The Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health recently canceled an event called a Consent for Kids Fair due to threats, according to the organizers but unable to be confirmed by Birmingham Police Department.
The event was set for last Saturday at the Springville Road Public Library in Birmingham. Printed materials referenced story hour and a “gender creative fashion show.” The event was a partnership between the Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health with TAKE Birmingham, Planned Parenthood Southeast, and URGE for a day that is all about making consent education less intimidating and more fun.
TAKE Birmingham’s website says that the organization started out as a peer support group for trans women of color (TWOC) to come together and share their narratives.
AL.com reported that the library staff received emails requesting the event’s cancellation, claiming it was “inappropriate for children and adults.”
Birmingham police told AL.com they were unaware of any threats in connection with the event.
“These emails were followed by numerous phone calls personally attacking and threatening library staff. Callers also implied that the event would be disrupted,” the organizers’ statement continued.
“We have never seen controversy around events that we host at the Alabama Campaign, but the Alabama legislature has recently introduced several anti-LGBTQ bills, and there has been a rise in parental rights extremism, so we don’t think this is a coincidence,” said Christina Clark Okarmus.
In the Alabama Campaign’s 2023 Priorities, the group stated they want sexual education for all students in Alabama schools with language that, “is inclusive of all sexualities and genders.” As a further priority, they single out Moms for Liberty as a “parental rights” extremist group and not that while parents have a fundamental right to oversee their children’s care that “parental rights should not infringe or impede upon a child’s rights.”
The event organizers say that the event will be rescheduled for this summer.
According to the invite, activities for the event include:
-Consent Story Hour with books like “C is for Consent,” “Will Ladybug Hug?”, and “Don’t Hug Doug”
-Coloring Table for learning about anatomy and gender
-Gender Creative Photobooth and possible Fashion show
-Parent Resources
-Snacks
-Pin the Ovary on the Fallopian Tube
-Body Autonomy Freeze Dance
“We are in the process of developing a strong safety plan for this event when it happens later this summer. We will not let misinformation and hate deter us from our mission to support young people in making informed and healthy decisions for their own bodies and lives,” said Alabama Campaign outreach coordinator Meagan Lyle.
Last Wednesday, the group said on Facebook, “Let’s celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of comprehensive sex education for LGBTQ youth. Today is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Day! And these young people have long been ignored in conversations regarding sex education, and they are now being actively attacked in some states. We demand better for ALL young people.”
