The author of a book that would have been showcased during a book launch and Drag Queen Story Hour reading at two different locations in Mobile is blaming “deep-seated bigotry” and “MAGA extremists” for the fallout.

Josh Coleman, the LGBTQ liaison with the City of Birmingham, said Thursday in a Facebook announcement that “continued and escalating threats” led to the event Friday at Books-A-Million (BAM!) to be postponed. Coleman said that BAM! opted to cancel the event. A company spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

The cancellation comes one day after Oyster City Brewing, amid threats to its employees, backed out from hosting Coleman’s book launch and the Drag Queen Story reading. That event was supposed to feature guest and Alabama TikTok star “Mama Tot,” but she opted to back out as well.

“The attacks have gone too far,” Coleman said in a Facebook post, while promoting his children’s book, “Finding My Rainbow” which highlights his story about coming out and “coming to terms on who I am, growing up and moving to Birmingham and what I do now focusing on Pride and living your authentic self.”

Coleman continued, “The relentless hate and harassment we’ve faced highlight the deep-seated bigotry that still plagues our society. This extremist has organized a campaign to silence us, but they have only strengthened our resolve.”

“While this event in Mobile will not happen this Friday, rest assured that we are already planning to reschedule,” Coleman wrote. “We will return to Mobile with the same format, including a Drag Queen Story Time, to celebrate our community and share our stories.”

Coleman, on Wednesday, said a protest to the Oyster City Brewing event was set up by someone who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Darren Sweeney, who organized the protest, said he was interested in speaking to Coleman to “explain to him that I am in no way an extremist.” He said his group has no quarrel with an individual’s lifestyle, acknowledging that Drag Queen shows and brunches are held all the time in Mobile and that many businesses are in support of the LGBTQ community.

“We have never even considered protesting at any of those events because they are adult events and we respect that,” Sweeney said. But he said his group “draws a line” when children are involved, claiming that such events allow people to “target and publicly groom other parents’ prepubescent children.”

“We, as parents, should feel compelled to protect a child’s innocence for as long as possible,” Sweeney said.

He said he would prefer for Coleman and others to host events involving children at their homes and not in public.

The comments come amid a growing backlash in conservative states against establishments that host drag queen events in front of children. Legislation has been introduced in recent years to to ban all public drag shows in front of minors. And in advance to the 2025 session, Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, has introduced HB4 that would likely prohibit drag performances in libraries or schools.

The fallout in Mobile comes nearly six years since the city’s library system hosted one of the South’s earliest Drag Queen Story Hour events at the Ben May Main branch library — approximately one block away from Oyster City Brewing.

That event, which took place in September 2018, featured a large crowd of LGBTQ activists and supporters and only a few protesters. At the time, there was nowhere near the amount of conservative backlash to drag shows.

Coleman said he believes it’s important to recognize that the events are designed to “promote literacy, acceptance and the celebration of diversity in a safe and inclusive environment.”

“They are not about grooming or targeting children but about fostering a love for reading and teaching the values of inclusion and respect for all,” Coleman said. “Public events like Drag Queen Story Hour are a reflection of our diverse society and the values we uphold — acceptance, education, and community engagement. They provide a space for all families to share experiences and learn from one another. Private events would exclude those who might benefit most from these lessons of acceptance and diversity.”