be encouraging any and all local drag queens to join me at the library for a quiet discussion on fashion and food...or some other such fascinating topic that would allow us to sit in the library and annoy the bejeebus out of tha th "holy man"
Gurls....get dressed...we got someplace to be
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Chris
“Will it be a group of rabid activists denying basic things like sex and gender, cheered on by a gaggle of middle-aged perverts twerking in sequined dresses in public libraries? Or, will pastors and men and women across this country stand up and combat the lies with the truth of the Word of God?”
Sounds more like this guy is full of hatred and bigotry, and is using "Religion" to hide behind. Sure, he might have the "right" to rent a room at the library to spout his nonsense, but he can't then turn around and oppose anyone else doing the same thing.
As far as actually hosting a reading time for someone to come in and read in public spaces to children, that's a little different. The library should be allowed to choose whomever they want to come in, just like these so-called "Christians" choose which parts of the bible to follow and which parts to ignore.
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David Torres
I disagree with exposing small children to sexual content whatever the viewpoint. Period.
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Lady Celynia
It's not wrong to read to children. I think it is wrong to bring our adult issue to the schoolroom. There is no need to sexualize children. Our children are no longer protected and allowed to grow up normally. All these adult themes are shoved down their throats on a daily basis. It is sad. We will pay for it in the end.
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Tom
I didn't realize telling children "gay people exist" was sexualizing them. Maybe because it's not?
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Robert Gagnon
Majority view, really? In whose world is trans the majority and family values the minority? I’m not a bible thumper. But common sense and facts rule in my world. Twitter isn’t the real world. Lately quite a few gay and lesbian folks have making the point that true trans are very rare, and that blocking puberty and surgeries are not the solution. After all if you’re gay you don’t want your partners parts removed that attracted you in the first place.
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Joe Stutler
Transphobia is a treatable illnesses. Please consult with a licensed mental health care professional for more information and help. You don't have to suffer.
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Lady Celynia
What exactly did he say that is transphobic?
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Robert Gagnon
I apologize for Joe's rudeness in calling you slow. I had no negative intent hidden in anything I wrote. Mr Stutler is a word bully, seeking attention. Don't take anything he says personally, he's ill.
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Joe Stutler
The words. Not surprising you didn't catch it...most of the slow kids (and most definitely the bigoted scum) miss the obvious. 😘
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Robert Gagnon
Normal phobia is also treatable. Just remove head from pleasure cavity.
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Joe Stutler
I'm sorry, muffin, I don't understand your attempt at discourse. Maybe if you get your congenital coproencephaly treated, you'll be more capable of communicating with humans. 😘
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Robert Gagnon
I accept your surrender. Hiding behind vocabulary is a sign weakness. I'm a man not a muffin, ask your nearest female relative.
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Joe Stutler
I accept your unconditional surrender, muffin. Stupid bigots always lose in the end, and no evidence of you being a "man" at all. 😁
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Robert James Ruhnke
Maybe you shouldn’t comment on things you have very little knowledge on. Being trans isn’t about being gay. An lesbians and gays who rant about being trans also shouldn’t be commenting on things they know little about. It is fascinating to know that many homosexuals (gays and lesbians) are hetero-normative and the only thing queer about them is their partner choice. Wasting air trying to dictate how the rest of the LGBTQ+ community should or shouldn’t be living.
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Robert Gagnon
Thank-you, for confirming how truly rare trans are. Too rare to rewrite everyone other persons rights.
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Tom
And what rights are being rewritten exactly by acknowledging that transgender persons exist and allowing them to receive gender affirming surgery? What about being transgender is against so called "family values"? My family values the acceptance and protection of the trans community...
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Robert Gagnon
There's nothing wrong with an adult getting gender surgery. What goes against family values is subjecting children to sexual issues they are ill equipped to process in a rational way. The true majority of Americans would rather not have their children exposed to these issues. I never want my daughter to be nervous because of boys in her bathroom or locker room at school. It intrudes on the individuals right to privacy. Forcing people to address them as anything other than what they are born as is a lie. Why concede all we know as true because a very small percentage wants to live in a fantasy world. Children should be taught to love themselves as they are. Puberty blockers come with the warning of irreparable bodily damage and complications with later affirming surgeries. Adults go for it,children should wait.
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Tom
They were born transgender. Forcing them to be cisgender is cruel and ignorant. Trans persons denied gender affirming care are significantly more likely to attempt and succeed at suicide than those who receive such care. Your discomfort towards trans persons does not supersede their right to live their life honestly.
