Drag Queen Story Time

Hadn’t appreciated there were so many drag queens in the Bolton area. I really feel like I am living in another world, would be amazed no if there could be the same wave of protection for a self-published author from another misunderstood group.

I think I am a good person but am doubting myself over this. Why spend limited funds on a writer reading their own book? Why repeatedly state they represent a marginalised group when they are clearly performing a role? If I performed as a burlesque dancer at a library venue and people objected, they are objecting to my role, not me as a person. And rightly so, even if I was reading ‘Super Pea’, being dressed in a basque wouldn’t be right…..sorry am not making a great explanation. I am sure people would come along but probably not for the usual reasons for attending a children’s story time.

I get glitter and sequins are fun but children need fairies, dragons, superheroes, adventurers and wizards not drag queens. They need to be exposed to a range of well written stories from around the world, I am sure the story read at these events has a good message but it is how it is being pitched.

I guess I am being ‘gas lighted’ or should that be ‘gas lit’?

Bolton Library have restricted comments on their Facebook page for the event today and seem to have deleted most negative comments on previous posts. This is their latest posting:

🌈📚 Drag Queen Story Hour 📚🌈

📢 All events transferred to 17th August at Bolton Albert Halls.

We had a surge of people registering to attend the Drag Queen Story Hour and as we are keen for as many people to attend as possible, we transferred all previously advertised dates and locations to one event at Bolton Albert Halls on the 17th August. This event is now at capacity and we are no longer taking bookings.

They have stated that they promote other events such as mental health, black history month, women’s history month amongst others. I did a quick search, so I may be wrong, a talk during black history month which is excellent, mental health events, women in art sessions (3) and a table display of children’s books on powerful and notable women plus some posters on women’s history.

Stripped down, the story time is an author being paid to promote their book. One assumes the author will hope to sell books off the back of the session at a later date. This is unusual. I am aware of people wanting to use the library to provide taster sessions of child friendly activities to promote their business, they haven’t been paid to do this. They know they are getting free advertising. Perhaps there are different rules for wearing sequins? But don’t question Wokingham as they have taken advice.

Wokingham are coming down very hard on any views which don’t support the story session. Will post the other images to complete what they posted.

Here. (Nb I'm not saying this incident happened in Wokingham: the woman affected hasn't said where she is.)

Some dissenting messages from a male name.

Never mind, he didn't spell it consistently himself...!

Wow, so free pass for thieves but iron fist for those who question the thinking behind paying for this storyteller/ adult entertainment.

The posts from the council are, in their words, being very carefully watched, so any dissent will probably be removed anyway.
Theres a lib dem activist who is all over anyone who isn’t enthusiastic about it.
And they also mention that the police have been contacted and are in direct communication, just in case we need our thinking checked 😀
Wokingham has quite an issue with crimes and antisocial behaviour not being investigated due to lack of police resources, so I’m curious as to why the police have so much time to invest in this. The local co op has a terrible time with theft, from the same people time and again, and the police don’t even turn up now, even when there’s been an assault on staff.

Shakespeare not Shakespear…it removed the final ‘e’

I wouldn’t bother making a comment on the Wokingham pages, the new council has, as already mentioned, a few connections with more vocal TRAs and the tone is very much there is no issue, no conflict and no concerns. Such a waste of funds when their Children and Family service is woefully understaffed. And yes, I appreciate the library service isn’t the same dept but they do historically do a lot for young families and teens with Bookstart, rhyme time, games clubs etc. How this will narrow the gap in Wokingham, I really don’t know.

it’s just panto and like Shakespear, and only bigots question it.

I didn't know that about Pru Bray. She's not councillor for my ward but it explains why the response is as it is.

I’m on the Wokingham fb pages. It’s a bit depressing to see how many parents think DQSH is a delightful idea for their kids. I wouldn’t bother sticking your head above the parapet for this tbh, it will just be all “be kind” bollocks. Pru Bray is the councilor, and she is matey with Helen Belcher, hence her stance.

Ah Wokingham Council. Their Lib Dem councillor has been downplaying the incident with the PCSO and the sticker,and slagging off 'terfs' on twitter in the past couple of days.

Wokingham Council are now advertising this event in the residents Facebook discussion Group.
It looks as though they may have received some complaints as well as mine and are trying to smooth troubled waters - the text is exactly the same as the email reply I received.
The comments are full of people not seeing why it's a problem.
I don't know if I'm brave enough to comment.

Cherri Ontop explained themselves and the wider issues better. The quote "some drag queens have turned out to be absolute creeps so I understand why people would be somewhat on the backfoot" could have been explored more by Jonez.

YY.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/fully-grown-adult-attempts-to-stop-aida-h-dee-childrens-story-time-but-accidentally-starts-a-rave-3800447

Re the fire alarm last Saturday at the Leeds central library session

Oh, thank you!

From what I can make out Drag Queen Story Time is Aida H Dee. So 'we' in that statement must be used in the royal sense? (I suppose it's more impressive to imply you're speaking on behalf of a large organisation rather than your little old self and your lucrative side hustle.)

That leapt out at me too, in an article that took pains to avoid hyperbole all round.

Cherri Ontop explained themselves and the wider issues better. The quote "some drag queens have turned out to be absolute creeps so I understand why people would be somewhat on the backfoot" could have been explored more by Jonez.

And another here:

Here's a very interesting talk by lesbian feminist Sheila Jeffreys on the topic of drag:

Yeah, the s.28 bit was weird. He wouldn't even have been out of primary.

Samuel describes himself as a victim of section 28. “The teachers saw a camp boy, but couldn’t help me. I feel robbed of a childhood, in some way.” A pivotal moment came at 13, when he was cast as an evil villainess in a school play. He got a standing ovation, but, more importantly, was praised by a boy who had bullied him. It made him realise that not only could he inspire people like him, but he could also change the attitudes of those who were not.

The guy is 27. He was 7/8 when Section 28 ended 🙄 there has been no section 28 during the last 19 years.

This is an interesting article as it seems to take much more care than the Graun usually do not to blame the 't*s' for everything. There's not even a blanket dismissal of Mumsnet.

As I read it, it seemed to focus on the protesters coming with a genuine right-wing, reactionary stance, and didn't lump horrible pesky feminists in with that to the extent you could usually expect.

If it's true Piers Corbyn was really yelling 'your parents were straight', that's some horrifying homophobia in plain sight there and is a big concern as pp said.

If this had been commissioned in the WiSpa days we'd be reading a very different piece. I'm surprised at Tim Jonez's nuanced approach.