Drag Queen Story Time

[LizzyStrata]

First time posting here, so not sure of the etiquette. My apologies if this is the wrong place to raise these concerns.

Reading Borough Council is planning to hold Drag Queen Story Hour events in our libraries during the summer holidays. I’ve written to my MP, my councillors, and the Head of the Library Service to raise concerns. I think drag is entirely inappropriate for children, as it is a form of adult entertainment, highly sexualised and misogynistic, that blurs boundaries and undermines safeguarding.

The response Ive had is simply that they have received very few complaints so no reason to cancel.

Has anyone had any experience of tackling their local library over this issue? Grateful for any tips.

Also, if you live in Berkshire ,would you be willing to write and share your concerns?

thanks!

It is not a very free society when City Councils are organising themselves around the remit of an ideological lobby group.

This is the response I received when I complained about our local drag queen story time:
I shall first detail my understanding of the elements of your complaint relating to Drag Queen

Story Time:

1. The diversity and inclusivity of the event

1. Perpetuation of gender stereotypes

1. Use of the act name Aida H Dee

1. Potential safeguarding issues

For clarification, I will address these elements of your complaint with consideration to

previous performances that have taken place in the Library Service, and been well received

as part of a diverse range of programmed events, I would make the following comments

about the issues raised:

As a local authority, we have a statutory duty under the Equality Act to

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation;

• Advance equality of opportunity; and

• Foster good relations

We are proud that we are a diverse and multi-cultural city, and all our work will continue to

be underpinned by our belief that all people should be treated with respect. Drag is a

historical art/performance form and is not specifically about either gender identity or sexual

orientation. Whilst Drag Queens are not specifically covered by the Equality Act, they are

rooted in LGBTQ+ culture and the Equality Act has provision for discrimination by

association. As a council we will strive to ensure that we meet our statutory duty and to

protect all people from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, and this

includes in relation to drag queens.

Before xxx Libraries booked a Drag Queen Storytime, previous events were made

available and were reviewed for suitability and quality by the Library Service. The Storytime

was judged to be an appropriate event and as such we have included this performance as

part of our ongoing programme for children and families.

These events offer an opportunity to introduce children to the diversity within our

communities. Sab Samuel (Aida H Dee) is an Autistic Activist and uses this platform to teach

children about celebrating and accepting people’s differences.

All processes in relation to safeguarding are followed in the event of any booking for children

and young people and were similarly applied in the instance of the Drag Queen Storytime

booking. The use of a professional Drag Queen to undertake storytelling to children in a
supervised environment and which is attended freely at the choice of a parent or legal

guardian, does not constitute a breach of policy. Children are accompanied by their

parents/guardians, and there are also Council staff in attendance. Attending the event is a

matter of parental choice and responsibility. The booking of this event does not constitute

any breach of Council policy or government legislation.

Apologies about the formatting

"Whilst Drag Queens are not specifically covered by the Equality Act, they are rooted in LGBTQ+ culture and the Equality Act has provision for discrimination by association." - I have never heard of this before - sounds like nonsense!

"Drag is a historical art/performance form and is not specifically about either gender identity or sexual"

Honestly. You'd think they were hosting the Royal Ballet.

Plus, Drag Queen's are not oppressed and marginalized, they are adult performers putting on a costume. You'd think they were actually real by some of the ignorant stuff being written by virtue point scorers of little brain.

Interesting bit of history that casts some light on a long-standing agenda item.

Gay Liberation Front journal - Come Together - issue 11: Lesbians Come Together. It's a contribution from the GLF Transvestite, Transsexual and Drag Queen group, and published in 1972.

A more central question is how to relate to other women. When we talk about our hopes and fantasies, it becomes apparent that what we want above all is to be accepted as women, primarily by other women. But will we achieve this by looking for ways in which we share experience with regular women or by developing a unique transvestite consciousness?

