Drag Queen Storytime at my local library (photo attached)

[Carla786]

I had a lovely trip to my local library yesterday. Spent a long time there choosing books, basically the whole time there was a very noisy toddler event going on in the next room. I didn't mind, they host a lot of stuff for various people & that's good.

As I left, I looked at the posters of various things they were advertising. I saw one for 'Mama G', clearly a drag queen, which I photographed for identification purposes. I thought this nonsense of drag story hours might be quietening down, but clearly not at my library. I'd never seen them advertise anything like that before 🤦‍♀️

Checking the photo when I got home, I saw the event had taken place that day, while I was choosing my books. I wasn't listening particularly hard, but from what I heard it sounded more like a 'panto dame' style event than anything sexualised. It still seems odd and inadvisable though. If a drag Queen wants to do panto style entertainment for kids too, he should have a separate line in that, rather than mixing it up. 'Drag queen shows ' are by nature sexual and adult, so 'drag queen' shows blur boundaries whatever the content/intention.

There is no photo attached.

Surprised that's still a thing

It’s basically Panto.

I literally cannot see the issue. Yanks being weird about it is one thing but Britons being weird about Drag Queen reading hour at libraries are absolutely bonkers given we have Pantomime.

And can people stop with saying Drag Queen’s are inherently sexual? That’s what’s created this nonsense. Drag has been around for ages and Drag Queen’s will simply fit their show to the surrounding.

If it wasn’t sexualised, it’s like someone reading the kids a story while dressed up. Like a panto character. I can’t see the issue myself, if you don’t like it, don’t go!

Grim. Perform on stage as pantomime dames or a drag queen act if you must but why on earth storytime with impressionable young kids. I'd complain to the library op.

Oh no it isn't! (See what I did there? )

I know Mama G, her act is a pantomime dame. She sings silly songs about acceptance and rainbows. It’s not remotely sexual. My kids love her. With everything going on in the world, I’m sure you can find something better to get in a tizzy about.

What a stupid thing to say. Why is being a Panto dame performing to kids but that same dame reading to kids becomes a problem?!

Oh yes it is….

🙄

Drag queens aren't usually of the cuddly old school Biggins type, they are styled in an overty sexualised way often with misogynistic names.

There's a time and a place. Clubs fine if it's your thing, kids storytime? Nope.

UK drag isn't traditionally sexual in nature, or at least no more than 'Carry-on' style of humour. It's always been comedy. Televised American influenced drag is more adult (like drag race) but that's not representative of UK drag.

Why on earth would it be sexual?! Just sharing books. Genuinely cannot see the issue

I can’t get too stressed about this. If they were saying they are women then that’s been the issue for me but they are clear they are not and it’s a “performance style” rather than a sexual fetish thing. From a child’s perspective, it’s like a Panto dame.

Here’s the photo of the offending Dame, I see she’s showing a bit of ankle, oo er

I'd need to see the photos tbh.

Edit - cross posted with the photo.
I really dont think thats inappropriate at all. Colourful, fun and very panto like.

Assuming the performance was age appropriate then I wouldn't have a problem. There's really no difference between this and a pantomime dame.

What do you actually think will happen to the poor impressionable children? They’ll want to wear wigs and lipstick? Put on a dress? They’ll want to read more books? They’ll think it’s ok to be different? How is this harmful?

me and dd love drag race uk 😂, I will have to see whether my local library do one

Probably more of a pantomime act than a drag show. It might not be to everyone’s taste but I don’t really see the harm?
I’m not keen on pantomime dames or on drag acts but also appreciate someone who’s trying to get people to attend their local library (we need to increase footfall to keep them open!) and tell stories.

So you took a photo of a poster about an event that you didn't go to. To complain about it on here? Right.

I remember going to an event at my playgroup where a local actor came in and read us Captain Pugwash while dressed as a pirate.

I didn't take to the High Seas to commandeer other vessels with violence...

I don't like the concept of Drag Queen's.
Basically a parody and mockery of women.
I don't understand their popularity.
And I certainly don't understand how they could be considered children's entertainment or what place they could possibly have in the local children's library.

God these threads are so boring. Took my daughter to a drag bingo (an event organised for new parents to attend with their babies to meet others etc & socialise) when she was a baby and she bloody loved it. There is literally nothing sexual about it. I’d rather have a drag queen reading a story to my child than any of the men currently in positions of government high power.

That's adorable!

Why would we ever want to confuse children as to who is a man and who is a woman. No good can come of this.

Protect the children.

Showing my age here but Jackanory used to have people like Rick Mayall reading stories-it didn’t mean toddlers rushed to watch the Young Ones or Bottom!