‘All kids’ invited to Georgetown public library for ‘Children’s Pride Parade,’ LGBTQ festival

A Georgetown public library is kicking off Pride Month with a Children’s Rainbow Festival, an event for “all kids” that encourages them to make “pride bracelets,” dress in “rainbow wear,” and participate in a Sidewalk Children’s Pride Parade.

The Georgetown Neighborhood Library, part of the District of Columbia Public Library system, sent an email inviting local residents to the “pride event for all kids” that runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, the first day of June, also known as Pride Month.

“Rainbow Fest is for ALL kids to signal that their community supports them being themselves, regardless of their gender or sexuality,” said the email from Ruth Fitts, Georgetown library associate. “Again this year, our theme will be ‘Be-YOU-tiful!’ and we will be encouraging kids to ‘Be Kind and Be-YOU-tiful!’”

She said the event would show children that their “full identity” is embraced by their families and neighbors.

“For LGBTQ kids, kids who want to be allies, and kids who haven’t figured that all out yet, the event signals that their families, school, and community joyfully accept their full identity — whatever that may be,” Ms. Fitts said. “We want this to be an event for every family, not just ones that already know they have members that are LGBTQIA+.”

The specter of a public library hosting a children’s LGBTQ fest comes amid rising concerns about the taxpayer-funded entities pushing a leftist ideological agenda with events such as drag queen story hours.

The conservative publisher Brave Books reacted in 2022 by teaming up with Christian actor Kirk Cameron to hold story hours at public libraries featuring his book “As You Grow” and other children’s titles espousing traditional values.

The Saturday festival starts with a Sidewalk Children’s Pride Parade around the block. Students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a public high school, helped plan the event. Other schools are also involved, according to the email.

“Schools and other children’s groups in the area are invited to march together and represent their community in the parade,” Ms. Fitts said in the email. “We appreciate the help of students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in planning and hosting this event and we are thrilled that we will have many neighborhood schools represented in this year’s parade!”

Participants are encouraged to dress up and carry posters or flags touting Pride Month.

“Ready to parade? Bring your own homemade Pride posters, or carry one of our mini Pride flags in the parade,” said the email. “Dressing in rainbow wear, a fun costume, or however you feel most fabulous is encouraged!”

The event “celebrating the diversity of our community” will also have “popsicles, Pride bracelet making, rainbow obstacle course, selfie stations, unicorn sprinkler, mask making, tattoo station, bubbles, music, and more!”

The Washington Times was unable to find the Children’s Rainbow Festival advertised on the Georgetown library’s website or Facebook page, although the D.C. Public Library makes no secret of its Pride Month-themed children’s activities.

Other LGBTQ-themed events for children listed on the D.C. Public Library website include:

• An All Ages Drag Story Time with Dee Fenestra on June 15 at the Petworth Neighborhood Library, followed by a dance party. The event is for all ages, starting at “Birth-5;”
• Color a Pride Pin activities on June 8-9 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for children starting at age 5 and adults;
• A Rainbows Make Magic craft activity on June 8 at the Shaw Neighborhood Library for ages birth-12. The event encourages those attending the Capital Pride Parade to stop by the library first to “make your very own rainbow wand and be your most magical self!”

Also scheduled is a reading of the children’s book “Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild” by co-author June Jo Lee on June 9 at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library. The event is for children ages 5-12 as well as adults.

According to the description, the book is about Mr. Katz, a food journalist, and “his love of fermented foods.”

“As an adult, he left the busy city and moved to a queer community in the mountains of Tennessee,” the library said. “There, his friends grew their own food, cooked and ate together, and sometimes danced in drag when the work was done.”

George Williams, media-relations manager for the DC Public Library, said that the library system “provides services, collections, and programs that reflect the diverse interests of our community.

“Not every program appeals to all individuals,” he told The Washington Times. “Families have the freedom to choose which library programs they will attend, including the Children’s Rainbow Festival. Using District funds to provide services, collections, and a variety of programs that reflect the diverse interests of our community is appropriate.”