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Robert Gagnon
Born transgender is a myth with very few physical exceptions. Lets encourage children to act like the beautiful creatures they were created as. Guide them through uncertainties, and celebrate their individuality. If a child exhibits some unusual traits bring it to their attention that it is OK, but there may be issues with other kids over their peculiarities. Sexual identity is for later in childhood. Maybe a kid has a love of a friend of the same sex. That does not make them gay or the wrong Gender. Just affectionate. Labeling little children that are just developing an ego should not be cast as an aberration that was born in the wrong body. That's nonsense, that creates suicidal tendencies and the likelihood of an unhappy life. After all you are telling them they are defective at birth.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Ah yes ... lovely children stories. Like when God murdered everyone on Earth, except for one family and a boatload of animals. Or when God killed all 1st born sons. Or when God tested job, by trying to get him to sacrifice his son. Or when God murdered his own son, instead of the devil.
Such wonderful tales.
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David Cox
You are very uneducated in biblical stories give it up and hate something else...
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JPrime
Matthew has paraphrased some of the most prominent Bible stories. Maybe go reread it, because every one mentioned is in there
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Tim Yorty
Really? ...every one mentioned is in there? Where in the Bible is the story of "when God tested job, by trying to get him to sacrifice his son" ?? It's not in the Book of Job.
I believe it says Job lost his sons because of the actions of Satan trying to prove Job was not faithful to God.
Maybe you have a different modern version that's been modified to suit modern day situation?
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Joe Stutler
So you're saying those aren't in the Bible? Hmmmm......🤔
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Pastor Jody S.
Personally, I'll be happy when this whole circus leaves town. These things go in cycles - remember Anita Bryant's rantings? After a while they go and discriminate against someone else they believe is defenseless.
In the end, it's just a shameful "get out the vote" tactic that uses minority groups to do so.
The pastor is just being manipulated into a knee-jerk reaction. And not sharp enough, apparently, to realize that. He must have skipped over all those verses about not judging others.
I would welcome him to reach out to me, and I will do a Bible Study for him on judgement and what Christ tells us about this. And what Isaiah 56:4-5 teaches us.
And detail for him the various birth defects that can cause transgenderism. It ain't a choice, Pastor. It's biology.
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John D. Partin
Pastor Jody S., Isaiah 56:4-5 doesn't say that drag queens and transgenders will be blessed by God, but that eunuchs will be, because God isn't going to contradict Himself by calling drag queens and transgenders "blessed" in those verses when He already said in Deuteronomy 22:5 that a woman shall not wear men's clothing or men shall not wear women's clothes, and that those who do so are an abomination and condemned them. Eunuchs are men who have castrated themselves or have been castrated. That has always been the understanding of eunuchs in the Bible. Origen, from his understanding of Matthew 19:12, didn't dress up as a woman to imitate eunuchs, but castrated himself. He took it too literally, but didn't even consider it to mean dressing up as a woman, which nobody else in Christian history ever did, either, until this transgender-philic and politically correct and propagandist time today. Loving and not judging people have never meant loving everything that they do or else we would have to love the Holocaust, and organized crime, and bestiality, and rape, and pedophilia, and child pornography, and the sex slave trade, and every other rotten and perverted thing that has been and is being done in the world. Even you and others who say that "loving people means loving everything that they do" don't love all of those things. It is, in fact, our love for people that makes us condemn many things that they are doing and dangers to their own and other people's souls. Indifference to or even love of many things that people are doing or have done is actually hatred of people!! Something's being natural doesn't mean that it is right because nature and human nature have been corrupted and distorted since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. If we say that anything's being natural is enough reason to do it, we would also have to say that all of these other perversions and hateful crimes and actions are "right", too!! Why should only gays and transgenders not have to rise above just what comes naturally to them, into supernatural thinking and actions, when all of the rest of us have to do so, for us to have more than just only a natural society and world?!! How is that fair to the rest of us? They want, as all other people just in the natural want, to drag God down to their level, and make Him approve of whatever they want to do and have Him follow them, instead of their and our following Him. That is why "eunuchs" is interpreted as "transgenders and drag queens" to make God go along with you and like-minded people. Standing up for the truth of God's Word isn't a "get out the vote tactic that uses minority groups to do so", but just doing what is right, which, in this world today, is called "doing what is wrong", while only doing what is wrong is called "doing what is right". Woe unto those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
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Janis Carol Sommers
Many, many Drag Queens are Heterosexual men who dress to perform a character. Many, many Drag Queens are Gay and dress to perform a character. Many, many powerful ( judges, politicians, corporate leaders) Heterosexual men are Cross Dressers. They dress to find their femininity and release the demands of work. Dressing as other sex isn't about some perversion, or harming or recruiting children. I am a Lesbian. I don't go to libraries to read Lesbian stories to children. Drag is performance. It is not who they ARE. The Ministry, however, is not performance art and many, many members of the clergy are covicted as pedophiles. Teaching Biblical Beliefs in a Public, Government Funded building is illegal. This Minister should hold his reading hour at his church, if his parishioners agree to it.
