Leeds Libraries Drag Story Hour (again)

[HDDD]

"Exciting news – we are working with
@DragStoryHourUK
to bring you a FABULOUS family friendly storytime.
More details to follow. "
twitter.com/leedslibraries/status/1317815999660425219
I had a vague recollection of them planning one before, and a quick search tells me it was cancelled, due to pressure. Not sure what pressure, or how, and why they are now planning another.
I know they are contentious and I can't square the circle of why promoting difference and acceptance can only be done by drag queens. Also who pays for them?

@NiceGerbil

I don't like panto either. Grew up in the 70s/80s and men dressing up as women for laughs was everywhere. I always felt uncomfy with it even when I was a kid.

I just can't get on board with men dressing up as caricatures of women whatever it's called.

Agreed

I agree too. I think it's ludicrous that in the twenty first century you can still take the piss out of women this way but woe betide anyone who fucking "misgenders" someone.

It's like we've all dropped some shit acid.

@JellySlice

How about a female firefighter or a male nurse read stories to children? Or a visually impaired person? Or a person with a prosthetic? Or a person who uses a wheelchair? Or a bilingual person who could deliver the story in two languages?

What does an adult entertainer whose entire shtick is based on stereotype-driven sexual innuendo have to do with demonstrating diversity to children? How is stereotype-driven sexual innuendo in any way family-friendly?

This. I’m not a prude. I also recognise that British classic panto is basically men in drag. So don’t want to get too extreme but it’s not the diversity I want or need for my children in libraries. Have women in hijabs, have men who are foster carers, have people from different ethnicities. But to single out something that is definitely sexual in concept is misguided.

And panto is on stage - kids know it’s all make believe and fantasy. Now they are being told it’s up close and real.

@Chrysanthemum5

Are they seriously using the term 'minors attracted people' rather than paedophille? Is that part of Leeds diversity now?

I thought that too. They seem to be treading very dangerous ground. Never mind though, everyone will ignore the women raising concerns, harm will be done and then in a decade or so, following an enquiry "lessons will be learned" FFS

I don't get it. What tolerance is it aiming to teach? Drag is a performance, done for entertainment, do children have to know to accept this as an 'art form'? If it's to do with the LGBTQ community, well they are not transgender, and it's not like everyone who is bi or homosexual does drag, so aside from for attention and infiltrating children's spaces, what the fuck is the point?

I'm assuming this is the first in anlond list of diverse storytellers, storytellers with visible disabilities seeming the most obvious next step. That said I won't be holding my breath.

Or role models? That would be a start...

Oh lovely, Angryresister. The Leeds librarian actually took the time and trouble to research the issues you complained about, found out that your comments were true, your concerns were well-founded -- and then said Tough shit, we’re inviting this person to talk to our kids anyway.

Shameful.

Never mind though, everyone will ignore the women raising concerns, harm will be done and then in a decade or so, following an enquiry "lessons will be learned"
FFS
It's as if no group ever learns from previous mistakes. Almost as if no one really cares. Hmmmm.

There is something very disturbing about Leeds.
I have recently read an article in a scientific/medical publication by a person based at Leeds university. It contains a half page spread about the Genderbread person (as a teaching aid for scientists, absolutely serious) and is full of references to "gender assigned at birth".
I honestly could not believe my eyes.
It is intended to educate laboratory personnel and HCPs.

@Tissueboxcover yes, I agree. There’s a darkness at the heart of Leeds.

Sounds like the goal is to be more inclusive towards gay men. But the drag queen act would certainly be interpreted by children as telling them that it is quite acceptable to ridicule women for being women. That is not a lesson I would like children to learn.

Yes, thinkingaboutLangCleg they have certainly become very insistent that this person performs. I think it was investigated by the complaints dept but libraries dept also very involved.. I don’t know how many other women have written in, but no notice is being taken. Leeds is of course where Jimmy saVile was allowed to operate with impunity of course. . Diversity wasn’t valued when the WPUK meeting was cancelled last year.

There are many people in the community who could help children explore diversity. Kids enjoy learning about other cultures, so story time with people of diverse nationalities. Or people in wheelchairs or with dwarfism or Down’s Syndrome or people doing non-stereotypical jobs. If colour and movement are what’s required, there are doubtless other performers who could do it.

If drag queens are the point, then it’s disingenuous to talk about diversity, when diverse means many different.

I’ve never enjoyed drag, but can’t fault people for wanting to make a living. On the other hand, the children’s performers I know, make a considerable effort to ensure that their work is entirely suitable for children.

It seems they're not diverse enough. Leeds has a very firm idea of the type of diversity it wants

@nepeta

Sounds like the goal is to be more inclusive towards gay men. But the drag queen act would certainly be interpreted by children as telling them that it is quite acceptable to ridicule women for being women. That is not a lesson I would like children to learn.

It’s also hardly representative of gay men, is it? I don’t think any gay man I know would care for it if my daughter asked them why they weren’t in a sequin dress, make up and a wig. I think they’d probably wonder what I was teaching her. I mean it almost sounds like something someone back in the 70s would think, no?

I can't think of a single one of the gay men I know who would be dressing up in drag.

Jut to be clear I’m not disagreeing with Nepeta I just think this is a massively backward step to introduce drag to kids as being about LGBT inclusion.

He’s now saying he’s been booked to teach kids about Black Lives Matter.

Is he singing “Mammie”?

@Deliriumoftheendless

Jut to be clear I’m not disagreeing with Nepeta I just think this is a massively backward step to introduce drag to kids as being about LGBT inclusion.

Yes, I understood that and I agree that this is not the best way to increase acceptance of LGBT people, largely because to me it seems to come at the expense of women. As I wrote earlier, children cannot analyse the complex humour in drag acts but will see it as making fun of women.

In case anyone is interested the storytime went ahead on Saturday and you can rewatch via the library Facebook page.

And what did you thinkaubergine?

I basically got the same reply as @Angryresister. I couldn’t believe they’re using the MAP phrase rather then paedophile.

A Leeds councillor said on twitter that he tried to ask questions but was met with “insistence” that it go ahead, he didn’t say who was insistent or why