Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Drag Queen Story Time at the British Library

356 replies

TundraDweller · 04/02/2020 10:17

Three Drag Queen Story Times in one day -

www.bl.uk/events/family-day-young-rebels

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Angryresister · 06/02/2020 12:55

Well perhaps as a tactic tickets could be booked by gc individuals or groups in the area. Then no one turns up...

GenderfreeLang · 06/02/2020 12:57

Please do write to the BL and send images from the website with your thoughts. Hopefully enough of the images and comments might sink in! I cant imagine the staff are particularly 'woke' and have just gone along without looking into it. If we show them exactly what they are promoting they may think on it.

I'm being optimistic but worth a shot!

AbsintheFriends · 06/02/2020 13:01

Fuck me, that picture in Call's post.

I genuinely do believe that in the future people will look at that, and show it in lecture theatres and on safeguarding powerpoints and everyone watching will shake their heads and say 'how was that considered OK?'

The question is, how much damage will be done before that time, and how far will it reach?

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 06/02/2020 13:03

We have many many years of this first.

GenderfreeLang · 06/02/2020 13:05

Call's image is the one on their gallery banner!

Goosefoot · 06/02/2020 13:08

The whole idea is just weird - just why?!

One think I noticed about this is how frequently these events started to appear after the first few. This seems to be common with programming at places like libraries and museums these days, anything that gets a response in terms of bringing people in is picked up and multiplied like lightening.

The answer to your question might be just that some person thought it would be a good idea, or someone offered to do it, and it just hits all the "right on" buttons of the moment. Diversity, LBGT, culture, Drag Race and drag kids, whatever. And for a lot of people they don't differentiate drag queens from trans and they think they are identities rather than acts.

But I don't see how it really makes sense even if someone thinks drag is fine, or you look at the very best, smartest, well done drag acts.

It's a bit like they ask Peter Dinklage to come in to read a story to promote diversity, but they get him to dress up as and inhabit the character of Tyrion Lannister, and advertise it as Tyrion Lannister coming to the library to read to pre-schoolers. And the preschoolers of course are all like, who is this guy, why is he wearing those weird clothes and talking like that? Because they aren't allowed to watch Game of Thrones and they can't read.

GenderfreeLang · 06/02/2020 13:22

Latest response

Thank you for taking a look at the site. However, you may have misread that image completely…

It is actually one of those false mouths that comedians use during stand-up … it enables the child (in this instance) to control the mouth of the drag artist (in this case) … much like a ventriloquist would control its dummy. … the onlookers seem to be enjoying it.

The Drag Queen Story Time activity is just one of many activities taking part on the day. I am sure that there will be something to suit everyone’s taste. There will be no requirement for anyone to attend any activity that they find inappropriate.

Lordfrontpaw · 06/02/2020 13:31

I remember seeing a video of a pair of male dancers at an event (looked like the southbank) when he was rather risqué and one ended up naked/or near as dammit. It was a kids event.

CallofDoodee · 06/02/2020 13:31

The thing with that image I posted.... I am trying to ensure that I post this in the way I want it to come across as I would never want to imply that all drag queens or LGBT people are predators, but if you look at that image objectively:

You have a middle aged faceless male, with hand reaching out to a little faceless preschool boy, who is reaching back and looking up. It really is the sort of imagery that might be used in some sort of 'beware of child abuse' information or advert or something. The faceless male also appears to be dressed as a little girl, with ankle socks and Mary-Jane shoes on. Dressing as a little girl is a well known male fetish. Obviously we cannot see the whole outfit to see what the outfit is, it might not be a little girl. But at the same time the photo has been specifically edited or taken in this way.

Now, I'm trying to think about the thought process behind someone thinking this was a suitable image for an initiative which is all about interacting with children.

On the one hand it could be that these people are just so unaware of child abuse, safeguarding, boundaries etc that they genuinely don't see anything wrong with that image and that it wouldn't even occur to them that it could be perceived as inappropriate. And it's just a totally innocent image. But then surely people with that level of lack of awareness of working with children should not be involved with children?

