Magician show canceled after threats and criticism of artist’s transgender identity | Regional news

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Magician Mikayla Oz was scheduled to give her first show in Wyoming on Wednesday. She booked six shows for children and teens at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette about a year ago, she said, and was thrilled to bring her family show on The Magic of Reading into the city. ‘State.

Then last week the library started receiving calls and emails and noticing social media posts protesting Ozs’ shows after community members found out she was transgender.

Library executives weren’t aware Oz was transgender when they booked her and, said director of youth services Darcy Acord, it wouldn’t have mattered.

The Iowa-based magician told the library on Saturday that she still wanted to take part in the show. But on Tuesday, after Oz and the library received multiple threats from members of the community, Oz decided it wouldn’t be safe for her or the kids to participate in the show.

They said, you better not come to our town, Oz said of a phone call she got on Monday night, if you do it’s going to be trouble.

She also received an email with a similar message: You are not welcome at Gillette.

Also on Monday, the library’s executive director, Terri Lesley, said a man entered the library and told staff they would have to close on Wednesday, when the first shows were scheduled, and that it would not be in. security there.

On Wednesday, Acord said, several families who had not heard that the shows had been canceled still showed up at the library, hoping to see some magic.

But there was also another group of a dozen people demonstrating in front of the library on Wednesday. Some wore shirts that said No Trans, according to Acord, and held signs with slogans such as Dont trans our kids.

Oz said she had never faced a backlash in her career for being transgender before last week. Most of the time he doesn’t even come.

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Lesley said the Campbell County Public Library had never seen anything like it either in his 25 years there. When they posted a blog post highlighting books on queer topics for teens in late June and made it public on Facebook, Lesley said they were trying to draw attention to the collection in the part of libraries’ mission to provide diverse educational opportunities to all.

If it was a public library we never tell anyone you should read this, Acord said. We’re just saying, here are the resources we have available if you choose to read them.

The post was released during Pride Month, which since 2015 has also been celebrated as Rainbow Book Month by US libraries.

Wyoming Public Radio reported that at a meeting of Campbell County commissioners last week, residents criticized the library for pushing a political agenda and unfairly favoring certain groups by promoting the collection.

During more than an hour of public commentary last Tuesday, the commission heard concerns that the books were inappropriate for young people and would confuse them about their own identity and sexuality.

Shortly after this meeting, Acord said, some members of the community found a Youtube video in which Oz talks about his transition.

At least one person posted on Facebook about Oz, equating transgender people with pedophiles, calling Oz names and saying his show would teach kids how to be trans. A post said there would be a response outside of the shows and encouraged people to contact county commissioners to raise concerns.

It broke my heart, Oz said. It’s just sad for me that a small percentage that wants to be very vocal and loud and angry about it ruined it for everyone.

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Oz’s own career began with a magic show in a library when she was 4 years old. After the show, she and her mother consulted a stack of magic books that taught her her first set of tricks.

Now his shows are all about making things appear, disappear or float. The crowd favorite is usually a bird named Bubbles which reappears throughout the show. When performing in libraries, which she often does, the show also encourages children to discover the magic in books and use their local libraries.

What the show doesn’t include is a reference to her gender, transition, or anything about herself.

For many children, free summer reading programs and performers are some of the few chances they have to have these diverse cultural and educational experiences, Acord said. Most of them don’t go to large urban areas. Many customers are eagerly awaiting them.

Touring and doing magic is Oz’s full-time job. She performed in 43 libraries in June and has 36 lined up this month.

Since announcing her cancellation and her reasons, Oz has said she has been inundated with positive feedback. Hundreds of people in Gillette and surrounding Wyoming sent kind messages and left encouraging comments, she said, and the library has maintained their support throughout.

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