Sometimes the second approach seems real militant and proud, at other times it seems a cop-out, accepting the prejudiced view that we're not women, that we're some freaky third sex (or fourth or fifth?). Possibly we can find some light by considering the situation of black women and gay women, who develop black pride and gay pride, but still explore their feelings as women. Think how much more inspiring and beautiful the women's revolution will be when it joyously includes all women. Think of a Holloway demo with transvestite, transsexual and drag-queen women, gay women and heterosexual women, black, yellow, brown and white women, working women, housewives and career women. Certainly, whatever course we take as transvestites, transsexuals and drag queens, we must first destroy the trap wherein regular women set up standards by which they accept or reject us.

Text taken from this bookmark and has more links: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4281733-The-Trans-Umbrella-Is-Older-Than-You-Think?reply=108674196

Just wondering if anyone here has booked to go to one of these events? I am considering it out of curiosity and so that I can perhaps write about it.

I think people have in the past (difficult to remember amidst thread deletions) but there's value in having a contemporary account.

A man in a dress and wig is not a child safety concern. Generations of British kids have been to panto plays and been fine.

Sorry you feel the existence of LGBT people is a child safety concern, you should meet more of us.

Drag queens aren't freak shows. You should go to one, you might enjoy it.

Drag is not necessarily sexual. I've seen drag queens do nothing more than call of bingo numbers.

What is the point of them? Why are they so much ‘flavour of the month’ with small children in mind?

Hearach, you're tilting at windmills...

Drag is an adult entertainment, featuring hyper-sexualised grossly exaggerated aping of women. It perpetuates sex based stereotypes and is nearly always misogynist. They are nothing to do with real world lesbian, gay or bisexual people. I know, because I am in one of those categories. Drag is inappropriate for children. Some of the past behaviour of performers at these "story times" has been inappropriate for children. Hence a safeguarding concern.

Men in dresses and wigs /= drag artist.
Panto dames /= drag acts
It is stupid of you to assume that all posters you disagree with are heterosexual and homophobic. Obvs.

Panto is one thing ..

I'm another that thinks we should get them out of panto whilst we're at it.

To perpetuate 'inclusivity' and 'acceptance' to impressionable primary school children. Panto is one thing; adult dressing-up in a library in front of these children is another.

Drag can be adult entertainment. It can also not be adult entertainment.

As I said in a previous post, I went to a bingo night where a drag queen called out bingo numbers - was that a sexual event? Not at all.

There was a woman there whose grandchild was sat in a corner doing some colouring. I can assure you the child emerged unharmed from the event.

Wither freedom.

Thank God we live in a free society where you're not in charge.

People like them. It's called "market forces", things exist because there is a demand for them.

I've posted a message about this to a neighbourhood website and it's been hidden (subject to review) as, according to the website, it's discriminatory, goes against their guidelines. One comment I heard was that Mumsnet is 'notoriously anti-trans' and all this is stemming from ultra-right wing and US-based origins.

Panto and drag are the sister acts. Both involve men dressing up in wigs and makeup.

Generations of British school children have survived unharmed such spectacles of shocking gender discombobulation.

I mean, it is, post anything about trans people and posters start frothing at the mouth:

www.newstatesman.com/comment/2022/02/feminism-has-been-reduced-to-the-transgender-debate

Pointless posting that article, most of us aren't feminists 🤷‍♀️

'frothing at the mouth'

Nice.

845672AKD · Today 18:50
I've posted a message about this to a neighbourhood website and it's been hidden (subject to review) as, according to the website, it's discriminatory, goes against their guidelines. One comment I heard was that Mumsnet is 'notoriously anti-trans' and all this is stemming from ultra-right wing and US-based origins.

What has U.S. based origins is Trans ideology and the terminology to go with it, and Drag Queen Story Time.

It is also a great capitalist enterprise.
thefederalist.com/2018/02/20/rich-white-men-institutionalizing-transgender-ideology/