by Jim Larson
ButteNews.net
June 1, 2023
This story was updated Jun 2, 2023.
The Butte Public Library has canceled a talk by Montana journalist Adria Jawort.
The engagement was canceled by order of Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive JP Gallagher on the advice of County Attorney Eilleen Joyce.
Jawort was scheduled to speak at the Library’s First Fridays event on June 2.
Explaining the cancellation in a phone interview, Joyce pointed to a May 26 tweet by Jawort, posting as @IndigiTrans, that said, “And I will definitely have a book & sexuality will be discussed & minors may be present, & the State of Montana doesn’t legally recognize people being trans, so … ‘\_(“/)_/’ “ When asked if the county's decision could also have legal consequences, the county attorney agreed, noting either path, to cancel or go ahead, could bring about action against Butte-Silver Bow.
If the tweet had not been brought to the attention of the county attorney and the chief executive, Joyce said that it was unlikely that the event would have been canceled.
In the same thread, Jawort wrote:
“LGBTQ/2 Spirit history lecture at a library June 2. I’m really entertaining at this one too.
#MostHumblest.
But this literally might be illegal in Mont. as a flamboyantly dressed trans woman,
I don’t get paid, but in fascist red state you pay 4 ‘crimes’ instead.”
When asked if her tweet was framed as a direct challenge to the state's anti-drag story hour law, Jawort said that the tweet was meant to mock the law, "pointing out how silly it was." Her talk, she noted, was about the story and traditions of Native American two-spirit people.
In his email to Butte-Silver Bow Public Library Director Stephanie Johnson that directed her to cancel Jawort’s talk, Gallagher described the event as a “Drag Story Hour.” Johnson replied that she would comply with the chief executive’s request, but noted that “As an adult event, contracted through Humanities MT (not drag event for children), I did not realize it would be a violation of MT state law.”
Earlier today the chief executive read a proclamation to gathered media and citizens in support of National Pride Month.
Johnson issued this statement regarding the cancellation, "Our 'First Friday' speaker has been cancelled due to recent legislation (HB359) and at the recommendation of Butte-Silver Bow County legal council. Our commitment to promoting inclusivity and intellectual exploration remains, but not in violation of law."
In a later email, Gallagher wrote that he called Jawort to ask if she would consider an alternative venue. Jawort hung up on him, he said. Jawort confirmed that she had hung up on the chief executive, but she noted that she was not opposed to giving her talk in a different venue.
Watch for updates as this story develops.
Disclosure: Jim Larson, co publisher of ButteNews.net and MainStreetMontana.com, is chairman of the Butte Public LIbrary’s board of trustees.
