Paladino Ousted From Council Committee After Drag Queen Story Remarks

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Council Member Vickie Paladino was removed from a New York City Council committee for criticizing Drag Queen Story Hour events on Twitter.

The Committee on Mental Health, Disability and Addiction removed the Republican lawmaker on March 2 for opposing the LGBTQ-friendly storytelling program that brings local drag artists to libraries, schools, and other community spaces to read stories to kids.

“The Council voted on Council Member Paladino’s removal from this committee because of a lack of confidence in her commitment to inclusivity that equitably reflects the needs of all New Yorkers on an essential issue of public health and safety," a Council spokesperson said in a statement.

Paladino called the removal an act of "political pressure from a small but vocal group of radicals."

"Committee assignments are supposedly meant to bring a diversity of opinion to the
issues of our city," the Bayside representative said in a statement.

"However it’s clear that any deviation from radical progressive orthodoxy will not be tolerated."

Paladino described the LGBTQ program as "child grooming" last summer and criticized the city for bringing the program to elementary schools and public libraries across all five boroughs.

"This is unacceptable and grotesque, and follows a deeply disturbing national pattern," she said in a tweet.

A full investigation looking into the Republican's comments was conducted by the ethics committee, according to Paladino, which found no wrongdoing on her part.

"The Council Member has not violated any codes of conduct and her removal from a committee is merely petty retribution to appease some members, a spokesperson for the city's Common-Sense Caucus said in a statement.

Both Paladino and Adrienne Adams, speaker of the NYC Council, belong to the Common-Sense Caucus.

Organizations like Human Rights Campaign and the Center for Countering Digital Hate have categorized the "grooming narrative" from anti-LGBTQ politicians as hate speech.

Mounting controversy over the children's program has blanketed all five boroughs. In December, far-right extremist groups tried to disrupt a Drag Story Hour event at the Jackson Heights Library.