Posted by Travis Uresk | April 19th, 2023 | Drag Queen Story Hour |
by ALLINE CORMIER
Making children vulnerable to adult predators is something most would like to avoid, but you wouldn’t know it judging by the actions of Canadian politicians, policymakers, librarians, school staff, and some parents. Misguided adults — believing themselves to be engaging in fun, progressive entertainment — are failing to safeguard children across North America by exposing them to drag culture.
“Drag Queen Story Hour” (DQSH) became a regular event at North American libraries, schools, and bookstores beginning in 2015. The drag queens — all men dressed up as clownish versions of “women” — read stories to children under the guise of normalizing “gender fluidity” and giving kids “glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models.” DQSH has chapters in 29 states, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. Drag story time events have become incredibly popularized, expanding beyond DQSH — a library in Saint John, New Brunswick held its own version of drag story time earlier this month, and the Toronto Public Library hosted a “Drag Queen Family Storytime” on June 18. Even small coastal towns like Sechelt, B.C. have caught on, where a Drag Queen Storytime took place over the weekend.
Lumped under the LGBTQ umbrella, DQSH claims to “celebrate diversity,” but what are children really being taught to accept? We are talking about adult men performing (really, mocking) femininity — often in provocative, sexualized costumes — the kind women don’t typically wear, certainly not when invited to read to children.
Drag queens and drag culture tend to be hypersexualized, mimicking strippers in revealing costumes; portraying exaggerated, objectified “women;” performing sexualized dances; and using explicit language throughout. Needless to say, drag is inappropriate for children. Those not indoctrinated into modern woke culture likely have an inherent discomfort upon seeing children engaging with drag culture and many have expressed concerns that normalizing drag shows for children facilitates pedophilia by “grooming” children to accept the hypersexualized behaviour and appearances of men. In a conversation with conservative commentator, Todd Starnes, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Montana) said:
“I’m sorry, this is a classic example of grooming these children and having them have discussions about sexuality that they should not be exposed to. And anyone that thinks that is somewhere short of child abuse is wrong. It’s very close to pedophilia as far as I’m concerned.”
These concerns are often framed as “anti-LGBTQ” or dismissed as hysteria from the Christian right. But there is validity to the fact that children who are led to view sexual perversions and hypersexualized behavior from men as normal are easier targets for pedophiles.
Child sexual abuse is a serious problem in Canada, as well as around the globe. This year, Statistics Canada reported that between 2014 and 2020, the overall rate of online child sexual exploitation and abuse more than doubled. A 2017 Juristat report on police-reported crime statistics in Canada found that “[a]lthough the rate of police-reported violent crime declined overall, violent violations which experienced an increase in rate [included] sexual violations against children (+30 per cent)…” There are almost daily news reports of child sexual abuse, and many men openly advocate for the normalization of pedophilia, framing it as simply another sexual identity, akin to being gay.
What’s needed is more child safeguarding — not less. Yet those who express concerns about exposing children to drag culture and teaching them to accept adult men performing sexuality are accused of bigotry, as well as homophobia and “transphobia.” The presumption that those raising concerns are homophobic ignores the fact that there are feminists opposed to normalizing drag for children, who are vocally pro-gay/pro-lesbian.
The problem is that the LGBTQ umbrella has expanded to such an extent it now shelters men who wish to express their sexual fetishes publicly, which is not something only right-wing Christians are troubled by.
British journalist, Jo Bartosch, who has written for numerous publications, including Lesbian and Gay News, The Critic, and feminist website, 4w, raised concerns in her 2020 Spiked article, “Drag Queen Story Time is not okay.” She writes:
“DQST claims to offer ‘queer role models’ to children. But despite the popularity of its events, it remains unclear how a man in a lurid frock will make kids with two mums feel supported, or how DQST serves to stop the bullying of kids who don’t conform… DQST is a sinister attempt to force an adult ideology on to children.”
Proponents of these kinds of events seem to believe it is important for children to have “queer” role models. And while kids should learn it is okay to be gay, the term “queer” has become nebulous. “Queer” used to mean strange, eccentric, or homosexual, but in recent years has come to refer to anything from polyamorous to trans-identified to various sexual fetishes. We now see “furries” and men who practice BDSM at Pride, their sexual proclivities on full display under the “queer” umbrella.
