BBC article on reaction to drag queen reading stories to children in Taunton library

[Freespeecher]

Lots to pick at here, but I'm sure it's not normal to name social media posters who were unhappy with it. Borderline doxxing at another front of the Transgender War

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-46753018

Ah yes, the totally normal and healthy intersection of drag and kids. Google "Desmond is Amazing" and "Lactatia" for some wholesome examples of children encouraged into this milieu by their wonderful parents.

/s /s /s /s obviously

It's the relentless creep of a crude sexualisation of women being forced on children by the stupidly woke.

Tom Canhams Twitter is borderline doxxing on this as well

I tried to find out more about Drag Queen Story Time, the group giving these readings to kids in the UK, but I couldn't find much about them. Several articles & videos showing snippets of readings (including several in UK schools rather than than municipal libraries). But no website.

But I did find a very professional, polished website for an analogous group in the US, Drag Queen Story Hour, which does these readings throughout the US & "all over the world":

Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.

www.dragqueenstoryhour.org

In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real

Yes because adults playing dress up and being glamorous role models is so helpful in grown up life. Maybe they'll all grow up to be Katie Price.

Bring back Robert Smith of The Cure I say.

The Drag Queen Story Hour website has many videos of readings in process. They show large, deep-voiced men in garish made-up, OTT wigs, hooker heels & "glamorous" get-ups caricaturing the most offensive stereotypes of womanhood & femininity. And these guys are not promoting tolerance, acceptance & "freedom to be who you are" in general ways. They are explicitly preaching queer theory, gender fluidity, sex-change & drag culture.

One video shows the children being asked "does anyone know what a drag queen is?" & when none of the kids do, they're told "a drag queen is a character you create to express your feminine side." The video then cuts to what looks like a coloring book worksheet to help children "choose your drag name." What next, teach them how to come up with their (kiddie) porn name?

In the same video, a little girl says she wants to be a super-hero. Instead of "validating" & "affirming" the child, her dreams & super-hero ID with an encouraging but innocuous "you go girl" or "that would be great", the big drag queen tells her, "you can be a drag queen super hero!" WTAF?

indie or let kids learn that men can sport make-up, glittery clothes & long "girlie" hair from fellow 2019 Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees Roxy Music in their early years:

You can vote in a poll organised by the Somerset County Gazette

www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17335520.response-to-drag-queen-story-time-event-in-taunton-library/

The more I think about drag aka womanface the more problems I have with it.

If I stuck on a fake beard and hairy chest and shoved some padding down my pants and went to read stories to kids in my deepest voice would these mums be happy about it?

The fact that men are lauded for mocking and exaggerating femininity, whereas women are punished for rejecting it AND for embracing it is just another manifestation of male privilege. IMO.

But some GC women are calling that pov 'homophobic'.

The more I think about drag aka womanface the more problems I have with it.

Yeah. I've always been uncomfortable with drag, but didn't know how to articulate it until this year. I think 'womanface' is exactly right. It's about ridiculing over-the-top stereotypes of womanhood. You can't convince me that guys (of any sexual orientation) laughing about "fish" is not misogynistic.

This is akin to Black Lives Matter going into schools & libraries to teach kids about racial equality & black pride by reprising old-fashioned minstrel shows. In an era when everyone knows blackface is racist & offensive, why is it still acceptable for grown men to don misogynist & offensive womanface? And why are they lauded as brave & forward-thinking for doing so?

Most important, why is there such a big move in the UK & US to give grown men pushing sexist stereotypes about women access to, & influence over, very small children?

Actually, it's more sinister than a minstrel show. These children are being gaslit & groomed. Told to call these men "missus," "miss", "ma'am", "lady" & so on, the girls in particular are being taught to see grown men as females so that they'll know to shut up & smile when they see men like that in female loos, changing rooms & other spaces where girls & women used to be able to have privacy, dignity & autonomy away from boys & men.

yes, I'm really struck by the use of real people's names. especially as people don't often use real names on twitter.

this is a really bad idea. if you look at the picture, half the children look frankly baffled.

1. it's not something that kids will inherently enjoy (mine would be terrified by the mask like make up for a start)

2. it's not necessary. nobody needs to dress like a drag queen. surely the point here is to entertain kids, not validate some males. women who are children's entertainers don't dress like that - why do these people?

we're in vegan cat territory here aren't we?

I would have thought that a drag act would be quite disturbing for small children - especially if they are frightened of clowns. I'm not a big fan of clowns myself. A few years ago there was a creepy clown stalking the streets of UK towns as a prank and I don't think many people found it funny.

With drag acts you get a mish-mash of things that make the wicked witches of children's fairy tales so frightening - the deep, loud husky 'smoker's' voice; the grotesque made up face and over elaborate costume; the wigs, the Cruella de Ville heels and jewellery; and the deception.

If you're going to get children to look at gender stereotypes then let the storyteller be a feminine man or a masculine woman or androgenous.

You can introduce LGBT stories without womanface. Would Taunton library invite a 'black' minstrel to read for Black History Month?

it's not something that kids will inherently enjoy (mine would be terrified by the mask like make up for a start)

In several of the videos about such readings in the US, the men in drag remark with a laugh that a lot of the children seemed frightened of them. Grown men scaring kids & then laughing about it - what a good look!

and who the fuck is making their children watch this shit?

yes I judge any parent who takes their child to this event

my point being, if it's clearly something that will scare your children and is of no artistic merit, then why do it to them?

(obviously exception can be made for doctor who due to the artistic merit clause)

Scary photos!

twitter.com/pomoshire/status/1081281331785539584

Surprising:

twitter.com/Docstockk/status/1081256139235487744

But that is far preferable to gender critical people having to have a fixed set of beliefs that all must adhere to.

One reason why boys don't grow up into readers is because they don't see men reading and they aren't read to by male relatives. I think it would benefit far more children to see men who look like their dad's, brothers, uncles, grandads enjoying reading.

I think it would benefit far more children to see men who look like their dad's, brothers, uncles, grandads enjoying reading

this. if the point is to enrich the lives of children rather than using them as a prop in someone else's fun and games, then do this.

and shame on any parents colluding in their children being used as a prop for a stranger's validation.