ALAMOSA — A larger than usual number of people attended the meeting of the Alamosa City Council on Wednesday night where, after being read by Councilor Dawn Krebs, Mayor Ty Coleman signed a proclamation declaring August in Alamosa as Overdose Awareness month.

“The City Council of the City of Alamosa, Colorado, does hereby proclaim August 2025 as Overdose Awareness Month…and calls upon all citizens, businesses, schools, and community organizations to learn the facts, carry naloxone, reduce stigma, and support recovery and prevention efforts,” the proclamation read.

A group of people with various involvement in recovery and peer recovery programs,  including several who had survived overdosing, were on hand to accept the proclamation signed by Mayor Ty Coleman. 

Coleman made a point of stressing how the city is committed to reducing the stigma associated with drug misuse and mental health issues.

As became obvious during the public comment segment of the meeting, many who attended the meeting were there in response to the plans for the Alamosa Public Library to provide space for “Drag Storytime” later this month.

During the public comment section, more than ten people took the full three minutes allowed to voice their opinion, with all but one person speaking in opposition.

Concerns generally fell into two categories.

Pastor Chester Jones spoke first from a Christian religious perspective, stating the event was offensive to Christian beliefs. Jones also expressed concerns about the influence such an event would have on young children.

Although “drag” and “sexuality” are widely viewed as distinctly different concepts, some individuals who referenced the Bible in their comments also referenced the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Others felt that the Storytime would have strong and undue influence on very young children in attendance.

A man referred to as Coach West spoke of the years he has spent coaching youth in tough areas in California and his work with youth now. He spoke of the need to “uplift” youth, stating that Drag Storytime did not do that for children.

Another speaker named Stephanie Jones voiced concerns about the requirement to have an adult attend with their child, including those who are 18 and younger. Jones viewed the parental requirement as being a violation of the youth’s “liberty” as, perhaps, some of teenagers who wanted to attend would not do so because they had not shared personal choices with their parents.

At the conclusion of the meeting where councilors comments are part of the agenda, City Manager Heather Sanchez addressed the issue, handing discussion to City Attorney Erich Schwiesow who read the state law prohibiting discrimination by a municipality on the basis of a number of categories, including gender preference.  Schwiesow stated that, if the library had refused the request for Drag Storytime made to them by SLV Pride, they would have been in violation of the law.

Sanchez then turned the discussion over to council to weigh in on the subject.

Councilors Krebs and Hensley spoke in support of the event, stressing the need for inclusivity and acceptance.

Councilor Michael Carson felt otherwise. Referencing a conversation he had with members of SLV Pride, he was opposed to the event for being motivated solely for political reasons. Carson then spoke openly about member(s) of his family who identify as LGBTQ, expressing a deep fear that events like this can end up being harmful – and possibly injurious – to those who may identify as being LGBTQ.

He brought up a member of his immediate family whom he said he watched struggle with the issue, telling others on council, “You don’t know what that’s like until you’ve been there.” He then became impassioned in discussing how people can be hurt as a result of “something like this, which is only being done for political reasons.”

There were no further comments after Councilor Carson finished speaking and, given this was not an issue to be voted on or approved by council, no further action was taken.