The words “gay” and “homosexual” are not difficult to define — they simply mean same-sex attracted. And normalizing homosexuality in society is a good thing, but drag performances for children are not about (appropriately dressed) lesbians and gays reading to children — rather, they are about hyperfeminized, hypersexualized, cross-dressing men. Children don’t need to know about the sexual interests or “gender identities” of adults — indeed, storytime need not be politicized to reflect adult virtue signalling.
Given that drag is clearly adult entertainment, it is worth asking ourselves why child safeguarding practices have gone out the window when it comes to drag culture.
Even drag queens have cautioned parents about exposing their children to drag culture. In 2021, drag queen Kitty Demure had a message for parents who take their children to Drag Queen Story Hour:
“I have no idea why you want drag queens to read books to your children… What in the hell has a drag queen ever done to make you have so much respect for them and admire them so much? Other than put on makeup and jump on the floor and writhe around and do sexual things on stage? I have absolutely no idea why you would want that to influence your child. Would you want a stripper or a porn star to influence your child? … A drag queen performs in a nightclub for adults. There is a lot of filth that goes on, a lot of sexual stuff that goes on. And backstage there’s a lot of nudity, sex, and drugs… So I don’t think this is an avenue you would want your child to explore… But to actually get [your children] involved in drag is extremely, extremely irresponsible on your part.”
He also criticized bringing children to Pride events, saying “they don’t belong there.”
“There’s a lot of adult activity that is going on at the gay Pride events and in the nightclubs. And I think it’s just irresponsible. I don’t understand how parents allow it… There’s lots of drugs, alcohol, sex, nudity, you name it, in the gay nightclubs — they’re all like that. Children should not be a part of this culture.”
Why is this practice suddenly so popularized and why are adults going along? Drag performances feature everywhere from farmer’s markets to elementary schools — sometimes without parental knowledge or consent.
Earlier this month, Dallas parents took their children to “Drag the Kids to Pride Drag Show” at Mr. Misster, a gay bar with a neon sign inside reading, “IT’S NOT GONNA LICK ITSELF!” A handful of children were invited to strut down the walkway and “strike a pose,” led by the drag queens. Videos of the event show children handing money to drag queens in sexualized costumes, dancing provocatively as though they were strippers.
My generation was told not to talk to strangers — today, children are encouraged to engage in sexy performances with adults.
Drag has now been fully mainstreamed. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars earlier this month and tweeted about it. On the show she said, “It’s my honour to be here, to say to all of you how proud we all are of you. Thank you for the joy and beauty you bring to the world.” RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality TV show about men who compete against each other to become the next drag superstar, judged by America’s most famous drag queen, RuPaul, is not only in its 14th season and winner of Emmy awards, it has become a franchise with spin-offs and international versions, including a Canadian one.
But drag hasn’t just been normalized as adult entertainment. In 2019, the CBC featured Drag Kids, a documentary following four kids who dream of being drag queens, and prepare to compete in an all ages drag show at Montreal Pride. The kids are hypersexualized in heels and makeup, encouraged by their parents — some of whom label their children “queer.”
This year, the CBC’s French streaming platform released a musical children’s TV series called Barbada, hosted by drag queen Barbada de Barbades (Sébastien Potvin). In the first episode, musical guest, Klô Pelgag, sings the lyrics, “germent au coeur des idées érotiques,” which translates to “germinating erotic ideas in the heart,” and in episode two Guylaine Tanguay sings, “Il m’a appris à yodeler et comment faire l’amour” (“He taught me how to yodel and make love”). Growing up, I watched many popular children’s TV shows, including Sesame Street, The Polka Dot Door, and Passe-Partout, and don’t recall any mention of “erotic ideas” or men teaching women about lovemaking.
Last year, Disney+ aired This is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular, a concert hosted by “Drag Artist and LGBTQ+ Advocate” Nina West (Andrew Levitt). The 43-year-old, who refers to himself as a girl, is joined by beloved muppet Kermit the Frog, as well as other drag queens, like Jackie Cox (Darius Rose), who perform children’s songs from Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid.
Netflix series, AJ and the Queen, couples a drag queen named Ruby Red (played by 60-year-old RuPaul) with a 10-year-old girl named AJ (Izzy G.), who travel across the United States together in an RV for Ruby’s cross-country drag tour. Ruby Red/Robert is portrayed favourably, as patient, level-headed, and generous — the Mr. Rogers of drag. AJ is repeatedly exposed to sexualized behaviour and speech, as characters say things like, “Half my girlfriends have penises” and “Girl, we gonna take the Hershey highway [a reference to anal sex] — if you were older, you’d love that.” A gay policeman talks about hooking up with a man in front AJ, saying, “Sorry, not great language for a kid.” Robert responds, “Her? She’s 50.” This series, similar to others featuring drag queens, grooms viewers not to see this as inappropriate. Apparently drag makes adult men inherently safe and trustworthy.
