Drag queens can be highly entertaining (watch the most recent season of “Nailed It!” if you want proof). The thing is, they’re supposed to be entertaining to adults. When it comes to children’s entertainment, not so much.
And yet, New York’s PBS affiliate, WNET, and the New York City Department of Education don’t seem to see any potential problems with exposing young kids to things like this:
Drag queen Little Miss Hot Mess sings "The Hips On the Drag Queen Go Swish Swish Swish" to a virtual child audience on an episode of “Let’s Learn,” produced in partnership by WNET and the New York City Department of Education and aired on PBS. pic.twitter.com/pK9fjoOPMe
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) May 20, 2021
According to the New York City Department of Education, Let’s Learn episodes offer “age appropriate content” intended to “serve as a supplemental resource for remote and blended learning.”https://t.co/e6kkwZ0qNI
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) May 20, 2021
“I think we might have some drag queens in training on our hands,” says Little Miss Hot Mess at the conclusion of the song.
A PBS tag says the episode is intended for kids aged 3-8. pic.twitter.com/7rv4kmoZfV
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) May 20, 2021
More from the Daily Caller:
The episode is part of the series “Let’s Learn,” a public television series produced in partnership by PBS member station WNET and the New York City Department of Education, WNET spokeswoman Lindsey Horvitz told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The spokeswoman emphasized repeatedly that Let’s Learn is not a PBS series but was made available to PBS stations. The Lil Miss Hot Mess episode first aired March 31, she said, and WNET has received “only a small handful of messages” complaining about the show.
“Let’s Learn helps children ages 3-8 with at-home learning,” a tag on the PBS website said. “One-hour programs feature instruction by educators and virtual field trips.”
We can’t think of too many three- to eight-year-olds for whom this particular episode would be appropriate.
The blessings of liberty are at it again https://t.co/x1y8Bgxbmk
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) May 20, 2021
We’re not on an anti-drag-queen crusade. As we explained above, it’s fine if drag queens perform for adult fans who are into it. But calling this children’s programming does a disservice to children, who just aren’t emotionally mature enough to understand it.
Just stop. Why is this needed?
— Chad Foster (@Chadillac09) May 20, 2021
Absolute madness – leave the kids alone
— Not So Radical Animal (@radical_animal) May 20, 2021
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