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!

"I don't think that anyone is attempting to ban so-called 'drag'. What is happening is a demand that it be kept well away from children."

Yes and some children will enjoy drag queen story time and their parents certainly enjoy taking them - or else they would stop taking them. Keep up.

"A lot of men are a threat to children no matter what they choose to wear, unfortunately they don't come with a handy label saying whether they are or not."

So curious that you're advocating keeping a group of mostly gay men away from children.

But then again, gay men have always been falsely stereotyped as predators throughout history so I'm not at all surprised - hence why "groomer" has caught on big time in transphobic and homophobic circles.

Tilting at fucking massive windmills now. Windmills in fields full of straw men.

Somehow, I think those opposed to children being exposed to such sexualised behaviour, that is those of us who place child safeguarding at the heart of what we do here, will win the day. We have managed before without so-called "Drag Queen Story Time", we will manage to get by without it and children will be better protected from being exposed to such behaviours at such an early age.

"Sadly some parents think that public libraries must have children’s best interests at heart. They will take their cue from them."

I suspect these parents are a lot smarter than you all give them credit - if these drag queen story times were sexualised events they would not take their kids to them.

As it is it's nothing more than a bloke in a wig and makeup reading a kids a story

Yes and some children will enjoy drag queen story time and their parents certainly enjoy taking them - or else they would stop taking them. Keep up.

More like opportunists worming their way into child friendly free spaces. Hard up parents view the library as a safe space to bring young children. The library lures parents and many may just stumble into drag queen story time under a false sense of thinking it must be suitable for children. AWFUL.

Most gay men do not get involved in so-called 'drag'.

It is the sexualised behaviour of those men who do, and want to do that for young children to watch that is rejected.

"it's nothing more than a bloke in a wig and makeup reading a kids a story"

So, why can't they appear as themselves, as men without the wig and make up and sexualised costume and behaviour?

So curious that you're advocating keeping a group of mostly gay men away from children.

Drag Queens are mostly gay are they, so by your reckoning some of them are not therefore advocating keeping them all away from children is not specifically targeting gay men is it?

Hearch15
The umbrella term you so object to is widely understood and used by lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans people.

T needs the umbrella to gain the widespread acceptance of LGB.

The LGB alliance was set up to separate its interests.

Never heard of a straight drag queen myself (I'm sure one or two must exist out there though). If they were straight though I have no doubt less people would object.

You may be right that Drag Queens are mostly gay, but cross dressing men and transwomen are not necessarily so at all.

You have not answered my question about who on this thread has said the existence of LGBT people is a child safety concern?

I really object to how local council money has been spent on this. Why couldn't they have got an author who goes against stereotypes to tour the libraries? It's such woke virtue signalling by the Labour run council.

And how is Drag promoting acceptance of gay men if that is it's aim under the Diversity banner? Are the children informed that the Drag Queen is gay? Is this an essential part of the event? If not, why not if that is what it is aiming for?

What, in particular, makes Drag Queens uniquely qualified to read stories to children? If we are talking Diversity and acceptance here are disabled people, people of faith, BAME people, lacking in the qualities required to read to children in the name of Diversity and acceptance?

There are some wonderful pictures available on the internet of one of these Story Time Drag Queens showing a very unfortunate aspect of their appendage in their costume in a room full of children, but that's nothing to worry about is it it - all lovely and progressive.

Fuether to my earlier question, is there an account from anyone who has already been to one of these events anywhere?

Exactly so. Council tax payers have a say in this and that is why it will be ended soon. It serves no educational purpose for children; there is no positive benefit to it for children. It is a waste of tax payers' money. I would much prefer for our libraries to be used to help young children make progress with their own reading and writing skills during the summer school break.

This has popped up from the protest earlier, a GC managed to get inside and film - its been blurred to protect everyone's identity

Sneakerheads · Today 21:46
Re the video, I think that protester was brave but I wish she had not brought up autogynephilia and paedophilia there. It made it seem as though that drag queen was personally implicated which would be wrong. I don’t think this helped the protester’s aim to create awareness.

Any objections should be made to the library and council imo and maybe leaflets with more general points made to the parents. But she tried to stand up to this nasty trend💪

I don't understand the intentions behind this. Why is it now suddenly a fashion to get men dressed up as as a sexualised parody of a woman to read stories to young children? What possible good intention can there be behind this?

It can't be diversity as if it was there would be a trend of having ethnic minorities, women in traditionally male roles (eg female firefighter), men in traditionally female roles (eg male nurse), disabled people etc. etc. reading in libraries. You have to ask yourself why sexualised parodies of women are the people of choice to read to young children. And I can't see the answer being anything other than sinister.

Because dressing up is fun and many people like to see them all glammed up.

Even if you don't enjoy something doesn't mean others don't (I also don't think much of drag).

Drag isn't necessarily sexual. As I've said, I've seen a drag queen call out bingo numbers. Nothing sexual about that. You people need to get out more.

"You have not answered my question about who on this thread has said the existence of LGBT people is a child safety concern?"

It's implicit. No one objects when straight people tells their kids fairy tales despite the fact that these tales are often romantic in nature (that is to say, implicitly sexual).

"What, in particular, makes Drag Queens uniquely qualified to read stories to children?"

Not sure if you've met any kids recently but they really like dressing up and that is the main thing that a drag queen does.

Drag isn't necessarily sexual. As I've said, I've seen a drag queen call out bingo numbers. Nothing sexual about that. You people need to get out more.

• It doesn't matter how much you repeat the same thing, it doesn't make it true.

• I should think your claims have largely not been acknowledged because people are embarrassed for you that your idea of a grand day out is a bingo session while you have the temerity to advise others to 'get out more' etc.

Stop pretending that you are incapable of telling the difference between a drag artist calling bingo, and their drag act.

"Why is it now suddenly a fashion to get men dressed up as as a sexualised parody of a woman to read stories to young children? What possible good intention can there be behind this?"

Drag Queens have been around far longer than you have been alive - this isn't something that has "suddenly" happened.

Drag Queens exist because some people like to get all dressed up and throw some makeup on. It's FUN. Your version of fun is no doubt different to what someone else considers fun.

Not sure if you've met any kids recently but they really like dressing up and that is the main thing that a drag queen does.

Drag Queens dress as an extreme mocking parody of women hardly the same as children dressing up as super heroes, princesses or pirates is it?