Drag Queen Story Time - and a business opportunity for the GC

[expandabandband]

So, I went into my local library to calmly state my problems with them having Drag Queen Story Time in a couple of weeks. Ended up having a chat with the Library Supervisor whose line was very much that [ourcounty] libraries are inclusive for everyone. And this kept being repeated, along with the fact that it was optional.

Except Drag Queen Story nonsense is the only one which they have - and I pointed out that this privileges it and I would have less of an issue if it was just one among many (would still have an issue but was trying to be reasonable).

So she kept saying that of course they were inclusive of everyone and if other groups approached them they would host them in just the same way.

But you pay DQST.

Well yes.

Therefore the implication is that they would pay other groups.

SO, here's the plan. Who wants to set up Gender Critical Feminist Story Time? She assures me that our library has loads of feminist books, so it's an easy ask. And if you get turned down, you can sue them!

All we need is an administrator and someone to read the stories, both with high level DSB checks. And perhaps a logo. Who's in?

(I currently run a feminist charity but am happy to be a trustee...)

• It's ok to introduce children to drag culture (look no further than the US to see kids doing sexualised dances, sl*t drops and twerking. Of course this is a natural next step)
• It's ok to have sexual, misogynist & highly politicised content on your public story time social media (for children to find)
• It's ok to show an outline of a penis through a costume (in front of children)
• It's ok to ignore a fire alarm and not evacuate as long as you think a troublemaker set it off and if you're having fun

How many red flags does it take to stop this?

This man doesn't seem to think any rules should apply to him.

If he can't follow one of the simplest H&S rules we have ("if it's an unscheduled activation of the fire alarm, leave and do not return until you're told it's safe to do so"), then why trust his judgement on safeguarding, when that is more complex and nuanced?

P.S. it's the author who found this. Not me. I'm just putting it here too.

Bad, isn't it?

The library later said they were expecting the alarm to go off but they wouldn't give me a comment when I emailed them the day it happened. It's all dead weird and yeh, worryingly unsafe.

If it was a test, no-one would have left at all, and there would have been announcements from staff that a test was planned.

And SS's own tweet is circumstantial evidence that it wasn't a planned test, either. He thought it was unplanned, and bargained on there being no fire at all.

I heard a suggestion of “lesbian grandmother’ story time, sounds great!

So are they paying for Asian Story Time? Disabled Story Time?

I’ve not seen Ru Pauls Drag Race so I do think I’m probably not best to say too much but just from the adverts it looks horrendous, and exactly the sort of “Drag” that I take offence to. It’s not men breaking down barriers around what they should typically avoid wearing (dresses, heels, make up) but rather ripping women to absolute shreds.

That Guardian article goes on to talk about how even Mr Tumble is “drag” when he dresses as Aunt Polly. I mean, I think they’re being deliberately obtuse. But even if that is technically correct, it’s such a stretch to say you can’t be offended by “slutty” “ditsy” “catty” Drag Queens and not Mr Tumble FGS.

ReeseWitherfork · Today 22:19
That Guardian article goes on to talk about how even Mr Tumble is “drag” when he dresses as Aunt Polly. I mean, I think they’re being deliberately obtuse. But even if that is technically correct, it’s such a stretch to say you can’t be offended by “slutty” “ditsy” “catty” Drag Queens and not Mr Tumble FGS.

The writer is either disingenuous or not fit to be a journalist imo. It is the same false argument as the one that DQs are no different from pantomime dames.
I personally don’t much like pantomime dames either, but there is no way they are the same as dqs.

Compare and contrast the screen shot images below of Aida H Dee and Aunt Polly.
(I did not draw on the Aida H Dee one by the way.)

I thought that libraries were supposed to be really underfunded and at risk of closure.

Then again, I also thought that council highways departments were supposed to be short of cash for fixing potholes but they've got money for rainbow crossings. Then there's the NHS, the police, schools...

Of course, drag has long played a role in British society, from Shakespeare’s time, when women were banned from the stage...

It even admits that drag is rooted in misogyny, but doesn't seem to see anything wrong with it.

He boasts that a child asked him, “Are you a boy or a girl?”, and he answered, “ I am whatever you want me to be.

He was lying to the child by not answering that he was a boy.

An actual diversity story time company with readers from a range of backgrounds would be so amazing.
Even more so if combined with offering linked activities, even if “just” colouring & activity sheet/paper plate mask/basic origami level-stuff. The lack of free activities - or even low-cost ones - for children is an issue beyond their being bored & parents feeling frustrated. It’s desperately important that anything a local council facilitates is of the highest quality & will benefit the children. Unfortunately Seb opts not to read award-winning beautifully-illustrated children’s books because Seb would rather read Seb’s self-published stories. Seb’s work, unlike that of Dr Seuss, is not an introduction to iambic pentameter. It is not an introduction to great artists, unlike the delightful work of James Mayhew. The sample of Seb’s work on the DQST website goes from “poor” to “if this is in the sample you put up; what errors are in the rest?!” on noting the use of an obsolete word. I’m all for the use of challenging vocabulary in children’s literature & fully support the use of obsolete words in the appropriate context - but picture books, given their intended audience, are never an appropriate context. This is very much not work that benefits the children. Why not read And Tango Makes Three? Or “The Pirate Mums”? Or anything from this Booktrust List? And no, you can’t handwave it with “it’s because he has…” If you are an author with a condition that impacts your ability to write (in any sense) it is on you to mitigate against that. In this case, to get someone suitably skilled to proof read & correct the text; then go through it with them; & ensure that any further edits are accurate.