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Sara Lizabeth Rawlins
I see a problem with this. The minister should save these lessons for his church and read to the children during his time on Sunday and at special church functions, not at tax-payer buildings like the library. He should read them at his church's library. As for the Drag Queens, as long as they stick with just children's books that has no agenda like Pete the Cat, any Dr. Suess stories and so on, then there isn't a problem. The men who dress as Drag Queens are honoring a long tradition of men dressing up as women in ancient times when women weren't allowed to preform in plays because of possible danger. All I can say is, cut the fabricated fake outrage over men who dress like women. It's all clean fun as long as it isn't hurting someone. And if you don't like it, stay away. It's like watching a TV show or movie, if it offends you change the channel or leave the theatre. Don't tread on another's entertainment unless it is known to promote needless violence to others and causes harm. Do No Harm.
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Joe Stutler
Aty local library one can rent/reserve space for various events. I've booked space for 501(c)(3) organization meetings, political groups, Humanist orgs...I've officiated weddings at local libraries. I'm not going to complain when organizations I'm not involved with or may not agree with use the same spaces. They get the same Rights as the rest of us...and may get blowback just as any other group might. One plus of the cultists having these events at public libraries is that the spaces are often open and visible and on cameras, and library staff around here are mandatory reporters, so this is often the safest spaces those kids have.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Joe Stutler I think I'm in support of what you are saying, but maybe no completely. Are the events booked at the local library open all? And are they held in a public part of the library where anyone can hear what's being said? If they are private events (non-public) in private areas then these hate groups should be allowed to meet even if it's for religious activities or support people who are escaping from their religious beliefs. But then groups that promote slavery, hate Muslims, Jews, Mormons, Chinese, or promote White Superiority and LGBTQ+ groups should also be allowed to meet there as well. But should there be any restrictions on what type of meetings can be held at a libraries? I mean could one host a meeting where sexual acts are involved? I know libraries have a hard time not allowing patrons to view porn on the computers, but don't seem to mind allowing other patrons to read or view videos which have porn content.
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Joe Stutler
I would venture to guess that different libraries have different policies. At my local library system, rooms can be booked for a variety of groups. If hate groups book a room, odds are they'll have decent people protesting peacefully outside, just as creepy cannibal cultists protest Pride events at the libraries. Certainly those booking space can't do things which are prohibited by law/policies, including not disturbing other patrons/staff.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
@Joe Stutler A quick Google search makes it look like public libraries can create their own policies. Seems odd for a public government/tax payer financed facility. So I guess public libraries can select what groups can, and cannot use the facilities.
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Joe Stutler
I'm not sure I understand your premise. Are you saying that local communities have some flexibility in their policies as long as they are in keeping with spirit-and-letyet of our Constitution? Because if that's the case, so I'm impressed that the likes of you happened upon a correct answer, much as a blind retarded pig happens upon an acorn from time to time. 😘
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Eugene T Rice
Gene Rice - Wakefield, RI Encouraging a marketplace of ideas is always a good thing. Demonizing those with whom you disagree is both unchristian, and unamerican.
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Daniel Gray
You want one then you WILL BY LAW have to have the other one. you have no choice. If you refuse then you will lose all public tax monies.
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Pink Clover
Drag queens reading is not a religious endeavor. The pastor reading biblical stuff is. That's the difference.
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Daniel Gray
Nope no difference at all. the law is very clear and this is why its called a "PUBLIC" library meaning they cant keep any of the public out. If they do then they lose all the tax monies that the local tax payers are shelling out. Nice try and using smoke and mirrors but major fail.
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Joe Stutler
Yep. Indeed, our local library provided space this morning for Pastor Pervie's Creepy Time Story Hour (because their cult house is fine, but they wanted to indoctrinate their kiddos in public space to see if anyone cared....we didn't.) They protest when decent people hold events there, whereas decent people don't give a rat's patootie.
