It took organizers nearly half a year of trying to host the Drag Queen Story Time Event in Lafayette.

It finally happened at the Lafayette’s South Regional Library.

In August of last year, the library announced the event in its newsletter. 

Mayor-president Joel Robideaux called for a review of library programming to determine how it was approved and indicated at the time that he may cancel it. 

In September, the library announced the story time would be moved to South Louisiana Community College. 

Two days before the event was scheduled to happen, SLCC said it could not host the event because of safety, space and logistical concerns.

The ACLU then filed a lawsuit against the library claiming it did not allow patrons to take part in any drag queen story time events in the libraries.

“Drag Queen Story Time” was held as a private event due to the opposition organizers have received in the past.

Protesters gathered in front of the library to protest in prayer.

Thomas Drake, president of Tradition, Family, Property Louisiana Incorporated, was leading the prayer protest.

“Above all that this corruption, this form of child abuse.. that this corruption of the innocence of children not proceed. if we allow this corruption of children to happen, then we are corrupted as well,” Drake explained.

But despite the push-back, drag queen Santana Pilar Andrews says it was all worth it.

“All the negative things I experienced wanting to do this event, it didn’t even matter because this is what i knew i was doing. this is what I knew I signed up for and I did it for all good reasons and I think that showed today,” Andrews said.

Organizers for Drag Queen Story Time had police security at the library to ensure that the event went smoothly and without disturbance.