Last year, child drag superstar, Desmond Napoles (aka Desmond is Amazing), was featured in the TV special Stonewall Inn Safe Spaces Concert. He wore makeup, heels, a short sequined dress, and a skin-tight outfit exposing his midriff, dancing in a feminized way. According to Dazed, “Desmond Napoles was only eight when a video of him vogueing his way through the NYC Pride Parade in a rainbow skirt went viral. Since then he has catapulted to stardom in the global queer community…” There are numerous images and videos of the now 15-year-old online, emulating the adult men who perform drag in provocative ways. Desmond now identifies as “they” and has founded Haus of Amazing, a drag community for kids.
Concerns have been roundly ignored. Despite public complaints, a Quebec library went forward with a drag queen storytime featuring Barbada, who said in defense of his performance:
“Every kid who comes to see this story hour is, you know, goes back home with a sense of: Okay, I understand what a drag queen is. I understand that it’s different, but it’s definitely not dangerous and we can have a great time with a drag queen.”
The mayor of Dorval responded to the complaints, saying, “We do not want anybody to come here and protest and make their point of view.”
These events have not been without issues. In 2019, the Houston Public Library admitted they allowed a registered sex offender — 32-year-old Alberto Garza (aka Tatiana Mala Nina) — to read to children at Drag Queen Storytime. That same year, Sasha Sota flashed flesh coloured tights to a group of toddlers during Drag Queen Story Hour at Hennepin County Library in Minnesota. A Portland, Oregon library made the news when pictures emerged of children lying on top of the drag queen performing at its Drag Queen Story Hour.
In 2021 Brett Blomme, the former president of LGBTQ+ advocacy group Cream City Foundation, the primary financial sponsor of Drag Queen Story Hour Milwaukee, was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography. Last year, Anna Slatz reported that Katy Baird, who was performing with Palaver Party for Kids, a drag and cabaret-themed show, boasted on the production company’s website, “I am thrilled to be given this incredible opportunity to corrupt young minds with queerdo stories, aesthetics, and politics…”
Most parents want to protect their kids from sexual predators, so why are so many allowing their children to be exposed to adult entertainment and strange men? It would seem that many parents unquestioningly accept the messaging advanced by DQSH organizers and proponents, which conflates drag with homosexuality. These parents believe they are promoting “diversity” and open-mindedness to their kids. People wish to appear progressive, not bigoted, and we are repeatedly told only bigots do not support everything LGBTQ+. People also tend not to want to look too closely at the problem of pedophilia; it is too upsetting and uncomfortable. Going along with the sparkly, rainbow-coloured narrative is much less demanding than considering unintended consequences or thinking more critically about the narrative put forward. Besides, all those movies and TV shows feature drag, so it must be okay!
What these parents, as well as librarians, school staff, and others, seem to have forgotten is that historically, sexual predators have rarely been open about their true nature and motives. The Catholic priests that abused children and men like Jimmy Savile didn’t tell parents they would be preying on their children. In fact, they did the opposite. They groomed them, and tricked them into believing they were safe, which led to horrendous suffering. Drag queen story times break down children’s natural boundaries toward strange men and vulgar behaviour, making them vulnerable to sex predators.
Drag is not the province of children. There are age-appropriate ways to offer children gay role models, minus the addition of sexualized themes.
Drag Queen Storytime for Children
By Joe Kort, Ph.D.
Joe Kort, Ph.D., LMSW, is the founder and director of the Center for Relationship and Sexual Health
Over the last few years in cities ranging from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Taunton, England, libraries have hosted men dressed in outrageous women’s costumes—glitter, feather boas and colorful dresses—who read stories to children, most of whom are preschoolers.
Despite librarians nearly universally attesting to how popular Drag Queen Storytime has become with parents and others in their communities—they report long waiting lists for the events—as news began to hit the Internet and other media, a vocal minority has expressed outrage.
“This is not suitable for young children, especially when they are reading them stories which tell them they may have been born in the wrong body, an impossibility,” said one typical online commenter.
They rant that public libraries want to brainwash preschoolers, one assumes, into becoming gay. Conservative groups, such as the Family Policy Alliance, have organized automated protest letters against the events, and some groups have filed lawsuits, though so far these have been unsuccessful.