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David Arthur Lewis
Who Would Jesus Hate?
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Lionheart
If you’re referring to my gardener, you might have a point. He’s a really nice guy, and does an excellent job mowing my grass.
🦁❤️
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David Arthur Lewis
¡Ja Ja Já!
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Carlos Velasquez
The difference between this pastor and the drag queens is...LOVE. Though I don't completely agree with Drag Queen Story Time the books the queens are reading are children's books. They're fairy tales. Much like the ones will parents read. The pastor on the other hand is spreading hate towards something or someone he doesn't understand. Never mind misinformation he's spreading lies. Lies that according to him, the Lord told. He shouldn't stayed stop and pray for guidance in this matter.
People seem to think and they should stop thinking that masquerading everything under "the Lord said" or using the word "biblically" after all of their bull**** that comes out of their mouth they shouldn't be questioned or debunked. That is not spreading the Lord's word. Unless of course I'm wrong. After all they could be referring to completely different lord.
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Steven Ferrell
It is amazing that those who are LGBTQ, want to silence and show hate to anyone who does not agree with them. Yet they want to be all up in arms if they perceive something as that way to them.
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Tom
The paradox of tolerance is that a tolerant society cannot tolerate intolerance. Should we tolerate a belief that a group of people are evil because they were born with a different sexual orientation than the so called "norm" or should we say that such a belief is abhorrent and should not be spread amongst our community?
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Steven Ferrell
It is amazing that those who are LGBTQ, want to silence and show hate to anyone who does not agree with them. Yet they want to be all up in arms if they perceive something as that way to them.
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Joe Stutler
You sound like one of those Xtians who feigns persecuted when they have to acknowledge others as equal. Cry more, you may find it cathartic. 😉
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AnnaMarie Ingrassia
If the Pastor wants to read the Bible to Children, fine...then read the bible but don't leave out prior or later chapters which may contradict what you read to them. Children should be taught the intents more than the words. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. God made EVERYONE different & special. WHERE are those lessons? If I had a child, I would run him/her to the Drag Queen's Library and away from the pastor reading stories, NOT from the bible but meant to turn prejudice into their formable personalities. The LGBTQEtc... God (it-self) is never appointed a gender ...'man' has done that. In short...EVERYone is included and LOVED not picked out for persecution. HUMANS are the only creature on the face of this planet which has historical been the most inhumane. from 'Caine" to Ukraine...We will NEVER see our glory until we LOVE ONE ANOTHER...as did Jesus love us. Minister AnnaMarie Ingrassia
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Kimberly Sharita Shaw
I agree with the pastor. Just because something feels good to the flesh doesn't mean it's right! Is beastiality right? Humans messing with animals? Is drug addiction normal? Is robbing and killing right? Is having sex with any and everyone right? Just because something feels good to you and gives you a temporary high, doesn't mean it's right. People lead with their flesh and emotions, that will eventually lead to their demise. They can't deal with it once they have to face the truth and reality. People hate to change and judge themselves. It is wrong to promote homosexual teachings to a child. I have nothing against the gay community and I have gay friends. They know that I don't agree with their lifestyle but I still love them. Is it natural for two men or two women to reproduce? It's never been done in this lifetime. Let children grow up and make their own choices when they become adults. I am not here to judge because God Almighty will judge all of us on judgement day. He said feed his sheep, not with deceit. God's word does not lie. You all want to bash the pastor for sharing God's word. He didn't write it. YOU NEED TO TAKE IT UP WITH GOD!
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Tom
You're saying it's wrong to teach children that homosexual people exist but it's okay for a pastor to teach them that those same people are sinners who will burn in hell or are evil and corrupted by the devil?
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Shane Michael Westerbur
You cant claim to be about freedom of speech if you control the narrative. If you dont support the pastors message dont go, same goes for drag queen story hour. All perspectives have their place. I personally wont be attending either event nor will i be protesting.
