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Christopher Paul Paolini has been dressing up as Miss Amie Vanité for professional events for over 20 years and began including children's story hours in 2018, according to social media and the library.
Paolini has been a trustee at the West Reading VFBA and a Reading Pride Ambassador, both since 2022.
Miss Amie's no stranger to controversy and has faced protests before, like in 2021 at the YWCA in Hanover, York County, as Evening Sun reported at the time.
And Miss Amie's shows have received international coverage by HBL/Eurovision Americas, as shared on LinkedIn.
This latest event will be for "babies, toddlers, everyone" from 1 to 2 p.m. on March 23. The event description reads as follows:
"Stories, Songs, Crafts, Creativity, Dancing and Drag: Join Miss Amie Vanité as she spreads awareness and acceptance by celebrating diversity, inclusiveness, kindness and love through LGBTQ+ literature for young readers."
Lancaster County Commission Josh Parsons posted the following statement in part on his social media after learning about the event and being interviewed by WGAL News 8:
"The performer that Lancaster Public Library is planning to host for an advertised “Drag Queen Story Hour” for “Babies, Toddlers, Children” – including apparent very graphic advertising for another event hosted by the same performer – shows this is clearly an adult type performer. These are adult themes. This is an adult agenda. Events with this performer are not age appropriate for “Babies, Toddlers, Children.” Obviously. Rational adults know this.[..] This is about the library signaling to the world that they are a fully woke, politicized organization and if you do not embrace their agenda completely, you are not welcomed at their library. [...] Consenting adults are free to do whatever they want in this country. I defend that freedom completely. But this event does not meet basic professional standards for a public library and is not age appropriate for children. [...] Our community should not allow libraries to be weaponized in a political battle with children as the pawns. That is what is happening.[...]Library organizations that fail to meet basic professional standards of conduct – and obviously this event does not meet those standards – should receive zero taxpayer funding or support."
Daily Voice has reached out Paolini aka Miss Amie, the library, and the commissioner.
Paolini's response reads in part:
"I have presented my Story Hour programs at Lancaster Pride for years (as well as at Reading Pride, Lehigh Valley Pride, York Pride, and Hanover Pride), but I have not had a program at this library before.. I have had programs at Wyomissing Public Library, Sinking Spring Public Library, Exeter Community Library, Kutztown Community Library, Muhlenberg Community Library, and Warminster Township Library..When we catch threats or word of protests, we organize a “Wall of Love” counteraction to shield children and parents from any false information, propaganda, negative attitudes , or hateful comments being spouted about the LGBTQ+ community and / or my programs."
He also noted that he grew up attending Catholic school.
Check back here for possible updates.
Click here to learn more about the event at the library.
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