A children's story hour hosted by drag performers — men dressed as women — has drawn national attention to a small public library in suburban Detroit.

But not all of the attention has been favorable.

At a meeting too large for the city hall — about 300 people filled a gymnasium — members of the Huntington Woods City Commission and scores of public speakers addressed the opposition to their local library’s Drag Queen Story Hour, a departure from the usual library’s read-to-kids program.

Residents and city officials said they see the Drag Queen readings, to children as young as preschoolers, as a way to foster diversity and show acceptance of gender changing.

The scattering of opponents in the audience drew boos and catcalls from others.

The leading opponent who sparked the sometimes contentious meeting didn’t appear. City Commissioner Allison Iversen resigned her seat on the elected board via an email on Tuesday afternoon, Commissioner Jeff Jenks said before the meeting.

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“I guess she didn’t want to show up against a crowd like this,” Jenks said. Iversen recently sold her house in Huntington Woods and was moving to Lake Orion, said City Clerk Joy Solansky.

Iversen told the Free Press for an article over the weekend that she didn’t oppose diversity and gays but did object to having transsexual individuals telling stories to “impressionable young children” at a public library.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city officials read a letter supporting the Story Hour programs from leaders of Pleasant Ridge, whose residents use the Huntington Woods Public Library. The crowd applauded as Mayor Bob Paul read the letter.

“It’s unfortunate that a hate group from California has been contacting the city, demanding an end to this activity at our library,” Paul said. The city is committed to allowing it to continue, he said to loud applause and cheers.

He also read a letter of support from state Rep. Robert Wittenburg, D-Oak Park, who said that he hoped the story hour would "continue to teach our children about diversity."

The quirky, humor-laced story hour programs drew attention on Sunday after a story on Freep.com. Although online comments showed many readers cheered the diversity initiative, or at least saw no harm in it, some voiced opposition.

Resident Angela Povilaitis, a former Michigan assistant attorney general who led state's prosecution of Dr. Larry Nassar, drew applause when she stood at the lectern and addressed the commission.

“Our kids are more in danger with priests and world-renowned gymnastics doctors, predators I have prosecuted and put in jail, than at a library program such as Drag Queen Story Hour.

“In fact, the only people who have put our children in harm’s way are those who would encourage and invite hate groups to protest in our community,” Povilaitis said.

Morris Brown said he often took his 5-year-old daughter to the programs and that “what we hear is a message of love and acceptance.”

Most speakers voiced similar themes, including one 11-year-old.

But a few critics said the library programs could confuse children about gender identity and was taking place mainly for the benefit of adults who want to show off their own commitment to liberal values.

Londa Gatt, 55, of Troy, who wore a black leather vest emblazoned with “Bikers for Trump” and a Confederate flag, said she “had no problem with the Drag Queen Story Hour itself, but when it’s in a public institution supported by tax dollars, I can’t see that.” Her remarks drew hoots and jeers.

The programs were launched in late 2017 and considered virtually unique in Michigan. The story hours immediately drew large crowds, more than 100 people at one.

Arthur Schaper, organizational director based in California for MassResistance, a self-described pro-family civic group which has opposed the promotion of gay people in public life, has said that his group's local chapter plans to protest the next Drag Queen Story Time in Huntington Woods, scheduled for Jan. 26

Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com. Staff Writer Matthew Dolan contributed to this report.