Illinois Valley Times

State Sen. Liandro “Li” Arellano Jr. (R-Dixon) is speaking out against LaSalle Public Library’s Drag Queen Storytime event, arguing that taxpayer-funded institutions should not serve as platforms for what he calls “ideological activism targeting children.”

Arellano, who represents the 37th Senate District and previously served two terms as mayor of Dixon, was critical of the June 25 event’s inclusion in Pride Month programming and questioned the use of public spaces and resources to host a performer like JJ Adonis—known for adult-themed drag performances.

“The fact is that some of these groups are just really focused on making children's spaces and children's events where this battleground—the social battleground — takes place,” Arellano told the Illinois Valley Times. “And I don't think that's an appropriate venue for this social discussion that's happening.”

Local drag performer JJ Adonis, known for provocative performances, hosted the controversial Drag Queen Storytime at LaSalle Public Library. | Illinois Valley Times

The LaSalle library event, which invited families to join a drag queen for stories and activities, is part of a broader trend of Pride Month programming in public institutions—one that has drawn intense scrutiny and protest across Illinois and nationally. 

“The nature of concern is young minds are incredibly impressionable—that's the science of the matter,” Arellano said. “And when some of these groups are specifically targeting those young minds, we have to ask ourselves, at what point does something switch from an event into propaganda? And unfortunately, too many of these groups have intentionally blurred the line.”

Critics, including Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville), have accused libraries and public schools of using inclusive events to promote “controversial social agendas” under the guise of education. 

Arellano, a U.S. Army veteran and small business owner, said the trend of targeting children's events with politicized content is especially troubling. 

“[They're] making children's events where their focus is,” he said. 

He pointed to an early Pride event in Dixon as an example of what he sees as the dangers of blurred boundaries.

“We had video surface of that first event where you had a young boy dressed in drag, dancing on a stage; there were accusations in a parent video of people throwing dollar bills,” Arellano said. “And so they try to make it about, ‘Well, you disagree with our beliefs or what people should be allowed to do.’”

Arellano argues that while adults have every right to express themselves and organize events, taxpayer-funded facilities must apply a different standard—particularly when children are involved. 

“People misuse the term ban, whether it's book bans or event bans or bans on certain types of ideology, and that's not what public libraries are for,” Arellano said. “Like, you can, as a parent or as a family, there is no ban on what you can train your kids or what you can tell your kids.” 

Addressing common misconceptions about such materials and their intersection with public institutions.

“What we're saying is we are not going to use taxpayer-funded facilities and taxpayer-funded books and purchasing and spending power to promote some of this stuff,” Arellano said. “There's a difference between banning and promoting it.”

He emphasized the difference between a personal right and a public endorsement. 

“A ban is like what Saudi Arabia—where I served as a soldier—and they say you cannot tell me the books, you cannot own the books, you can't go on to Amazon and acquire these books for yourself, where they actually blocked your ability to do that as an individual,” Arellano said. “Like, we're not going to force other taxpayers to buy this and provide it to me—that is not a ban.”

The controversy in LaSalle is part of a broader pattern. Similar events in Chicago’s Edgewater and Beverly neighborhoods sparked protests from conservative groups like Chicago Flips Red and Trump Illinois MAGA Official, with critics accusing organizers of “sexualizing youth” and undermining parental authority. 

Arellano said the deeper issue is about public trust and the role of government. 

“You create controversy because now the public body has to make decision calls on what is acceptable, what is not acceptable, how graphic it can be, what is decency, and what is indecency,” Arellano said.

Arellano says he remains committed to defending community values and protecting the integrity of public spaces.

“Intentionally triggering all of those discussions at what are specifically children’s events is where I have a big problem,” Arellano said. “That, to me, is not how society should be looking at some of these things. We shouldn’t start off with, you know, children’s library events or children’s books. That’s not the proper space for that.”