One of the popular reads is A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, by Jill Twiss, a comedy writer for Last Week with John Oliver, which is a parody of a children’s book about a rabbit written by Mike Pence’s daughter. In the Twiss version, two male bunnies want to get married and Vice President Mike Pence is the villain—a stink bug who tries to stop them.
The outrage and fear these opposers demonstrate is unfounded and based largely on hatred of nonconformity (and perhaps unacknowledged fears about their own sexuality). They are concerned that such events will confuse the children and even cause them to worry that they are the wrong gender.
We live in a society that only recognizes that children are cisgender, the belief that your gender identity must match with the gender you were assigned at birth. As a longtime sex and gender therapist, I know that there is no substance to the argument that exposing anyone, including children, to the reality of people with a different sexual orientation or gender identity influences the children’s innate sexual orientation or gender identity. Nonetheless, there is much fear about a gay parent “impacting” their offspring, or how the behavior of LGBTQ adults will influence them.
Ironically, when people think about children, rarely is their focus on how homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia can hurt them, and yet exposure to these institutional harms are far worse than anything a child might be exposed to in an LGBT Pride parade, observing gay and lesbian relationships, or being read a story by a drag queen.
The real problem, as I see it, lies not in exposing children to the reality of diverse sexualities and gender identities—those who do not fit the typical definitions of masculinity or femininity—but rather not providing gender-nonconforming kids with other templates as they begin to sort out their feelings about who they authentically are.
Data shows a far higher rate of suicide, 41 percent, for transgender children than others. When they are made to feel like outsiders, bullied in school, and rejected by the society in which they live, they move into crisis.
The worst outcome of watching a drag queen tell a story is not influencing a child to worry and wonder if they are the “wrong gender,” as many want us to believe. The outcome that can occur watching a drag queen telling a story is that it can save the lives of those children who are struggling with gender nonconformity and free them to explore and express themselves in ways they were meant to be and not supposed to be.
Outrage over these Drag Queen Storytime sessions reveals other dark underbellies of our society—misogyny and homophobia. Think about it: If women dressed as men were reading the stories, there might be no problem. But men dressed as women? Such an assault on the nation’s ideal of masculinity is intolerable to many.
Misogynist conditioning compromises people’s integrity by pressuring them to treat others badly—actions contrary to their basic humanity. Misogyny and homophobia combined with fear and revulsion of sex eliminates discussions about the lives and sexuality of LGBT people as part of school-based sex education, keeping vital information from all students.
As the studies confirm, it can be deadly. It inhibits their ability to form close, intimate relationships with members of their own sex, generally restricts communication with a significant portion of the population and, more specifically, limits family relationships.
Costumes are playthings, flights of imagination that allow us to step out of the mundanity of our daily lives and into fantasy. They don’t entice us to become the characters in costume. Every day thousands of children are delighted to visit Disneyland and meet characters dressed up as animals—Mickey or Goofy or Donald Duck. Do they leave wanting to become animals? Are they confused or just delighted at the unusual display?
In many cases, the stories being read introduce kids to the idea that all others, despite appearance or sexual orientation, are worthy of respect, and to a world that is not divided into “us” and “others.” Drag Queen Storytime provides an opportunity for parents to begin to have conversations with their kids about respecting other types of people and reassuring them that they will love their child however he or she chooses to express themselves.
As one library patron in Lafayette said, “We need to learn how to recognize each other, how to see each other’s gifts and talents and flaws, and how to meet each other. The storytime that’s caused so much controversy is just an opportunity for kids—older kids, younger kids, almost babies—to see each other, to experience something they’ve never seen before, and learn how to relate to it.”
I applaud the librarians who, for the most part, have stuck to their guns and refused to allow these popular programs to be shut down by those stuck in the past when there was only one view of what human beings are supposed to be.
How “Drag Queen” Shows Destroy Children’s Innocence
March 31, 2019
In and of itself, the idea of bringing together young children in public libraries to listen to stories told by a gifted storyteller is good. It nurtures the sense of wonder, which is so important in childhood.
However, numerous libraries around the country are distorting this idea today. They are bringing together children age 3 and up to listen to stories on transgenderism and homosexuality. The narrators are men cross-dressing as women, the so-called “Drag Queens.”
“Drag queens,” says the homosexual site Glaad “are men, typically gay men, who dress as women for the purpose of entertainment.” And, adds the LGBT Project Wiki, “Drag is a part of Western gay culture.”
