Houston Library apologizes after registered sex offender participated in Drag Queen Storytime

This Sept. 23, 2018 photo shows Tatiana Mala-Nina before a performance at Rich's Houston in Houston. This Sept. 23, 2018 photo shows Tatiana Mala-Nina before a performance at Rich's Houston in Houston. Photo: Melissa Phillip, MBO / Associated Press Photo: Melissa Phillip, MBO / Associated Press Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Houston Library apologizes after registered sex offender participated in Drag Queen Storytime 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Houston Public Library officials apologized Friday for failing to conduct a background check on a registered sex offender who read books to children at an event hosted by drag queens.

Albert Garza, a 32-year-old registered sex offender, participated in the program under the name Tatiana Mala-Niña, according to the conservative anti-LGBTQ group, MassResistance.

Library officials acknowledged in a statement Friday that Garza has "a criminal background that should have prevented him from participating" in the Drag Queen Storytime program, in which drag queens read books at the Freed-Montrose library.

Department of Public Safety records show Garza was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of an 8-year-old child in 2009, for which he received five years of probation and community supervision.

Mala-Niña did not respond to attempts Saturday to confirm her apparent criminal background.

"We assure you that this participant will not be involved in any future HPL programs," the library's statement reads. "...We deeply regret this oversight and the concern this may cause our customers. We realize this is a serious matter."

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The development is the latest in an ongoing effort by conservatives seeking to end the Drag Queen Storytime program. In January, a federal judge granted the city's request to terminate a lawsuit against Mayor Sylvester Turner and the city's chief librarian, Rhea Lawson.

Though a group of conservative Christian activists alleged in the suit that the storytellers had violated the Constitution's freedom of religion clause, a federal judge found that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue and had failed to establish a constitutional violation.

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Meanwhile, the activists have sought background information about the drag queen storytellers, filing public records requests that the city denied, said Tracy Shannon, a MassResistance member and plaintiff in the suit. The activists then uncovered Garza's history through social media, Shannon said.

"We might not all agree that having adult entertainers is the right way to entertain young children or promote literacy, diversity and acceptance and inclusion," Shannon told reporters Friday. "But we can all agree that it's inappropriate to have a ... sex offender entertaining children at the library."

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