You’d think there’d be two sides to this story: those who think Drag Queen Story Hour teaches tolerance to young children, and those who think Drag Queen Story Hour sexualizes them. But there’s no indication in the New York Times editorial board’s piece that there’s “another side” — Drag Queen Story Hour is as good as all of the people who participate say it is. Why, we should bring together toddlers and drag queens as much as possible.
There’s a reason this editor is doing a post on this tweet that isn’t getting much engagement: a paramilitary group did show up at a “family-friendly” drag show in Texas. That paramilitary group was Antifa, and they were carrying pride flags along with their AR-15s, standing guard over the drag brunch. We’d think that parents bringing small children to a drag show would be wary of people open-carrying right outside, but we didn’t hear any complaints. Look:
So, no, New York Times, this is not a right-wing paramilitary group.
At anti-L.G.B.T.Q. events, sign-waving protesters are increasingly joined by members of right-wing paramilitary groups, the editorial board writes. “Their presence increases the risk of such encounters turning violent.” https://t.co/YwBRYTdtsw
— New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) December 24, 2022
The editorial board’s evidence that right-wing paramilitary groups are joining protesters at anti-LGBTQ events is a pellet shot through the front window of the Brewmaster’s Taproom in Renton, Washington. The only other example is a “shouting match.”
The editorial board writes as part of its series, “The Danger Within”:
Far-right activists have been waging a nationwide campaign of harassment against L.G.B.T.Q. people and events in which they participate. Drag queen story events are similar to other public readings for children, except that readers dress in a highly stylized and gender-fluid manner and often read books that focus on acceptance and tolerance. This month alone, drag queen events were the target of protests in Grand Prairie, Texas; San Antonio; Fall River, Mass.; Columbus, Ohio; Southern Pines, N.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Lakeland, Fla.; Chicago; Long Island; and Staten Island.
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We thought “riots” were the language of the unheard.
On Monday, protesters vandalized the home of a gay New York City councilor with homophobic graffiti and attacked one of his neighbors in protest of drag queen story hours held at libraries.
Yes, they wrote “OK Groomer” in sidewalk chalk in front of his home. That’s a far cry from right-wing paramilitary groups.
The protests use the language of right-wing media, where demonizing gay and transgender people is profitable and popular. Tucker Carlson, a Fox News host who rails against transgender people and the medical facilities that serve them, has the highest-rated prime-time cable news program in the country. Twitter personalities with millions of followers flag drag events and spread anti-trans rhetoric that can result in in-person demonstrations or threats. Facebook pages of activist groups can mobilize demonstrators with ease.
Transgender minors and the medical facilities that perform double-mastectomies on them.
The editorial board has moved the goalposts: drag queens reading to kids is an absolute good and any opposition to it is “far-right.”
Stop using my sexual orientation to cover for child predators.
— Disappointed In You (@HeyItsJake_H) December 24, 2022
Ok groomer
— BrianNIndiana (@brian_indiana) December 24, 2022
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Related:
Militants with assault weapons stand guard outside family-friendly drag show in Texas https://t.co/tqlto0bGIR
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 29, 2022
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