TFP Student Action and Return to Order are organizing protests outside libraries promoting such events. TFP Student Action has also done a protest petition to the American Library Association to stop this onslaught on children’s innocence; an effort to mainstream and “normalize” the homosexual ideology.
Drag Queen Story Hour: “The Grooming of the Next Generation”
The Drag Queen Story Hour was created by lesbian writer Michelle Tea and is coordinated by her company, RADAR Productions, and its chapters in countless American cities and Puerto Rico.
According to the Drag Queen Story Hour website, the event “captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models” (my emphasis).
A
mong the books read to the innocent children is Families, families, families! by Suzanne Lang. This is how it is summarized: “A story presented as a series of framed portraits features animals in dozens of combinations that represent and celebrate all kinds of non-traditional families.”
Another recommended book is Stella Brings the Family, by Miriam B. Schiffer. Stella brings her two fathers to school to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Among the promoters of the Drag Queen Story Hour at the Lafayette Public Library in Louisiana, was Dylan Pontiff, (aka “Drag queen” Santana Pilar). A self-avowed homosexual, he makes performances in “adult” clubs and also for children on the library program. About that program, Pontiff stated before the Lafayette Consolidated Government Council:
“This is going to be the grooming of the next generation. We are trying to groom the next generation.” He also said the “Drag Queen Story Time event would help children and the community as a whole learn that it’s OK to be different.”
It is evident that the purpose of “Drag Queen Story Hour” is to deform children’s innocent minds so that they grow up seeing homosexual sin as something good and normal. It is revolutionary psychological war on children’s minds.
“An 11-year Old Drag Kid”
It is in this context of involving children in the “Drag Queen” homosexual culture that we have the case of Desmond Napoles, an 11-year old boy who performs in “Drag” in homosexual clubs.
According to his mother, as a toddler, Desmond would watch the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race with her. Thus, from a young age, he was used to seeing as “normal” that men behave like women and vice-versa. This is precisely the effect intended by the promoters of the “Drag Queen Story Hour.” Desmond soon took another step: At age 7, he also showed up on that program in “Drag.”
He has participated in homosexual parades to manifest his support. His web site says, “Desmond Napoles (stage name: Desmond is Amazing) is an 11-year old drag kid, awarded LGBTQ advocate, outspoken gay youth.”
Less Innocuous Than They Claim…
The “Drag Queens” ambiance is not as innocuous as they would have us believe. Without generalizing, let us give an example.
In March of this year, the pro-family organization MassResistance denounced that one of the “Drag Queens” participating in the “Drag Queen StoryTime” in a Houston Public Library was a registered sex offender.
According to KHOU-11 TV, “A media spokesperson for the library confirmed one of the program’s drag queens, Tatiana Mala Nina, is Alberto Garza, a 32-year-old child sex offender. In 2008, he was convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy.”
Offense to God, Denial of Nature
By imitating the opposite sex, a person denies his natural sex and acts contrary to the natural law.
Accepting that men (or boys) present themselves as women is tantamount to accepting that God, author of human nature and therefore of the male and female sexes, be offended.
Deuteronomy reads: “A woman shall not be clothed with man’s apparel, neither shall a man use woman’s apparel: for he that doeth these things is abominable before God.” (Deut. 22:5)
It is not surprising, therefore, that in this environment of revolt against nature and God’s established order, some Drag Queen fancies look like a “Satanic goddess,” as a pro-homosexual site reports.
We Must Defend Children’s Innocence from Drag Queen Story Hours
“Whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea,” said Our Lord (Mark 9:41).
Remember the saying of the first dictator of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin: “Children, like soft wax, are very malleable and they should be molded into good Communists.”
Public libraries have become dens where transvestites read pro-homosexual stories to little children—at taxpayer expense. Since politicians and clergy are not defending innocent children from the grave moral danger, we must step into the gap with a Rosary Crusade that is powerful, prayerful, peaceful, and effective!
In response to this wave of “Drag Queen Story Hours,” TFP, and its Return to Order and America Needs Fatima campaigns, are organizing rosaries of reparation and protest in front of every library where the event takes place.
Let us ask Saint Nicholas, patron Saint of children, that he protect them from the “Drag Queen History Hours” and other similar events. Finally, let us pray to Our Lady of Victories that she give us strength in the battle to protect children and the natural order created by God.
To get involved in the Crusade to protect children in your area from the immorality of “Drag Queen Story Time,” please call Cindy at 844-830-3570 or e-mail to protest@tfp.org
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