LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky is canceling events after a nationwide domestic terrorism alert from Homeland Security.

The Louisville-based nonprofit posted on social media that it has not received any known threats, but "safety has been and will always be our priority."

"As of now, any operations have been paused. We will not have any events until further notice. We as a board need time to figure out and try to find ways how we can hire security for any of our events," the organization said.

Homeland Security issued the alert on Nov. 30 about a "heightened threat environment." The alert warns that "lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances" to justify violence. The DHS warns that "targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, the LGBTQI+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents."

Julian Adam, executive director of Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky, said safety is a huge issue.

"We're not going to compromise on anybody's safety, so whenever this first came out, we decided we wanted to pause some of our events, we wanted to make sure that we were giving ourselves the ability to create safety plans with our venues and within our board and volunteers to make sure if something was to arise that we will be able to handle it to the best of our ability," Adam said.

Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky reads to children at events held at local libraries, schools, bookstores, community centers and other venues. The organization said its mission is to provide "inclusive, accessible, culturally diverse education."

The organization posted that, "We are committed to providing Queer education programming, but your safety is not negotiable. With these high levels of threats, we are meeting and figuring out ways we can continue to have programs while having more safety protocols."

Adam said the organization is working to have licensed security guards for events next year.

"We're looking at budgeting and putting that into our budget for this next year," Adam said. "It's not necessarily something that we would want to do, and we feel like we've been going for two years now not having an issue."

The nationwide alert was issued following several mass shootings including one at a Colorado gay club where the patrons were celebrating a drag queen's birthday. Five people were killed and 17 wounded by gunfire in the attack.

Drag Queen Storytime-Kentucky plans to resume events in 2023. 

To donate to the organization, click here.

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