Boston Public Library under fire for scheduling drag queen story hours for kids

Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald on Jun 1, 2026

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BOSTON — The Boston Public Library’s series of drag queen story hours for families in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month has raised concerns from the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts.

C.J. Doyle, the executive director of the independent Catholic advocacy group, says he fears that the scheduled events are a “demonic assault on the innocence of children, who are being exploited to mainstream the sexual deviancy of transvestites.”

Roughly 19 story hours are scheduled in June, according to the BPL calendar, with the first slated for Monday in the West End. The events primarily target children ages 5 and under.

“Children and families are invited to come and celebrate Pride Month with drag queen Ms. Patty for a fun-filled story hour of songs, stories, and more!” an advertisement for Monday’s event reads.

On June 9, the BPL is set to host “Bilingual Drag Story Time with Just JP” in Jamaica Plain, for children ages 3 and up with an adult.

“A bilingual story hour celebrating Pride Month that raises awareness of gender diversity, promotes self-acceptance, and builds empathy through an enjoyable literary experience,” that event’s advertisement reads.

Critics of drag queen story times argue that the events are inappropriate for children and don’t belong in public settings because of concerns around sexualization and grooming.

“Having such depraved events hosted by public libraries,” Doyle said in a statement, “sends a clear ... message to anyone who holds traditional moral beliefs — faithful Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, Orthodox Jews and others — that they are now second-class citizens in Boston."

“Their views and values are not only irrelevant to the City of Boston,” Doyle added, “but, apparently, are so bigoted and benighted that they must be publicly repudiated at taxpayer-supported institutions.”

The Boston Public Library did not immediately respond to a Boston Herald request for comment on Saturday.

A BPL spokesperson told Fox News Digital last week that families are “always free to make their own choices about the programs they wish to attend.”

“The BPL offers a variety of programming designed to serve the wide range of needs, pursuits, and perspectives of our community; this means that not every program will be of interest to every library user,” the spokesperson said.

Last month, Mayor Michelle Wu came under fire for initially funding wellness grants for queer and transgender migrants amid a $100 million budget shortfall, spending that her office confirmed was inappropriate.

Amid backlash, the so-called LGBTQ+ migrant justice organization, Outnewcomers, returned all grant funding to the city intended for queer migrants to use on gym memberships, yoga, meditation, reflection activities, transportation and childcare support.

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