A library thought it appropriate to book this 'entertainment' for children and I feel sick

[flashbac]

I thought it was a joke, a photoshop job, a hoax even but it's not.

WTF

A children's entertainer in a library with this costume?

twitter.com/StandingforXX/status/1414247886242598912?s=19

What the hell is this?

This link (posted on the thread in Feminism) is from Women Are Human shows the 'performers' running out of a library (Goodmayes Library) to harass passing cars. They have posted it with a statement "Get Ready George Lane and Southwoodford Library, we're coming for you next!" And then the hashtag Summer Reading Challenge.

www.womenarehuman.com/furry-rainbow-monkey-with-huge-dildo-performs-for-children-at-library/

This is the video where they appear to be simulating sex before they run outside.

Dildo Monkey is front and centre, so the first thing you notice on the video is that penis swinging about.

I don't see how the library can claim they didn't know what to expect from this group.

@Hyacinth88

It's a fake baboons bottom. Part of a story.

I assume you’ve missed the huge penis hanging from his crotch.

It's fascinating (and terrifying) the knots they tie themselves in to be 'OK' with this type of issue.
Such determination for it to be normal and mainstream.

Someone (even if it were just the performer) thought it was perfectly fine to demonstrate reading with a dildo.
To children.

Yes, the library apologised following the backlash , but prior to that, they tweeted "If you've got it, flaunt it" in relation to the monkey (a pp has posted screenshots).

What happened, only recently safeguarding was a thing, with regular training in it. Are people now too stupid to realise when safeguarding is being breached in front of their eyes, or do they not care.

Safeguarding is still a big thing. If you go for a job interview in almost any publicly funded organisation you will almost inevitably be asked questions about safeguarding - it will possibly be given more prominence than your ability to actually do the job. You will still be subjected to endless training on it (much of which is good). However, certain things seem to get a pass as far as safeguarding is concerned. A wilful blind eye is turned. This is due to relentless political pressure from certain individuals and organisations.

@Whatwouldscullydo the way I read that tweet was that someone complained to the Councillor, he was already dealing with it and took exception to being asked again. The person complaining then said 'well great but how was I supposed to know that? You haven't put out any sort of statement'. I was at a Councillor speaking to one of his constituents like that. It was so rude and unnecessary.

Wow.

Disgusting.

First the organisations are groomed, next it's parents who are made to feel like they're over reacting or not being woke enough, then that leaves no one protecting children.

@Cabinfever10

And the response from the profomers company

That is a typical non-apology: "we are sorry you were offended" and NOT "we are sorry that we put forward an indecent act that was totally inappropriate for childen and which should have been nowhere near the library". Obviously they feel the correct way forward is more grooming so parents aren't offended rather than sacking the 'performer'.

YANBU. It’s really worrying and not a good sign that it was obviously signed off by the council.

The group that did it have put out a mealy mouthed statement, but it’s clear they don’t see what the problem is.

There is a growing problem with some groups trying to access children through public spaces, eg drag queens in libraries; normalising adult sexualised practices. It’s creepy AF.

The Dept for Education and MHCLG urgently need to put out stringent guidance on this.

Our children are being groomed. Many schools now totally outsource their sex ed classes to some of these dodgy orgs too- make sure you ask to see all the materials your children will be shown in advance.

YADNBU OP

But it is always a shock to see a small proportion of people vote the other way on these polls. We have also seen some people here seeking to dismiss its significance with a ‘it’s a bare bottom’ or ‘it isn’t erect’ (no but no one can say that was not an engorged fake penis).

This is where society lands after a concerted effort of destabilization of what is considered appropriate for children and society as a whole. And to be clear, I mean from children wearing sexualised clothing to people dressed up in dog suits being patted.

@NiceGerbil

And as a random aside. Why are blokes so dick obsessed? Drawing them over everything, this one waggling a fake one, the ones who show them to you in the park or on the bus, unsolicited dick pics...

We're really not terribly interested. Put it away FGS.

We're in the middle of a penis cult.

Disgusting. Wonder if any of the parents who were there had anything to say?!

When I took my small children to the local library many years ago, it was a safe place full of colour and books to enjoy and spark the imagination.
Bean bags to relax on, it was a calm environment.
It was also free, somewhere to go in the rain, somewhere to escape to if it was a tough day.
I used my local library for my children as my mother did for me and my grandmother before.
Storytelling and story time has always been popular, encouraging interaction with children but this is so grossly inappropriate.
Such an invasion of what should be a safe space,
Totally unacceptable.

At what point is this acceptable in a public library at an event trying to encourage children to read

@Lockheart

But it would be ok if it was small?

The point is that it's more noticeable. Come on, Lockheart, you get this.

Is the monkey dildo costume some sort of fetish costume? It's hardly a child friendly monkey suit. Did the library/council not ask for sight of the costumes in advance?

I also don't understand how the wearer of that costume could feel comfortable wearing it around children. Why would you choose to do that?

@NewallKnowall

I am so disappointed to read all about this.

My local library has had Drag Story Times for a while and they're so enthusiastically advertised and welcomed by fellow mums that I doubted myself complaining, especially as I can't really articulate what my issue is. This just another step down the line for me into making me feel libraries are no longer somewhere safe and reliable for my DC and me.

What does Drag Story Time entail? I've never heard of it before today.

It makes me feel sick to see public grooming of children (and parents) being defended.

FFS, normal LGB people have fought for decades to get away from the automatic ‘dodgy pedos’ insinuations.

To now have it celebrated and snuck in with all the Q+ alphabet additions is an affront. We are now expected to accept ‘nappy fetishes’ and this sick shit as part of our community.

Fuck off.

@foxandbee

I also don't understand how the wearer of that costume could feel comfortable wearing it around children. Why would you choose to do that?

I don’t understand this either. Even if the library/council had not done their research properly, you’d think the point at which they asked to book the rainbow monkey for a children’s event would be the point at which the performance company would say: ‘Actually, that costume won’t be suitable for a kids’ event…here are some of our other characters which may be more suitable…’

@foxandbee

I also don't understand how the wearer of that costume could feel comfortable wearing it around children. Why would you choose to do that?

That person will feel entirely comfortable wearing that costume around children, in fact more than comfortable…that’s the most worrying thing.

@Deathsquito that makes me so sad. One of DDs close friend have gay parents. They are beyond lovely and especially one of the dads is always at the class parties and play dates.

The thought of anyone associating them with the rainbow dildo monkey or the jacuzzi pervert makes me sick.

@LittleMyTopKnot

Is that actor showing his naked butt to Muslim women????

It's a fake baboon's bottom - but at a quick glance it looks real - and who would want to give more than a quick glance. Completely inappropriate.