Recently, the Washington Post defended Drag Queen Story Hour, a programme that has been criticised by some, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has proposed laws to ban such performances for child audiences.
It’s important to clarify that the presence of drag queens in children’s lives extends beyond merely reading storybooks in classrooms. Children are often taken to performances that are advertised as child-friendly, but can be sexually explicit. For instance, at an event in Dallas, Texas, drag queens accepted cash tips from young children while performing suggestively in front of a neon sign that read “It’s not gonna lick itself.”
There is a vile trend of children participating in drag and performing for adult audiences.
I don’t believe it’s suitable for children to be exposed to this stuff.
Critics of drag shows are often accused of being driven by anti-gay sentiments or “homophobia”, which is absurd. The concern here is not about drag queens being gay, but about the potential grooming aspect of these performances.
If women were dancing provocatively, giving lap dances, and removing their clothing in front of children, there would likely be widespread disgust and outrage. The dancers would probably be asked to leave, and there’s a high chance that Child Protective Services would be called on the parents.
Encouraging children to touch strangers in areas usually covered by undergarments and desensitising them to explicit depictions of adult sexuality is a dangerous path. This concern is underscored by the news of a Pennsylvania drag queen being arrested on child pornography charges.
Children should not be used as props for political statements or to demonstrate one’s open-mindedness.
The fact that some parents see no issue with this trend and support it is where the focus of the discussion should be.
Parents are to blame.
