Anyone know the truth about the protests against Drag storytime at the Honor Oak Pub?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

WHY DO CHILDREN NEED STORIES READ TO THEM BY DRAG QUEENS?

This is the pressing question above all!

Anyway, does anyone local know what actually happened. There was a police presence and organised protests apparently. I would love to hear the full story from someone directly involved.

It has become an unbecoming row on our local Facebook page (SE23 Mums). The hectoring posts have been created by the pro drag side.

Genuinely think that they think they're protesting against fascism. I think they're completely sincere.

So frustrating!

I have the impression that a small group who actually are right-wing turned up to protest against DQST. A far larger group turned up to show their opposition to right-wing politics. They probably know sod all about DQST or the gender wars.

The willingness of protesters to frighten and endanger children shows clearly that any claims that they care about the wellbeing or safety of children are facile and disingenuous nonsense.

This should go both ways though. It is clear the event attracted many from outside the area to counter-protest, see
twitter.com/AmarDeepSinghD/status/1629185376031019009
and the usual advice: wear a mask, don't use a SWP placard. Hmmm.

The protest was against Turning Point UK which threatened to really against the drag time story act. It was a rally against a far right group trying to dictate other people being up their kids. No fascists welcome in Forest Hill. I didn't go but I'm proud of the protest in my area. Not in any way a feminist issue but one of letting other people do their thing.

Did the kids enjoy it? 👀

Mardyface · Today 20:56
It was a rally against a far right group trying to dictate other people being up their kids.

Another group is already bringing up their kids. They are already being dictated too - just under their radar.

If you want these people rallying in your area and telling you how to bring up your kids feel free. tpointuk.co.uk/

The kids came to the window and waved and looked like they were enjoying it. The police handled it well and kept the protesters away from the pub. Outside the pub there were lots of families and it was a really good atmosphere.

Loads of kids’ activities take place in pub back rooms - one local to me does a roaring trade in children’s birthday parties in their garden room, I went to a postnatal pilates class in another one, and Hartbeeps (music and baby sensory) in a third.

Depends on the pub, but it is a good way for them to make money during weekday mornings when their function rooms would otherwise be empty.

Looking at the pictures, I wouldn't have taken a child anywhere near a crowd like that, with police out in force. I wouldn't have felt any of us were safe in the crush and I'd have been worried about things kicking off. .

The willingness of protesters to frighten and endanger children shows clearly that any claims that they care about the wellbeing or safety of children are facile and disingenuous nonsense. The protests are conducted solely for the purpose of intimidation.

I agree. Anyone who turned up on either side should take a long hard look at themself.

If you don’t want drag queens to read stories to your children then don’t go to those events. That’s a perfectly valid choice that you are entitled to make as a parent. But if other families make different choices then you should respect their decisions and leave them in peace.

I strongly disagree. If you can see the harm from DQST to all children and you understand that safeguarding is everyone's business then please, continue to make your voice heard. Families make all sorts of choices and sometimes those choices are bad for children. Occasionally they are extremely bad. Nobody who cares about children should blindly respect any decision just because it was made by a family.

Just don't turn up at the venue to yell and shout with a mob of your mates at the actual time when children are due to arrive. This is not difficult.

Mardyface · Today 21:03
If you want these people rallying in your area and telling you how to bring up your kids feel free. tpointuk.co.uk/

These people may be a pain in the neck but are not the ones telling those kids how to be.

They are trying to tell you how to be. And if drag queens demonstrate to my kids that gender is a load of made up nonsense then bloody great. Luckily my neighbours agree with me.

Sounds normal

@Saschka interesting. I wonder if it's regional. I've never been to any children's event in a pub. Village halls, scout huts, sports centres, and similar but never a pub.

Exactly this.

I don't think TWAW, however, I just can't see the point in protesting an event like this. It wasn't in a school setting so parents were completely free to choose to take their children to it or not, it wasn't being forced on anyone. I would choose not to take my children. I think people should be free to make these choices, the same as parents are free to take their children to mosques or churches.

Maybe. These are all “naice” pubs focused on food rather than old man pubs or bar-type places, if you see what I mean? Places that already had high chairs and a children’s menu.

Where I live in London pub function rooms are quite often used for family events and activities. A local pub is often taken over by an NCT group one morning a week.

Mardyface · Today 21:17

ScrollingLeaves · Today 21:14

“Mardyface” · Today 21:03
“If you want these people rallying in your area and telling you how to bring up your kids feel free. tpointuk.co.uk/“

These people may be a pain in the neck but are not the ones telling those kids how to be.

They are trying to tell you how to be. And if drag queens demonstrate to my kids that gender is a load of made up nonsense then bloody great. Luckily my neighbours agree with me

Evidently you share gender identity beliefs and approve of DQSH for young children. I
I don’t. As for the fascist group they are protesting and making a nuisance to adults. I as an adult am not interested in them.

Drag Queens, far from saying gender is tosh, obsess over a fetishised version of a stereotype of gender. An offensive one too.

Drag Queens, far from saying gender is tosh, obsess over a fetishised version of a stereotype of gender. An offensive one too

I agree. It’s the opposite to saying gender is tosh

I'm not interested in DQSH. I'm not interested in drag queens at all (though I think there's a long dramatic history of gender bending which illustrates that it is a construct and your own word 'stereotype' actually supports that view).

I am interested when far right groups come to my neighbourhood to protest on a political premise about people undertaking peaceful, legal activities which have nothing to do with them though, so I'm glad that a group of my neighbours saw them off.

From that tweet linked above, I'd say a lot of the protestors are likely to have come from outside the area. twitter.com/AmarDeepSinghD/status/1629185376031019009?s=20