A nearly $650,000 grant request that was looking very promising for the Copper Queen Library (CQL) was recently removed during funding approval after it was learned the library had previously held drag events in 2019 and again in 2024.
According to a press release from Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who confirmed the funding request she made from the FY27 Agriculture Appropriations bill had been removed. In the release she condemned house Republicans for weaponizing the Community Project Funding (CPF) process which would have provided funds for rehabilitation and preservation projects of the historic building.
Grijalva said, “The funding was removed by Republicans on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture after learning the library had hosted drag events in 2019 and 2024 – just two of the hundreds of community programs hosted at the library.”