Arizona Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva faced backlash on Monday after defending a local library that lost federal funding following drag-themed events hosted at the facility. In a video shared on her official X account, the Democrat criticized House Republicans for cutting off nearly $650,000 that had been allocated to the Copper Queen Library in Bisbee, Arizona.
According to Grijalva, the funding was intended for basic repairs and restoration work at the library, including fixing the roof and restoring damaged floors. However, she claimed Republicans on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture pulled the funding after the library hosted drag-themed events twice over the past few years.
Standing outside the library in the video, Grijalva described the Copper Queen Library as a major community resource for Southern Arizona residents. “This library is a cornerstone of this community,” she said. “It’s a place where families gather, students learn, and people across rural Southern Arizona access critical resources.”
The Arizona representative argued that the funding cut had nothing to do with the value of the project itself but was a targeted attack on both the trans community and free expression. She also pledged to continue fighting to restore the funding for the Bisbee library.
Netizens React to the Arizona Congresswoman’s Remarks
For many netizens, the idea of drag-related events taking place at a public library left a sour taste in their mouths. Several people argued that taxpayer money should not support such institutions, with one writing, “I don’t want my tax dollars going to support drag shows. Taxpayers are fed up. Listen or get voted on down the road.” Another said, “Taxpayers are done paying for your gender-confused programs, and it’s unacceptable to have drag shows at a public library.”
A third person wrote, “You feel this strong about drag shows at libraries? This is why normal people no longer identify with Democrat politicians.” A fourth added harshly, “What a pathetic excuse of a representative.”
Some commenters agreed that the library’s funding cut was justified. “Seems very reasonable to remove all funding,” one comment read. Another chimed in, “Drag shows are not appropriate for children. They can have them at the bars that felicitate those type of shows. I agree with the removal of these funds.”
A few people also criticized Grijalva for focusing on the issue instead of other problems affecting Arizona communities. “Worry about crime in our streets, fix our streets, and do something about the homeless drug addicts besides waste taxpayer dollars,” one X user remarked.
The Copper Queen Library has been operating since 1882 and remains one of Arizona’s oldest public libraries.
