WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Supporters of the LGBTQ community this week voiced their dismay at recent comments by a Selectboard member who spoke critically of drag-themed entertainment just days after two events at Northern Stage were targeted by hoax bomb threats.

Residents and community members used a public forum at Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting to rebuke Lannie Collins for his remarks at a Jan. 9 board meeting, where Collins objected to fellow Selectboard member Ally Tufenkjian referring to a recent drag event as “a positive experience for children.” (At the event, drag performers read family-friendly stories with LGBTQ-themes such as inclusion and acceptance.)

“I take deference to it being labeled a positive experience because some people in our community would not view those events at Northern Stage as a positive experience,” Collins said during Selectboard comments earlier this month. “That is a personal expression and is not shared by all members of the board or all residents within the town. And I don’t think it’s appropriate (for Selectboard members) to make personal statements about whether it is positive or negative.”

Collins’ comments came three days after emails containing a bomb threat were sent to several Upper Valley businesses, organizations and residents. Two of the emails went to the Northern Stage, which was hosting two drag-themed events as fundraisers for the Upper Valley Circus Collective, a not-for-profit camp that teaches circus arts.

Though police determined the threats were a hoax, families who were attending an afternoon story hour at Northern Stage’s Barrette Center for the Arts were forced to evacuate the theater as a precaution and the remainder of the show was canceled.

Collins condemned the bomb threats at the Jan. 9 meeting though he disagreed with Tufenkjian about the appropriateness of the drag shows for children. LGBTQ supporters at Tuesday’s meeting called Collins’ remarks insensitive, unwarranted and harmful.

Danny Brzozowski, of White River Junction, said that Selectboard members have tremendous influence in the community and therefore need to be thoughtful in their public statements.

“We are your neighbors and deserving of the same respect and safety that you enjoy,” Brzozowski told Collins. “Your words have real consequences and I urge you to consider those consequences before you speak.”

Collins, responding directly to attendees on several occasions, said that he “stands by his comment” — which he said only was conveying an opinion held by some residents.

“I support the right for people to have a Drag Story Hour and I fully support the rights of LGBTQ, both in this country and in the town,” Collins said. “That doesn’t mean that I have to agree with them. But I support their ability to do that.”

But several residents suggested not giving an opinion at all would have been the better course of action.

Chico Eastridge, of White River Junction, felt that weighing in on the merit of the event trivializes the more pressing issue of a violent threat being targeted at a marginalized group in the community.

Referring to drag story time as “not positive” implies “that children interacting with queer people is inherently negative and something to be avoided,” said Jordyn Fitch, a media producer at Junction Arts & Media, or JAM.

“Not only is that an embarrassing and bigoted take, it (also) perpetuates the type of violence that my wife and I have experienced since we moved (to the Upper Valley),” said Fitch, who lives in Lebanon but works in White River Junction.

Fitch, who uses the pronouns “they” and “them”, said they have been harassed and threatened on numerous occasions in the Upper Valley. Six months ago, Fitch and their wife, Maeve Littau, were forced to move from their previous apartment in Lebanon due to continuous threats and acts of vandalism by another tenant.

Some residents questioned the timing of Collins’ comment, given that many families who had attended the story hour were emotionally affected by the evacuation.

John Haffner, of White River Junction, attended the Drag Story Hour at Barrette Center for the Arts with his two children, ages 4 and 6.

“Maybe just think about the timing of things that are said and be sensitive to peoples’ experiences,” Haffner told Collins. “It was so tough to hear that. I was so glad that the majority of the Selectboard was offering their support to the performers and the community that was affected.”

Drag Story Hour is hosted by Burlington-based performers Justin Marsh, whose stage name is Emoji Nightmare, and Katniss Everqueer, who goes by Katniss EQ when performing for families.

Haffner, who has attended multiple Drag Story Hour events in the Upper Valley, characterized them as very positive.

Collins, in an interview after the meeting, said that he has heard concerns about Drag Story Hour from fellow members at his church, Valley Bible Church, an evangelical house of worship on Fairview Terrace.

He said it is difficult to be accused of bigotry because he does not agree morally with a particular activity.

“I feel as a Christian that I must stand up for Christian values,” he said, “but while I don’t think (Drag Story Hour) is right, I still support their right to do it.”

Collins acknowledged that the timing of his comments — coming on the heels of the hoax threats — might have been ill-chosen.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.