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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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:
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janx · 04/02/2020 16:31

I worked for a well known Gallery until a few years ago and felt under pressure to programme these type of family events. I resisted as I thought they weren't appropriate but never felt comfortable giving my reasons as it was a very woke department

Clymene · 04/02/2020 16:41

This library decided they needed to introduce a dress code after this drag queen repeatedly exposed his* crotch (drag queens don't identify as women, so I'm using male pronouns) to children he was reading to: www.theblaze.com/news/photo-shows-drag-queen-story-hour-performer-in-miniskirt-exposing-crotch-as-children-sit-close-by

I still don't get what the point of this is. What is the benefit to children?

PinkyU · 04/02/2020 16:52

If the event is being advertised then surely the only parents who will show up are those who don’t mind?

Those who disagree with it or don’t think it appropriate simply won’t attend.

As for the person likening this to pole dancers reading to kids, they maybe already do. They could be your kids teacher, nurse, dance instructor.

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 04/02/2020 16:56

As for the person likening this to pole dancers reading to kids, they maybe already do. They could be your kids teacher, nurse, dance instructor.

Ah Yes, all the times my kids pole dancing teacher took their act into the classroom....

Surely you get doing something in your own time and doing something around children is different?

PinkyU · 04/02/2020 16:59

The DQ aren’t performing their act, their reading a story.

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:02

Why get a drag act in to read a story if they aren’t going to do an act? So they are going to say ‘hi kids, my name is Joe Bloggs and I’m going to read The Cat in the Hat...’

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 04/02/2020 17:04

The DQ aren’t performing their act, their reading a story.

As their drag characters....

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:07

Some are quite scary looking - a bit like Bo Selecta face masky. It would give me nightmares (I really don’t like dress up). My idea of room 101 would be a drag clown.

AutumnRose1 · 04/02/2020 17:10

“ featuring a man in a basque and suspenders reading to 5 year olds.”

But he has these on over other clothes? 😱

CallofDoodee · 04/02/2020 17:15

The DQ aren’t performing their act, their reading a story.

Yes they are they are dressed as a drag queen aren't they? Just because they are not fellating a fucking dick shaped ice cream or insulting women whilst they are reading the stories, doesn't mean the dressing up bit isn't part of their act.

Make no mistake, this is not for the benefit of children, this is about validating grown men. Children get zero added benefit to a drag queen story time that what they would get from any performer telling them a story.

Also, that picture of those girls lying on the drag queen in the library, what the actual fuck? Is this just some sort of parallel universe where appropriate behaviour and safeguarding just goes out the window?

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:15

Reminds me of when DS was a toddler and went to a kiddie gym.

One class leader made the error or wearing a thong with diamanté at the top under some low slung yoga pants.

She was kneeling on the floor leaning over, and the inevitable happened before I could stop him. Twang!

CallofDoodee · 04/02/2020 17:17

I'm sure this thread will get deleted soon, as all drag queen story time threads do. Because apparently, under certain circumstances, safeguarding and what's appropriate for children doesn't matter.

CallofDoodee · 04/02/2020 17:19

Oh and if anyone hasn't seen this - this is a drag queen teaching kids to twerk at a 'drag queen story time' in Devon.

I mean, seriously, can anyone else think of another situation in which that would be deemed acceptable?

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:22

This in America - Libraries hosting ‘drag-queen story hours' for children could be fined under new bill Public library employees in a US state could face a fine or jail time for providing “age-inappropriate sexual material” under a bill proposed by a local politician.

Read in The Independent: apple.news/AfFfQpMiWT2u23vBetyuxDw

EwwSprouts · 04/02/2020 17:25

The performer scheduled for Bristol Feb 16th (scroll down) is going for a Frozen look? dragqueenstorytime.com/about-us

I guess it's motivated in part as a way to earn in daytime. Is there a big enough night-time demand for drag for all those with an alter ego?

TiddlestheCat · 04/02/2020 17:29

There has been similar in my locality. I massively object to it for the following reasons:
Drag queens are associated either with 'adult/late night club entertainment' or charactures in 'pantomimes'. Their humour and dress is frequently bawdy and they naturally are seeking 'attention'. I don't think that it is appropriate to use their desire to entertain/own vanity to impose upon children under the guise of 'educating' them.

Drag queens/like pantomime characters can be scary for young children.

Most of all,above all else, I feel that they damage rather than educate children by presenting a highly distorted and ridiculous representation of what it might be to be gay or transexual.

They monopolized our local library in Bristol for baby/toddler reading sessions. Of course, the trendy mums jumped upon the band wagon and dragged their kids along trying to demonstrate how flipping liberal they were, whilst, in my view actually damaging the image of homosexuality and transgender. In my experience most homosexuals and trans wish to appear normal and fly under the radar. They want to be seen as themselves and as credible people. I would have no objection to a gay man/woman or a trans reading a normal children's story to kids in the library. This, in my view, would-be a far better way at integrating them into society. They should be simply accepted as normal individuals and not presented as charactures satisfying their own attention seeking behaviour. I mean, really, what do they actually expect children to get out of it?!!

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:30

I still don’t get why this is - as their website states - LGBT+ representative. I don’t know any lesbians who dress like that. I don’t know anyone who dresses like that to be honest.

I do find them quite scary - it’s the exaggerated make up and clothes, the language and caricature.

I don’t like that whole immersive theatre nonsense either - people doing ‘character’ (so not acting on stage but speaking to me and trying to have a conversation) at me have always freaked me out. As a child - would mum make me speak time the ‘nice lady’?

OhHolyJesus · 04/02/2020 17:30

I spy with my little eye

Sex based stereotypes
Inappropriate clothing
Support of the Labour Party and Pink News

www.facebook.com/DQSTuk/

(Box office is closed, will call to find out the name of the Drag Queen for British Library when I can.)

Newuser123123 · 04/02/2020 17:30

I can't imagine why it would be deleted but would just urge those who are able to to email their concerns to the library and the local safeguarding hub.

Remember when Jimmy Saville's gold coffin lay in state? 'cause I do.

Reginabambina · 04/02/2020 17:33

I think that a lot of people think that drag is somehow representative of the T in LGBQT which is deeply offensive and transphobic.

TiddlestheCat · 04/02/2020 17:36

@definitelygc

Very well put!!

CallofDoodee · 04/02/2020 17:41

Most of all,above all else, I feel that they damage rather than educate children by presenting a highly distorted and ridiculous representation of what it might be to be gay or transexual.

This.

colouringinpro · 04/02/2020 17:42

great email newuser have used it in my tweet to @BritishLibrarySmile

Mockersisrightasusual · 04/02/2020 17:45

Also ask, have these people been DBS checked?

Do you even know their real names?

Lordfrontpaw · 04/02/2020 17:46

I will be amazed if anyone get an email response.