HomeNews UpdateChildren’s book event in Alabama canceled due to ‘escalating’ anti-LGBTQ+ threats
Children’s book event in Alabama canceled due to ‘escalating’ anti-LGBTQ+ threats
July 12, 2024
The cover of Josh Coleman’s children’s book “Finding My Rainbow”. Photo: Screenshot / TicTok
An event in Mobile, Alabama, honoring a children’s book on LGBTQ+ issues was canceled because, according to the book’s author, there were “persistent and increasing threats” against attendees and several venues.
The reading and book signing for the picture book by author, speaker and President of Central Alabama Pride Josh Coleman Looking for my rainbow was originally scheduled for this Friday, July 12, at Mobile brewery Oyster City Brewing Company. The event also promised an appearance by social media influencer Ophelia Nichols, better known as “Mama Tot,” and a portion of beer sales went to AIDS Alabama.
Related:
Coleman’s book is described on Facebook as “a poignant and uplifting story set in small town Alabama. It follows young Josh as he navigates the complexities of growing up, discovering his identity, and seeking acceptance.”
Accordingly Political reporter from AlabamaThe children’s book contains “no sexual content whatsoever” and does not even mention kissing. However, according to Coleman, this did not stop “MAGA Republicans and ultra-conservative Christian groups” from fiercely attacking the event on social media.
Stay connected with your community
Stay up to date on the issues and events affecting your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.
Coleman, who also serves as LGBTQ+ liaison for the city of Birmingham, wrote in a social media post on Tuesday that he expected backlash when he wrote Looking for my rainbow.
“Every book event has been watched critically,” he noted, “but the public attacks of the last few days have been particularly fierce.”
Earlier this week, Nichols canceled the event because Coleman made “serious personal threats” against the influencer and her family. According to a local outlet in Alabama 1819 NewsReaction to a Facebook post about the event included comments like “This is sick” and “No way!” One comment still visible on the event’s page reads: “I love Mama Tot but this is SHIT.” According to Political reporter from AlabamaIn one comment, the organizers of the event were accused of “forcing sexuality on children.”
Nichols was set to be replaced by drag performer Colombia Taylor. But on Wednesday, Oyster City canceled the event due to ongoing threats, citing “the safety of our employees and customers” in a Facebook post.
“The numerous hateful and threatening comments on social media are taken seriously by management in the interest of the safety of our employees and customers,” the restaurant wrote, adding that it “does not tolerate hate” and will donate a dollar from every beer sold on Friday to AIDS Alabama.
In a post Wednesday, Coleman wrote that he was “deeply grateful” for Oyster City’s initial support and announced that the event would be moved to a Mobile Books-A-Million store. “I don’t care if I sell a book,” he wrote. “It’s about the principle. We will not be turned away or silenced by anyone.”
But on Thursday, Coleman took to social media again to say the reading and book signing had been postponed indefinitely due to “ongoing and increasing threats” against the Books-A-Million location.
“These attacks have gone too far,” he wrote. “The relentless hatred and harassment we have faced demonstrates the deep-rooted bigotry that continues to plague our society.”
Due to increasing threats, our mobile event is postponed. We will not let hate silence us. Our voices matter and our stories deserve to be heard. Stay tuned for the postponed event. Together we stand stronger for love and acceptance. 🏳️🌈📚 #FindMyRainbow#LGBTQ#Love wins… pic.twitter.com/Tbfa4jf3GH
In his post Wednesday, Coleman claimed: “The leader of the protests against our event is a MAGA Proud Boy who participated in the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th.”
Coleman did not mention the person’s name, Political reporter from AlabamaMobile resident Darren Sweeney had planned to protest the event, calling on those who “feel deep down that something must be done about this propaganda targeting our children” to send the message that it “is not welcome and businesses that support it will face resistance and boycott.” The outlet also reported that Sweeney posted a photo on Facebook on January 6, 2022, showing himself outside the U.S. Capitol wearing a Trump hat and holding a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag.
On Thursday, Sweeney told AL.com he wanted to explain to Coleman that he was “in no way an extremist.” He and his group had “never thought” of protesting drag shows and brunches aimed at adults. But Sweeney claimed that events like the one for Coleman’s children’s book allow people to “target and publicly manipulate other parents’ prepubescent children.”
Coleman has not responded to Sweeney’s comments, which are reminiscent of the anti-LGBTQ+ fearmongering that has become all too common on the far right in recent years. However, in his statement Thursday, Coleman wrote: “This extremist has orchestrated a campaign to silence us, but he has only strengthened our resolve.”
He further promised that he is already planning to reschedule Friday’s event. “We will return to Mobile with the same format, including a Drag Queen Story Time to celebrate our community and share our stories,” Coleman wrote.
