Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

OK the whole drag story time thing

245 replies

Qcng · 01/03/2020 08:26

I've seen posts on this board before basically completely denouncing drag story time, but I've never really gone along with the perspective that it's such an oh so terrible thing. So I don't join in on those threads. As GC as anyone I actually think, dressing up is fine for girls and boys, these people aren't trying to send a message to children that it's big hair and fake lashes that actually make you a woman, (unlike say, someone like Caitlyn Jenner would send that message). They're sending a message that boys can do dress up too, that being gay is ok, and being a man in makeup is ok.

Anyway, I came across an article (posted by a GC feminist who was rather sarcastic and not at all sympathetic) where the drag queen received online abuse after attending a school for drag story time. So that's what got me thinking really, I don't think anyone should be on the receiving end of a torrent of abuse over something like drag.

I know drag itself is for adults, sexually charged, drugs involved etc and I am completely against "Desmond" and "Lactasia" (sp?) I would never in a million years want children to be encouraged to do drag or be in that scene at all under the age of 18.
Drag story time isn't encouraging that though surely? Like having a clown do tricks in a school, they aren't there saying "you should all start learning to juggle and paint your face now".

In the school setting the drag queens are literally just reading a story, usually with a positive LGB message. They aren't making crude jokes and won't use their same stage name (EG "Flow Job" is just "Flow" and "Popping Cherry" is just "Cherry" etc etc)

Am I being unreasonable in thinking that DQ story time isn't actually that bad, and in fact does send children a positive message particularly to the gender non confirming/LGB/those with LGB family members?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
FrogsFrogs · 02/03/2020 15:05

Fresh?

Drag.

We also used to have an elderly lady who went around in a bikini covered in netting with a 3 pronged toasting fork with bits of sponge stuck on it, she's no longer with us sadly.

Point is that being unconventional =/= gay or even queer, whatever that means now (anything you want it to).

Lots of people are unconventional and or and about, the focus on drag queens is odd though.

I agree with the comments like
Why not people from all walks of life of a variety of sorts to give a range of role models
And
Drag is hypersexualised representation of females that many feel uncomfortable with... I grew up in 70s/80s with loads of men 'dressed as women' on the TV for comedy effect, I always disliked it and felt uncomfortable, years before I was old enough and feminist enough to really get to grips with why. What message does this give the girls.

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:09

I used to see this guy around a lot. Nice enough chap, wouldn’t invite him to read to KS1 pupils though 🤗

OK the whole drag story time thing
Datun · 02/03/2020 15:09

We also used to have an elderly lady who went around in a bikini covered in netting with a 3 pronged toasting fork with bits of sponge stuck on it,

It my god. That's absolutely set me off. 🤣🤣🤣

Lordfrontpaw · 02/03/2020 15:11

That sounds like my sister. She does weird stuff and I really wouldn’t bat an eyelid if it was her. She’s not elderly so it probably wasn’t her (yet).

Datun · 02/03/2020 15:11

Oh I've just realised - was the sponge like a man made sponge thing to stop her poking people's eyes out??

I thought it was Victoria sponge or something.

Still funny tho

Lordfrontpaw · 02/03/2020 15:12

Victoria? My sister does commute via there. I’ll ask her...

Binterested · 02/03/2020 15:19

Yes we had an elderly lady who used to push a pram all round town filled with dolls that were her babies Sad. Definitely diverse and not NT. Lets get her in.

Datun · 02/03/2020 15:24

🤣

Datun · 02/03/2020 15:26

It makes a mockery of the pretence that it's all about diversity and inclusion. It clearly isn't.

But it would be really good if it was. I can see kids being genuinely interested in upending gender norms when their world is so relentlessly pink/blue, currently.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 02/03/2020 15:28

I used to see this guy around a lot. Nice enough chap, wouldn’t invite him to read to KS1 pupils though

Why? Granted, I don't get the appeal of a face full of metal myself but that's just me.....
What does the fact he looks different have to do with anything and that he should be kept away from kids?
Going by that logic we should keep away people covered in tattoos as well.

Binterested · 02/03/2020 15:31

Sigh

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:32

ODFOD Willis, I’m a tattooed person myself, inc face tattoos (albeit more tasteful ones).