Another thought process (and we all know that safeguarding is about thinking about what is unthinkable) is that someone is trying to blur boundaries of what is acceptable. Trying to encourage parents to think that a male displaying a fetish around children is acceptable because that's what 'being inclusive' is. Trying to encourage children to think that a strange man reaching out to them and taking their hand is acceptable because that's what 'being inclusive' is. Trying to encourage the public to think that questioning this kind of thing is homophobic or transphobic because its just someone expressing themselves?

I don't know, I'm trying to put things as objectively as I can after what happened with LangCleg, but I can't see an image like that on a website about an initiative directed at pre school children and not give my thoughts on it.

Newuser123123 · 06/02/2020 13:32

My response...

Thank you for your response.

I agree with your sentiment that you want to be open to all and free from discrimination.

By allowing an adult male sexualised entertainer whose act is based on a cruel and sexist appropriation of women you are discriminating against women and children.

Sexism and grooming of children has no place in libraries.

I urge you again to cancel the events.

GenderfreeLang · 06/02/2020 13:38

Call drag queens have even said it is not appropriate. As adult entertainment I find it tasteless and it is offensive, howrever I have no wish to see it banned if others find it entertaining - I just wouldnt go.

However a public library event for children is not the place for it.

Have you made your thoughts known to the BL? You have put your point accross so well.

Lordfrontpaw · 06/02/2020 13:40

I wonder how much they are paying the act?

SarahTancredi · 06/02/2020 13:43

Those pictures Shock

Yes its grooming. ffs

RuffleCrow · 06/02/2020 17:05

Ew these photos are making feel sick. And wondering wtf happened to safeguarding.

LangClegSupportersClub · 06/02/2020 17:32

Whilst it's a lesser concern than safeguarding I'm also wondering wtf happened to inclusion. These events alienate so many more minorities than they include

Mockersisrightasusual · 06/02/2020 17:33

Absolutely nothing to see here:

Lordfrontpaw · 06/02/2020 17:34

Ah yes. All very nice and wholesome entertainment.

Goosefoot · 06/02/2020 17:58

Whilst it's a lesser concern than safeguarding I'm also wondering wtf happened to inclusion. These events alienate so many more minorities than they include

It's an interesting version of the conundrum in a lot of contexts. On the one hand they want all of these groups to feel comfortable, but on the other, the seemingly have little respect for their values.

I worked last weekend at a family literacy day event, the area my school is in has a large black and Muslim population, and the latter group was the largest at this event. From people who were clearly pretty westernised to very conservative families. I can't even imagine how quickly that place would have cleared out had we included a drag queen story time.

Goosefoot · 06/02/2020 17:58

Whilst it's a lesser concern than safeguarding I'm also wondering wtf happened to inclusion. These events alienate so many more minorities than they include

It's an interesting version of the conundrum in a lot of contexts. On the one hand they want all of these groups to feel comfortable, but on the other, the seemingly have little respect for their values.

I worked last weekend at a family literacy day event, the area my school is in has a large black and Muslim population, and the latter group was the largest at this event. From people who were clearly pretty westernised to very conservative families. I can't even imagine how quickly that place would have cleared out had we included a drag queen story time.

woooooo · 07/02/2020 18:18

Granada Reports on ITV doing a big piece right now on 'Drag Story Time' at a North West library. All very one-sided reporting (pro).

Lordfrontpaw · 07/02/2020 18:20

Almost as if there was no concerns at all.

woooooo · 07/02/2020 18:28

Didn't hear the words 'validation' or 'safeguarding' at all

WhenDoISleep · 07/02/2020 19:37

I saw a promotional tweet for one of these events at a local library during half-term - I think it is the same drag queen that was teaching twerking in Devon. I will be contacting the local council to express how inappropriate I find it.

Ameanstreakamilewide · 10/02/2020 12:32

Well that's me put in my place. Hmm

I think she's still smarting because I thanked her for her previous (anodyne) response.

Drag Queen Story Time at the British Library
Mockersisrightasusual · 10/02/2020 12:40

On the latest SNL, look who it is: