LGBT rights in the USA today...

[JaneV2.0]

I’m curious to know why you think our youth librarians would have introverted persons blandly reading? You’ve got be a bit theatrical in that situation, drag queen or not.

One time I nearly had to give a story hour back 30 years ago when one of our youth librarians took sick, but fortunately someone came to my rescue. I can’t do that. The idea still horrifies me.

I steered way clear of story hour at my library; in fact, I steered clear of the children's section in general as much as possible. Drag queen story hour would be fine with me, but I still would have made myself scarce.

I absolutely fail to see the threat posed by drag queens--are they supposed to start kids on the slippery slope of accepting other people as human beings?

[catherine]

I’m curious to know why you think our youth librarians would have introverted persons blandly reading? You’ve got be a bit theatrical in that situation, drag queen or not.

One time I nearly had to give a story hour back 30 years ago when one of our youth librarians took sick, but fortunately someone came to my rescue. I can’t do that. The idea still horrifies me.

I love to read to my grandkids and I like to think they enjoy it--after all, I was a theatre major in college. But I do think that some drag queens may have a more festive and fun flair to their performances that may be appealing to youngsters. As a one-time actor whose cerebral approach to acting prevented me from attaining success, I suspect that a lot of librarians might have the same Achilles heel. I would LOVE to be a youth librarian, because I love books and I love kids, but I suspect my ability to draw families in is pretty dismal. OTOH if people who really know how to perform--no matter how they identify themselves--can bring kids into the library, I'm all for it, as long as they stay within the boundaries of propriety.

I am definitely going to check out the next drag queen show at our local library.

[LDAHL]

The days when a large collection of books was enough of a draw seem to be over. They need a gimmick to tear them away from the interactive freak show on their phones.

[iris lilies]

I steered way clear of story hour at my library; in fact, I steered clear of the children's section in general as much as possible. Drag queen story hour would be fine with me, but I still would have made myself scarce.

I absolutely fail to see the threat posed by drag queens--are they supposed to start kids on the slippery slope of accepting other people as human beings?

You have refused, then, to look at the video footage provided many places, including here—by me—of deliberately sexualized shows for children.

[catherine]

The days when a large collection of books was enough of a draw seem to be over. They need a gimmick to tear them away from the interactive freak show on their phones.

I don't begrudge the entertainment. I begrudge the trend of the printed word being relegated to a 3x4 inch screen, and print communication being confined to tweets and captions on Instagram. Do I get upset when I see 3/4's of the real estate of a Barnes & Noble (what's left of them) being taken up by toys? Yes, but frankly, we might as well spend our time ruing the fate of Medieval illuminations because the era of classic print books won't likely persist much longer and there's nothing we can do about it except act like fogies and Luddites.

[JaneV2.0]

You have refused, then, to look at the video footage provided many places, including here—by me—of deliberately sexualized shows for children.

What library or other facility isn't establishing clear guidelines for performances? (Like "Don't show up in a thong. Your first twerk will be your last.") I'm skeptical that these aren't staged examples to activate pearl-clutching impulses, anyway.

[iris lilies]

What library or other facility isn't establishing clear guidelines for performances? (Like "Don't show up in a thong. Your first twerk will be your last.") I'm skeptical that these aren't staged examples to activate pearl-clutching impulses, anyway.

You are right, I didn’t make my thoughts clear.

Certainly, the library where I worked for would not put up with tits and ass drag shows for children.

But I’m of the firm belief that when drag queens were anointed ss as the ambassadors of… Whatever they are selling…in story times for babies, that was one major societal barrier down. From that came the whole idea of “family friendly” drag shows. It is these shows where the tits and ass come out. Giant fat tits in some cases. Bare asses. Sexual innuendo, etc.

[jp1]

Did anyone else see Ron DeSantis's hate the gays campaign video? Aside from being incredibly creepy it was possibly the most homoerotic thing I've seen in the past month.

https://twitter.com/DeSantisWarRoom/...99610379116546

[iris lilies]

Did anyone else see Ron DeSantis's hate the gays campaign video? Aside from being incredibly creepy it was possibly the most homoerotic thing I've seen in the past month.

https://twitter.com/DeSantisWarRoom/...99610379116546

I may surprise you by agreeing that it’s a dumb ad, and unnecessary.

Some wise gay folks are distancing themselves from the “T+” crowd of LGBTQ+ after observations that tolerance for LGBTQ plus folks as a whole has dropped since the “T+” crowd has commandeered the conversation.

Here, an original Stonewall activist and founder of gay Pride parades all over, gives his view after being attacked by trans activist in a recent Pride event.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lx7uRPsLRE

[jp1]

I agree the ad is unnecessary. It’s not like desantis has been unclear about the hate in his heart. But I suppose that ‘low information’ voters need to be reminded of that whether they agree with the hate or not.

It will be interesting to see how many LGBTQIA voters decide to throw trans folks under the bus out of fear for their own existence.