To not understand drag queens at libraries?

[MouseShoes]

Just recently, there seems to be lots of news stories about drag acts reading books for children at libraries. I don’t understand what this is meant to do. Is it supposed to lead to acceptance as the children get older?

There we have it. This is why it's popularity is growing. It's because some parents don't look past the end of their noses at the ideology promoting it, the sly exposure of children to sexualised situations and material, the gradual dismantling of societal norms especially around children and safe guarding. Instead preferring to congratulate themselves on being right on and "inclusive" at a very superficial level.

I've never really 'got' drag. So I wouldn't be interested in taking my child to a drag story time. I think it's a bit weird. Kids would probably rather see people dressed up as a character from the story?

Yazo

since you are one of the few people on here advocating for this insanity could you explain why men dressing up as highly sexualised versions of women is a good idea for young children in libraries.

Out of interest, how many of you know that July is Disability Pride month? Any of you hear of any events promoting inclusivity around disability? Any disabled people being asked to read to kids in libraries?

Why is that do you think?

LondonWolf

absolutely. The guy doing DQST could do a story time focused on neurodiversity with related stories and it would be genuinely fabulous!

As seasoned performers the drag artists are more than capable of altering and adapting their characters to suit young audiences. This may shock you but some the drag performers may even be parents themselves.

Please remember that implying all individuals who identify as LGBT+ are somehow predatory sexual deviants is an incredibly offensive and outdated example of homophobia.

And for those concerned this acts as some kind of indoctrination please remember that for young children any information on the LGBT+ community is not at all sexual but instead raising awareness that we are all different, people live their lives differently and that's absolutely ok.

Drag performers want to do this to promote literacy, diversity, support local libraries and help community cohesion. At its core, drag is about spreading beauty and joy - two things that everyone is entitled to regardless of your identity.

Drag performers can be of any gender or race so the idea of "what if a woman dressed up as a man" just isn't true - drag is inclusive and open to everyone.

Drag queens and story time go hand in hand as both are fun, educational group activities that spread love and understanding.

I find it interesting how few of the commenters here have actually attended one of these events. Perhaps they might learn something as well as their children.

Actual librarian here! I can tell you why our library hosts Drag Queen Storytime. Our local community has responded with great positivity to the events (meaning we'll get ~100-200 attendees, which is a lot for our little town), we get lots of positive feedback and have had no programming challenges brought before the city or library board.

Parents have expressed appreciation that these events teach children that there are all different kinds of people in the world and many different ways to express yourself. The children seem to love the costumes and theatrics, the last event I worked had everyone shrieking with laughter.

The books topics are usually centered around kindness and being yourself ("Do you want to meet a kind person? Be a kind person!") and also that families look different for everyone. There's usually a lot of fun music (Jojo Siwa etc, I'm not as clued in to the different musicians) jumping and clapping. The content is in no way sexualised. The last performer we had wore a 1950's style dress with a massive skirt, rainbow converse and a massive rainbow wig. These events are completely optional of course, and held in an area separate from the main library, so no one is forced to attend.

I have no problem with drag artists . Have been to shows, but they are adult shows so I can not see any reason whatsoever why they should go to childrens schools. Let children be children for as long as we can . No need to grow up too soon.

You think a drag queen and not an actual disabled person should do the reading? Interesting take.

🤦🏼‍♀️

I am a big fan of drag queen shows but to me it is adult entertainment.

A big part of it is the colourful jokes/language and the sexual innuendos and the banter/making fun of the audience. So I don't really get how this suddenly is supposed to become mainstream entertainment or education for small children.

Drag Race UK is fun and is about fashion and freedom of expression and is on the BBC but again it is not a kids' programme due the language and themes used.

I think we should be raising tolerant children but I don't see the benefits of small kids interacting with queens.

I would also think that any self-respecting drag queen would feel restricted and odd having to suddenly do a performance for children as most their act would have to be toned down or removed.

LondonWolf

No - the guy doing this tour is very much emphasising the fact that he is on the autistic spectrum and has ADHD.

Yes, our library does events for Disability Awareness month and book displays throughout the whole library :)

Oh ok, sorry I misunderstood you. It's hard to keep track when sifting through the insanity of this at times.

Chickpeasandbeans

Would you invite a stripper or pole dancer in if they read in a non sexualised way? It would show diversity too.
If not, why not?

I responded to the wrong person :/

Good to be able to have this discussion

LondonWolf

No Problem- I’d mentioned it on a previous post but this thread is moving very fast.

Yes, our library does events for Disability Awareness month and book displays throughout the whole library :)

That's good to know. I've made it my business to contact multiple libraries about this and ask them what they're planning for DPM and not a single one was doing a thing. Might I ask whereabouts you are? You can DM me if you don't want to say publicly.

Drag is not inherently sexual, it is a mode of entertainment, like comedy and dancing, both of which can be sexual/explicit but aren't always. We have had dancers from the local ballet in to do an event which we paired with the book by Misty Copeland. Some of them may have been exotic dancers as well, I don't know. At that event they talked about body diversity and had dancers of all shapes and sizes.

I've PMed you!

It's grooming.

The fact is though that very little of what a drag acts wear is what a woman would wear in the normal course of their lives. Everything is a caricature of how most women present themselves.

I find this caricature and extreme representation of what is supposedly ' feminine ' makes me feel uncomfortable. I am not sure why really.

I know I'd have much less trouble explaining a man who is dressed in normal women's clothing and makeup to a child than one dressed in drag. The former is a man who likes to dress in feminine clothing and to use make up and nail varnish etc, the latter seems like they are making fun of what a women looks like by a exaggerating all aspects of their appearance

It’s about men attention-seeking, as so often.

Our library also has Sensory Storytime for kids with ND and Bilingual storytime. Larger library systems than ours have a broader array I think though. You should reach out to your local library and recommend storytimes you would like to see! Most libraries have places that the public can recommend programming, we've done some really cool events as a result of public feedback.