Letter to the Editor: A Perspective on the February 21 Library Board Meeting

February 22, 2023

Dear Editor:

Even though the Library Board Meeting was an hour away, the venue at the City of Pocatello Chambers was at least 75% full when my daughter and I got there around 3:15.  We chatted with several other ladies about the Young Adult books they had brought, and I indicated I wanted to read from one of them (rather than address the Library sit in on 2/11/2023 as I wasn’t there).  I was using the example of a mom who read some very vile pornography at the Library Board meeting in Coeur D’Alene in 2022. 

We waited for the sign-up comment sheet that is always there (if the City will allow any comments), but it wasn’t on this day.  Finally, at the start of the board meeting, a City employee with the “sign-up” came out and said, “Here’s your sheet.”  I said to her “A little late, don’t you think?”  As it was, everyone just sat there, so I was the first one up and signed in to speak.

My address was simple, just as I explained above.  It was well under the allotted 4 minutes.  

After I spoke, there were several Pro-Drag Queen supporters that came up to the podium.  The one that resounded the most was Rowan Smith, Vice President of Reading Time with the Queens, an employee of the Marshall Public Library and a parent.  He used his comments to attack the MassResistance group, calling them Homophobes and accused them as a group of ‘HAT[ING] the LGBTQ.’   He was adamant that the LGBTQ would never meet “their standards” because “we are gay”.  He also claimed that the Reading time puts on a family-centered, G-Rated sanitary program every month.  Sexualizing a marriage between two men would be confusing to anyone under the age of 15, yet this is what their topic was for the “reading” (i.e. grooming/programming of children age 12 and under, his words) on 2/11/2023.  He also claimed that the Christians showed up with Bibles in hand and called the presenters there “pedophiles” because “we are gay”.  This seemed to be a clear attempt to cause angst and anger among those present. 

After the Library Board adjourned, I was approached by a gay young man (he said as much upfront), who wanted to talk to me about what I had said at the podium.  Before I was able to answer, a reporter, Shelbie Harris from the ISJ, approached me to ask about an email I had sent to him earlier in the day (it addressed the ISJ indicating, in a prior article, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s designation in regards to MassResistance being an Anti-LGBTQ organization in relation to the 2/11/2023 Marshall library sit-in). The ISJ had published this for all to see, without indicating the history of the SPLC.  He asked what my thoughts were about the Southern Poverty Law Center.  I told him my answer was in the email and I wasn’t going to elaborate further. 

Shelbie then asked me about what I said at the podium, which I gladly answered.  I did have to refrain from stepping on anyone’s feelings at this point, because we wanted a positive response in regards to what Lynda (the final commenter) and I spoke of.  I also had many people (much more than what I expected) clapping me on the shoulder or getting my attention stating, “thank you,” or, “we really appreciate you speaking about all of this.”  It really helped me as this was my first time in a public setting, speaking out against/or for (depending on how you view what I’m saying) a subject. 

Lastly, another gay young man approached Lynda and me. He told us his religion and spoke to us about “public space” and how the LGBTQ community has just as much right as anyone to have events with children.  He did not, however, address the fact that these events weren’t harmless and were, in essence, trying to confuse children as to who they are and their God-given gender.  I believe it was Lynda who said these kids should not be exposed to confusion at such a young age.  I agreed with her.  When we spoke to him about “public spaces,” he was quick to make it about LGBTQ having those rights and how everyone should acquiesce to them. 

My daughter and I left shortly thereafter. 

Trudee Ruffridge,

Pocatello