Their website says they read a variety of books - but that is also under a Harry Potter quote, so I don’t know how up to date that is. It does also seem that other readers still read those things - it’s just Seb that’s apparently made the switch. I say apparently because I’m aware that may be a false impression & I do not wish to be unfair.

@DdraigGoch
Wonder how many of the Councils forking out for this have volunteer-run libraries…

Something I have read about DQST is that the stories are performed well. I can totally believe this.

How great it would be to have a range of stories told equally brilliantly without grooming children to ignore normal safeguards.

From a feminist POV there is a great opportunity to have some positive role models.

Tell that to Irish people.

Tell that to Irish people.

These days even Anne Frank supposedly had white privilege, FFS! web.archive.org/web/20220727142922/www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/did-anne-frank-have-privilege-do-you/2022/07/21/

I can absolutely confirm that libraries are being shut for DQSH - I've had the email notice about my local library...

"Xxxx Library closed Monday 22 August, 3pm – 5pm

Xxxx Library is hosting an event on the afternoon of Monday 22 August and therefore will close early at 3pm.

You can return your books to any other Idiotshire library, renew them online via www.Idiotshire.org.uk or phone 0300 123 2224.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely

A NAME
Strategic Manager – Idiotshire Libraries

More cheeringly, I also had an email from Green Feminists recommending the best way to protest against DQSH.

Can we talk about the person who maliciously set off the fire alarm? Why weren't they arrested from this? Why doesn't the library have increased security to deal with troublemakers?

expandabandband - Today 11:32
More cheeringly, I also had an email from Green Feminists recommending the best way to protest against DQSH.

That would be interesting to see, if you wouldn’t mind passing that on.

Look! A squirrel!

Don't look at the log in my eye. Focus on that speck!

I know this should be in pedants corner, but I can’t hold myself back!

Shakespeare’s female characters were not played by men, they were played by pre pubescent boys with unbroken voices ( they were originally recruited from the choristers of royal and private chapels). As soon as their voices broke, they could no longer represent women. I suspect, although there is no evidence, that older women such as Juliet’s nurse or Mistress Overdone would have been played by men; but Ben Jonson has an ode to a child actor who specialised in playing old men, so maybe not.

Most of the ‘heroines’ are put into male costume and assume masculine roles as soon as possible. So they were boys impersonating girls impersonating boys. Acting, in other words.

The ‘drag’ analogy is entirely false, as the intention was to ‘deceive’, to sustain a theatrical illusion. The characters are real, they are not mocking women by impersonating them in an overblown manner.

glad I got that off my chest ( pun intended)

TheBiologyStupid · Today 11:04
Tell that to Irish people.

These days even Anne Frank supposedly had white privilege, FFS!web.archive.org/web/20220727142922/www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/did-anne-frank-have-privilege-do-you/2022/07/21/

zzThst is r ridiculous about Anne Frank isn’t it?
That aside, thank you for that thoughtful essay on what privilege means. Though it was centred around being Jewish, I found it had universally applicable ideas.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · Today 13:14
I know this should be in pedants corner, but I can’t hold myself back!

Shakespeare’s female characters were not played by men, they were played by pre pubescent boys with unbroken voices ( they were originally recruited from the choristers of royal and private chapels). As soon as their voices broke, they could no longer represent women. I suspect, although there is no evidence, that older women such as Juliet’s nurse or Mistress Overdone would have been played by men; but Ben Jonson has an ode to a child actor who specialised in playing old men, so maybe not.

Most of the ‘heroines’ are put into male costume and assume masculine roles as soon as possible. So they were boys impersonating girls impersonating boys. Acting, in other words.

The ‘drag’ analogy is entirely false, as the intention was to ‘deceive’, to sustain a theatrical illusion. The characters are real, they are not mocking women by impersonating them in an overblown manner.

glad I got that off my chest ( pun intended)

No, it belongs here. Thank you, I was very interested to read those details.

Sigh. The Guardian missing the point. There's a difference between drag (like Panto and Justin) and drag queens. It's the same as between dancers and erotic dancers.

What happened to critical thinking?

People like to assure us that drag queens are just like panto.

I wonder, has anyone tried approaching a group of male drag artists after they've finished a show at a nightclub, and telling them that they're pantomime dames.

I don't think they'd appreciate the comparison.