Dupage Policy Journal

A child-oriented “Drag Queen Bingo” event including a live drag performance that was to be held at the Downers Grove Public Library has been cancelled. 

The cancellation was noted in a letter from Library Director Julie Milavec and the Downers Grove Public Library staff.

“To our Downers Grove Community: For the safety of everyone involved, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the upcoming Drag Queen Bingo program due to threats made against the Downers Grove Public Library. These threats are currently under active investigation by law enforcement,” the library wrote in a notice on Monday. “Providing an inclusive, welcoming and safe space for everyone in the Downers Grove community is of the utmost importance to the library. We recognize the significance of offering services and programs like Drag Queen Bingo that provide a window to the world, as well as a mirror to it, creating opportunities for patrons to see the wonderfully diverse community in which we live. Unfortunately, in this case, it is not possible to provide a safe place for everyone due to the threats made."

The letter also included an apology to teens who registered for the event.

“To all of the teens who registered for our event and community members in support of this event: We are sorry Drag Queen Bingo cannot happen at this time,” the letter stated.

The move comes days after concerned Downers Grove residents shared their outrage over the event at a Downers Grove Village Board meeting.

“We need leadership that can look at an event like this and say 'No, a 300-pound man clad in a Latex teletubby suit pretending to be a woman is grooming and not appropriate for children.' I don’t care what the activists, experts and even the cheering sexually confused kids say," resident Brian Sewell said in a speech prepared for the meeting.

The library blamed the cancellation on “threats” and noted a post from a man who apologized after telling event-goers to “bring weapons,” Daily Herald reported.

Meanwhile, those who spoke against the event noted they were harassed online afterward with one man threatening to “show up in drag and fight” GOP Precinct Committeemen District 141 Terry Newsome.

The event was set for Oct. 11 and aimed at grades seven through 12, DuPage Policy Journal reported.

A game of Drag Queen Bingo was be hosted and performed by drag queen Aurora Divine, who is most known for her late-night presentations with an adult theme. Divine was to present a drag performance as part of the program.

Illinois 6th Congressional District candidate and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau also released a statement denouncing the event.

“I join parents across the district in denouncing this event, just as I would denounce a library introducing kids to straight sex by holding a burlesque show,” Pekau said in a statement, South Cook News reported. “To be clear, I have no interest in regulating the private, consensual activities and decisions of adults. This event, however, targets children. It’s inappropriate, and an unacceptable use of taxpayer funds."