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:34

My point is that looking ‘diverse’ isn’t a qualification for reading stories to infants. As you well know.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 02/03/2020 15:35

Sigh yourself Hmm

Perfectly reasonable point - why should he be kept away from KS1 pupils because he looks different?
It's relevant to the drag OP too - surely it's OK for kids to know that it's OK not to all look the same, to be the same, that it's OK to be so called "different?"
Not "keep him away from the kids, he looks weird!" attitude

hoodathunkit · 02/03/2020 15:38

I used to see this guy around a lot. Nice enough chap, wouldn’t invite him to read to KS1 pupils though

That looks very like Elaine Davidson

Who I think is involved in some kind of workshops (diversity?) with children

sorry no time to research it, but the video here says that she does

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:39

It’s not a reasonable point, it’s a disingenuous point.

FrogsFrogs · 02/03/2020 15:42

Yes sponge not sponge cake!

I'm also interested to know why the man with all the facial piercings would be a good choice, what do you know about him apart from a pic on the net?!

Also, what is the value in exposing children to people with generally extreme looks? I don't really understand. People in duster work uniforms or talking about religious clothing requirements would be more educational...

There's that bloke who has had a lot of surgery to try and look like a dragon. Let's get him in!

Why the desire to expose children to, let's be honest, people who are serious outliers on presentation in society, and, also let's be honest, often have questionable mental health. I know I'll get challenged on that but do be it.

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 02/03/2020 15:44

It’s not a reasonable point, it’s a disingenuous point

In other words, won't answer can't answer so it's straight to the insults and pretending nobody said anything?

FrogsFrogs · 02/03/2020 15:44

'Perfectly reasonable point - why should he be kept away from KS1 pupils because he looks different?'

Kept away, and invited in to present to our read to the children, are quite different things!

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:46

It’s not Elaine Davidson, it’s a British man named John Lynch, who used the nick name ‘Prince Albert of Camden’

There are pictures of them together!

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:48

I answered you, Willis. Don’t pretend I didn’t.

OK the whole drag story time thing
WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 02/03/2020 15:48

My point is that looking ‘diverse’ isn’t a qualification for reading stories to infants. As you well know

Oh OK, fair enough - but you did say that you wouldn't invite him to read stories which is why I said why not.
I've personally never seen drag story time, but trying to think how I'd feel if it became a "thing" at our local library.
I don't think it'd bother me, if they're only reading stories, what's the problem?
I'd definitely see your point if they went into some kind of adult sex routine in front of the kids, but reading a story, not so much.

FrogsFrogs · 02/03/2020 15:49

I am lol at this thread tbh

And apologies for spelling corrections in previous post, think it's clear what I was saying.

I don't think looking for people in the street who have very very extreme ways of looking and getting them in to chat to the kids (about what?) is the way forward.

I knew a bloke with a full body of tattoos including his dick (yikes), he was nice enough, but, not sure why he should be top off the list to chat to primary kids. For that I mean.

Having something interesting to talk about is the main thing.
When did looking unusual become the main thing then?

WotchaTalkinBoutWillis · 02/03/2020 15:50

I answered you, Willis. Don’t pretend I didn’t.

Cross posted with you, we both posted at 48 - I wasn't pretending, I'd only just seen that reply and so answered.

DuLANGMondeFOREVER · 02/03/2020 15:56

I knew a bloke with a full body of tattoos including his dick (yikes), he was nice enough, but, not sure why he should be top off the list to chat to primary kids. For that I mean.

My daughter has two totally tattooed parents and two totally tattooed step parents (either we attract each other like magnets or no one else will have us 😂) so the kids at her primary school see a tattooed person twice a day, every day!

A while back I went in one afternoon a week to listen to year 2 kids read, but that was as a fully DBS checked mother, rather than as a statement of diversity.

I do find myself wondering if ‘Tatted Up Story Time’ would find commercial success? Or perhaps ‘Neighbourhood Character Story Time’ but our local eccentric celeb lady (apart from my tattooed fam, obvs) seems to prefer feeding pigeons to talking to people.

Swipe left for the next trending thread