Illinois Valley Times

Steve Cortes, Senior Advisor at Catholic Vote, has expressed opposition to the LaSalle Public Library's Drag Queen StoryTime event. He described it as "radical, sexualized propaganda" in a statement to the Illinois Valley Times.

"This kind of radical, sexualized propaganda event has no place in any public space in America, and certainly not in a great middle American community like LaSalle-Peru," said Cortes, Senior Political Advisor.

The LaSalle Public Library is organizing a Drag Queen Storytime event on June 25 as part of its Pride Month celebrations. The event will feature JJ Adonis, a drag performer. According to an announcement on the library's website, "all are welcome" to attend for "a fun time of stories, laughter, and fun."

Awake Illinois, an organization composed of parents, also voiced concerns about such events. They said, "Most of you were oblivious but this agenda has been rampant for years. Wake up." The group referred to an October 2022 incident where they opposed a planned drag queen bingo event for minors at the Downers Grove Public Library. Awake Illinois criticized it as sexualized entertainment being promoted to children in taxpayer-funded spaces; that event was subsequently canceled.

JJ Adonis is recognized as a prominent drag performer based in Illinois. According to lgbtq.wiki, Adonis frequently hosts events like JJ's Drag Bingo at venues such as Haze Smokehouse and collaborates with performers like FondaLynn Mann and drag king Zay Zay Adonis. Additionally, Adonis has led Drag Queen Storytime sessions at various locations including Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, Illinois.

Cortes is an Illinois native and serves as Senior Political Advisor at Catholic Vote, a Catholic advocacy organization.