Glen Carbon residents rejected a question asking if taxes should be used to promote drag queen events for children at schools and libraries.
According to unofficial totals in Madison County, 3,918 voters, or 69 percent, voted “no” while 1,741, or 31 percent, voted “yes.”
The ballot question asked residents in the Glen Carbon Centennial Library District, “Shall tax-supported libraries and schools promote drag queen events to minors?”
The Glen Carbon Public Library received backlash from the community when it hosted two taxpayer funded drag queen events in June - one for adults and one for children.
Maxi Glamour, a non-binary drag artist and activist, was paid $300 for both events.
According to email communication of library staff, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and provided to the Record, Glen Carbon Library youth services director Aimee Villet had reached out to Caseyville Public Library director Ashley Stewart in early February inquiring about its drag queen story time event held last year.
"I'm not surprised you had complaints," Villet wrote to Stewart. "LGBTQIA+ programming for kids always leads to complaints.
Villet made scheduling and payment arrangements with Glamour, who normally charges $200 per event, and was able to negotiate a discount for both events.
"We can do $200 for June 21 story time," Villet wrote. "Can you give us a discount for booking storytime and adult program and drop price to 300?"
Caseyville’s event featured drag queen Chasity Valentino, who volunteered for the “storytime” last year. Valentino also previously volunteered for an event in Collinsville.