Dupage Policy Journal

GOP Precinct Committeemen District 141 Terry Newsome said the alleged “threats” the Downers Grove Library cited when canceling a highly unpopular drag show event at the library were not credible from local conservative activists.  

“There were no threats from anyone, from Downers Grove, anywhere,” Newsome told DuPage Policy Journal.

“They never showed us any credible threats. They are all coming from their imagination. I'm not saying there's not threats that may have happened here. What I am saying is nobody from our community, none of the parents from Downers Grove or D99 parents that are from this community who are upset with pornography and drag queens, we are not violent. They're not threatening anyone. It's quite the contrary. They're the ones that are threatening us and pummeling us on Facebook, calling us terrorist bigots and, you know, everything under the sun. And we never mention this community outside the fact that they attack us. They're the ones that says were ‘anti-LGBTQ.’”

He said Democrats trashing his character on a private Facebook page have resulted in threats against him locally.

Newsome is known for being an active community member who has fought against books in the school system showing graphic sexual content. He was also involved in efforts earlier this year to remove mandatory masking in schools after it was deemed unconstitutional.

Newsome said a man threatened to “show up in drag and fight” him after he spoke out about the drag show at a recent Downers Grove Village Board meeting where nearly all speakers noted their displeasure with the event.

However, he and others said the “threats” alleged by the library were not credible and a cover for the event’s failure.

According to police reports, the library alerted the police when a caller expressed his anger to a librarian over the phone.

In either case, the police took no further action.

In recently revealed emails, Library Director Milavec was dismissive of concerned community members, saying “if you don't want to see a drag show, don't go to the drag queen program.”

Milavec advised workers on how to handle the blowback she anticipated from a drag queen bingo event that has since been canceled in a memo to staff dated Aug. 22.

She also gave the event cover without mentioning that the performance was sexual in nature and targeted at youngsters.

“With the new issue of Discoveries being delivered to DG homes soon, you may get some questions or comments from patrons about the Drag Queen Bingo program for Teens. This program is intended for Grades 7-12, with content appropriate to this age group,” Milavec told staff.

Newsome and others have said Democrats have improperly been advancing a manufactured anti-LGBT narrative regarding the event.

U.S. Rep. Sean Caste seized the chance to repeat the allegations of threats against the immensely unpopular event.  

“Let's be clear. This event was canceled because, after my Republican opponent and his far-right allies at Awake Illinois publicly issued a call-to-action to their supporters, the library received severe threats that endangered our community.”

On the contrary, Casten’s opponent, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s statement on the matter was that he disagreed with any sexual content being displayed at the library regardless of its nature.

“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.

“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."

Drag queen Aurora Divine was scheduled to host and perform at the canceled drag queen bingo. He is most known for her late-night shows with an explicit theme.

As part of the program, Divine was supposed to present a drag act.