“A group of religious protesters interrupted a drag queen story-telling event for children in Ottawa on Saturday, claiming the event was “child abuse.”
Organizers say the interruption was “hateful” and “bigoted” and called the police. No one, however, was arrested.
About 100 parents and children attended the Westcliffe Community Centre, in Bells Corners, for a storytelling event by Adrianna Exposée, a local drag queen.
The event was meant to teach children about inclusiveness but took a turn near the end, with a protester flinging insults.”
I find this a little puzzling, because really, what is going on here? We have a dude in womanface reading stories to children. People, however happen to be dressed, read to children all the time.
Inclusiveness? Of what exactly? More child drag queens?
Let’s define what a drag queen is:
Drag queens are performance artists, almost always male, who dress in women’s clothing and often act with exaggerated femininity and in feminine gender roles with a primarily entertaining purpose. They often exaggerate make-up such as eyelashes for dramatic, comedic or satirical effect. Drag queens are closely associated with gay men and gay culture, but can be of any sexual orientation or gender identity. They vary widely by class, culture, and dedication, from professionals who star in films to people who try drag very occasionally.
The activity, which is called doing drag, has many motivations, from individual self-expression to mainstream performance. Drag queen activities among stage and street performers may include lip-syncing, live singing, dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, drag pageants, or at venues such as cabarets and nightclubs.
So my question(s) are this? Why is accepting exaggerated stereotypes of females under the banner of ‘inclusion’ a good thing?
I do not see the value of setting that sort of example for children. Women are not a collection of patriarchal stereotypes, but rather individual human beings with variable personalities, goals, and desire.
Should we not be promoting this view of what women are?
2 comments
August 20, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Bill Malcolm
Don’t have much of an opinion on drag queens, but as a kid clowns scared the snot out of me. Couldn’t see what was funny about them at all. Forced jollity up close repelled me at 8 years old.
Fifty years ago a bunch of us Canadian graduate male engineers studying in London UK went to a drag bar in Camden Town one evening. After a couple of acts from no-hopers, a tall rangy and indeed skinny performer really put on a great show – quite the singer. Having imbibed a few pints of the real 20 fl oz variety, we were full of mirth at what a show that person put on. We were too loud. Next thing, the leader of the four man live band was in our faces. The singer was his girlfriend! His real life honest-to-goodness female girlfriend. And he was utterly pissed off at us for cracking jokes of the kind you can well imagine. Her falsetto was not false.
We were confused – did not one go to a drag bar to see drag queens? Apparently not. This woman used the venue for live practice here and there between amateur drag queen perfotmances. She had few overt female physical attributes, just a hell of a voice. Profuse apologies ensued and we were then introduced to her. Following that we beat a hasty Canadian retreat and went back to the flat. Wiser.
For reasons like this and rushes to judgment which in my youth proved wrong far too often, I have rarely felt it necessary to belittle anyone for their sexual orientation or question motives for them. There has been one exception. I suppose if a drag queen does not repel a given child and can read stories to the kid’s satisfaction, I shouldn’t care in any way whatsoever. Just keep overly grease-painted clowns away from me, thanks all the same. Ewwww.
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August 21, 2019 at 8:52 am
The Arbourist
@Bill Malcolm
I tend to agree with you Bill. So much of this ‘progress’ has been without a referencing the how current patriarchal society is set up and the demands and expectations that are put on individuals.
Most certainly, be what you want to be, but have no expectation that the rest of society has to play along with your personal feelings on the matter.
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