Leeds Library hosts Drag Queen Story Hour on June 22nd

[DeployTheTut]

I could weep, I really could.
Leeds City Council is planning a Drag Queen Story Hour with “Aida H Dee”, to take place tomorrow, 22nd June.
www.facebook.com/349596960793/posts/10157474162555794/?d=n

Local hero, Councillor Sarah Field, is requesting any comments or complaints you may have, to assist her in objecting to this event. Email: [email protected]

[LilyMumsnet]

Hi all,

Thanks for the reports.

A number of accusations have been made in this thread, so we're taking it down for now whilst we check behind the scenes.

[Edit - we are now leaving the thread open but will be closing further comments for the time being]

[Enderthedragon]

Why the comparison with Mr Tumble as well?

I wasn't aware that Justin Fletcher had memes on his public social media about someone who is 'about to destroy ur hole' etc or photos of the bare arses of adult men?

To be fair now, I have never checked Justin's social media, maybe I shall be very unpleasantly surprised.

[SerenityNowwwww]

Maybe get in a few strippers and fan dancers to do a morris dance? Get a really filthy comedian in to sing a few nursery rhymes?

[Mermoose]

For people saying that it's all innocent and what about panto dames - why isn't it called Panto Dame Story Time?

There's a problem giving kids the idea that drag queens are children's entertainment, because if they go looking for drag queens on the internet they're going to find a lot of stuff that's completely inappropriate.

[SerenityNowwwww]

When did bursting into tears become mature discourse? Sounds like manipulation to me (and that's being kind) or batshitters (not being kind).

[Bananabixfloof]

@DeployTheTut

We made him cry... well, that’s a persuasive political argument!

You know when that womens place* meeting in Leeds was cancelled on women meeting to discuss stuff to do with women, did they cry or just get on and arrange a different meeting place? Ponders.

I don't like drag at all but surely if aida really wanted to read to children, aida could arrange some other way of doing so. A way that didnt need council property. Just for info there is a private library in Leeds. I dont know if children ever go there but it's a start.

Has anyone emailed about the ADHD thing? What have you put cos I need some guidance on it. Thanks

* may not have been womens place, but some other womens group.

[LemonadeAndDaisyChains]

I've just gone and had a nosey, the one I saw was a bit of dancing (the hokey cokey) and some reading of books.
Looked fun

[gardenbird48]

sorry apparently!!

[gardenbird48]

apparented promoted as being suitable for age 2+. I can't bear to look.

[StealthPolarBear]

They haven't cancelled though.
Pmsl at it being safeguarding week.

[MIgZig]

Listed as 'child friendly' and still taking place today at 14.00

link

[gardenbird48]

hi all, nice to find equally concerned parents - it seems that everywhere I turn these days, there are people trying to push the boundaries of what is acceptable and safe for children!! I checked the above event and it is apparently going ahead but renamed to 'Celebrating Leeds as an LGBT+ city run by Drag Queen Story Hour. They have also posted asking for any people who 'has an issue regarding this event please comment below' (to give the TRA's a list of people to target next (my own addition)). Hope I'm wrong :¬))

[Seethefairfromtheair]

the chap did our local library, I turned the sound off, his movements are aggressive & would frighten my little ones, all the comments applauding him.

[DeployTheTut]

“they still need to learn about safeguarding standards for working with children, before they go anywhere near them.“

Completely agree, Purple

[PurpleCrowbarWhereIsLangCleg]

So for example, I teach in a school overseas. We have an annual Book Week where we invite a UK author over - they do a week of talks to classes about their writing, an assembly, lunchtime small groups of talented student writers & so on.

We've had some fairly big names & it's always a big event in the calendar.

It's part of my job to book the author, & part of that is liaising with the agency re suitability - someone who wrote gritty YA novels about drugs & teenage sex wouldn't be suitable across the age range however brilliant & inspiring they might be. (It's basically like picking a movie for the family - you can't go above PG or maybe 12, even if some of the family are over 15 & would much rather watch something more adult).

I also always check social media presence, & these authors always have a clean, professional page promoting their books, nice appropriate photos, testimonials from other schools etc.

They might well have another personal page under a pseudonym where they're licking absinthe off a fire breathing can-can dancer's bum, but that's not their official SM 'presence' which can be googled by kids, ffs.

This is not rocket science. It's safeguarding 101.

& if someone doesn't understand this, they obviously don't know the first thing about safeguarding. Regardless of how charming & wholesome their act for children is. It might be fabulous & funny & the kids might absolutely love it.

But they still need to learn about safeguarding standards for working with children, before they go anywhere near them.

[OhHolyJesus]

I've emailed to thank them for cancelling, I imagine they will get a lot of complaints for cancelling so would be good to send support emails to balance our the vitriol!

[DeployTheTut]

@Deltoids1

Leeds Council has zero awareness.

You couldn’t make it up!

[Deltoids1]

Leeds Council has zero awareness.

[endofthelinefinally]

West Yorkshire police had/have relationships with some dubious people.

[IfNotNowThenWhen2]

Sarah field is a legend. I will support her, just marking place till I have time to read properly.

[eurochick]

"Next they will have the men in gimp suits and dog masks sitting in the library for the children to pet

How the hell has that got anything to do with drag queens?!
That's some strange dramatic leaps of the imagination that you've got going on there"

@LemonadeAndDaisyChains I assume this was a reference to last year's Pride and some dodgy photos involving children there.

[dolorsit]

Also I struggle to think of anyone involved professionally with children who would be able to have the type of public social media profile that many of these drag queens have.

[SerenityNowwwww]

@LemonadeAndDaisyChains

The drag name is definitely in poor taste but I genuinely don't understand all of the hate. Children can learn tolerance and acceptance from being read to by a diverse range of people from within society

Agree

So - how many drag queens do you encounter on your trips to Tesco Vs how many people with disabilities, people from different ethnic backgrounds, elderly people?

Because when I see 'inclusive' these are the people I don't hear about.

Won't someone please think of the Drag Queens?

It's not 'hate' - just no one can explain why this is necessary for small kids to see adult entertainment?

[MondayYogurt]

Diverse reading would be disabled readers, readers with sight impairment, readers of different nationalities, readers from ethnic minority groups. Where are the rasta readers, the butch readers, the sikh readers?
Why is it always white men in drag?

[dolorsit]

I genuinely don't understand how drag queen storytime helps with LGB inclusiveness.

I get how drag is part of gay culture, so despite finding it distasteful I appreciate it is not for me.

What does it teach children? They are already exposed to panto dames, some of whom are quite glam.