UPDATE 11:30 A.M. TUESDAY:
A statement about the planned event was posted on the Lafayette Public Library's official website Tuesday morning. It noted that the library hosts an average of 60 story times a month throughout the parish.
"Special guests at the story time are not a new concept to the program," the statement said. "Our story times are designed by our children’s librarians who select the books that will be read to families and work with the guest storyteller to practice the flow of the program."
The story times are generally designed for children ages 3 to 6.
"All story programs for this age group are designed for families to attend together and involve books, songs and craft activities that encourage interaction among the children," the statement continued. "The picture books that are read are content- and age-appropriate. The Drag Queen Story Time will share stories of individuality, openness and acceptance with families seeking an opportunity to show their children that every person is unique and should be treated with equal respect."
UPDATE 10:30 A.M. TUESDAY:
Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux has issued a statement about the Lafayette Public Library's scheduled Drag Queen Story Time.
"Currently, events of the Lafayette Public Library are neither authorized nor approved by Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), including the Drag Queen Story Time event scheduled for October 6, 2018 at the Library Main Branch," Robideaux said.
"In response to public requests, LCG is working to determine how this event was approved as a programmed event of the Library, who has authority to cancel or move it, and the process for doing so.
The library has an Executive Director that is appointed by and answers to the Library’s Board of Control. As Mayor-President, I have one appointment to the Library’s Board of Control and the Lafayette City-Parish Council has the remaining seven appointments.
I will be discussing cancellation of the event or privately-owned location alternatives with my appointment and encourage the Council to do the same. I will also be asking the Library’s Board of Control to conduct a thorough review of its programming and approval process for taxpayer funded events.
Our parish libraries are public spaces, with venues that any group or individual can reserve, on a non-discriminatory basis, as required by law. We have to be certain, however, that our internally approved programming is both appropriate and serves the needs of Lafayette Parish.
That is the only way our library system will continue to enjoy the support from our community that it has historically received."