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Genevieve Friday Ard
I was raised Southern Baptist in a 'Corinthians Church', it wasn't a 'Corinthians Church' when my parents starting going there before I was born, and it is why we left that church. For those that do not understand what a 'Corinthians Church' is, it is a church that uses the book of Corinthians as the basis for segregation, subjugation and enslavement of Black people. Typically a church that was a Corinthians Church was run by the Ku Klux Klan, and they were the drive behind maintaining segregation in the South and the hard push to keep schools segregated and every other public place. This is worth mentioning here. Public Libraries are extensions of the Secular State and Public Schools which are also part of the Secular State typically refer ALL children to their local Public Library for additional learning opportunities and reference materials for school projects. Drag Queen Story Hour does have a bit of an over inflated title, and the various Drag Queens and Drag Kings who participate DO have school age kids that they are supporting, Cisgender/Heterosexual/LGB also participate and typically a Cis/Het parent presenting Drag Queen Story Hour does so to support their LGBTIQ+ child and their LGBTIQ+ friends. Will I typically find Churches hosting Drag Queen Story Hour? No. The sad reality is, far too many churches mouth the words of Jesus Christ “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” in public and in private take actions that harm LGBTIQ+ kids, young adults, adults and elders. Did you know the Library is often a resource of last resort for homeless, jobless, destitute people? Or that the LBGTIQ+ population is typically unemployed, under employed or deemed unemployable? They go to the Library to use computers to file for public benefits, seek assistance programs, file for unemployment and apply for jobs and housing? A religious person walking into a Public Library is walking into the Public Forum, holding a ‘Pastor Story Hour’ is on par with holding a religious service in a local government facility which is part of the Secular State. It should not be done.
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Eugene T Rice
Encouraging a marketplace of ideas is always a good thing. Demonizing those with whom you disagree is both unchristian and unamerican.
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Amber Fry
I'm of the mind that a preacher wanting to read bible stories should be reading them in special bible story hour at the church, not the library unless it's a private church facility. Public libraries are government establishments and should be left as such.
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Pink Clover
If you want religious stories, go to church.
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Rev Ned
The kids are probably safer around drag queens than around Taliban “Christian” pastors or Catholic priests.
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Rev. Jim Sutton
At least he did not read "Little Black Sambo" or show "The Birdcage" or "Brokeback Mountain" or 'Fritz the Cat' cartoons.
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Robert Gagnon
Back door mountain was hilarious, and you gotta love those crows in Fritz the cat.
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Robert S Heikkinen
No matter who we are or what we believe, we are need a savior and we, as ministers should be proclaiming Christ and his finished work on the cross! Christ is risen is our great truth and His resurrection is our victory over sin and death—for all people and for all eternity! Please stop dividing us and praise God for his salvation through Christ our Lord!
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Joe Stutler
I'm not really a fanboi of imaginary magical critters, thanks all the same.
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Stephen Karpa II
James 4:12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. BUT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR?
Matthew 7:1-2 JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who hear, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE THAT HATE YOU, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The hatred and fear culture towards members of the LGBTQ+ society are not to be demonized, if good Christian people are to follow their own teachings. This idea that the sin is so horrible that it must be purged even at the expense of destroying the individual (through hate speech, slander, prejudice and the like) needs to end, and it needs to end years ago.
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Stephen Karpa II
James 4:12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. BUT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR?
Matthew 7:1-2 JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:27-28 But I say to you who hear, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE THAT HATE YOU, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The hatred and fear culture towards members of the LGBTQ+ society are not to be demonized, if good Christian people are to follow their own teachings. This idea that the sin is so horrible that it must be purged even at the expense of destroying the individual (through hate speech, slander, prejudice and the like) needs to end, and it needs to end years ago.
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Joe Stutler
It's funny (in a pathetically sad kind of way) to see cannibal cultists blame their deity for their bigotry. They picked a weak, sad deity - reflective of themselves.
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Humanism Clergy Linda
I believe we all here are ordained ministers.
I read what the pastor was reading during his hour which was promoting "God" which was completely inappropriate to be read at public library.
If drag queen story hour was just stories of why Jane has 2 mommies I think that's okay. Explaining and promoting are like trying to compare apples to oranges. 2 different animals here.
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NLilly
"Pastor Story Hour" comes to the Library... smiling... Introducing JESUS to children who probably have never even heard about such a Loving Savior of their Souls, how Heaven Loves and is full of Children, and the Awesome Creation of Mankind by AND from GOD ALMIGHTY! YES! I likes that! ♥ ♥ XOXO
We have to take the Church to the 'dying World' now a days. AMEN! GOD IS GREAT! HALLELUYAH JESUS! Only Goodness and GOD's Grand Graces In and Through HIS Divine Salvation Plan Can and Will Come From and Through This Wonderful Deed!
GOD Bless HIS Humble And Yet Courageous Servants, In CHRIST JESUS Name I Pray! AMEN! ♥ ♥ ♥ XOXOXO
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Joe Stutler
Yet he's still giving cancer to kids in Africa. Helluva deity you chose.....🙄
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I'm minister Tiffany moore and I support lgbtq all the way