Tennessee about to become the first state to pass a ban on drag shows (for minors)

[Joe Biden 2028]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

[HisGrace]

Drag shows with nudity or simulated sex acts would fall under the already existing regulations of strip clubs. The government doesn't need to be regulating regular drag shows with fully clothed people regardless of whether an individual thinks that's appropriate or inappropriate for certain age groups.

[7,052,770]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

So when Bugs Bunny or Steve Urkel or Bing Crosby wears drag, that's "adult content" ? Really??

[Joe Kakistocracy]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

Some drag shows are adult content.  Some are not, such as the kind that you see in public libraries.  I take it you've never been to one?

Good lord, even dimwit TheReckoning is able to grasp this very simple differentiation.

[JGibson]

Totally ridiculous this drag ban law is.

[Fuzzy Bear]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

[Trump Is A Maoist]

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Have you ever allowed your children or grandchildren to watch Bugs Bunny?

[Fuzzy Bear]

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Have you ever allowed your children or grandchildren to watch Bugs Bunny?

Thomas, the Train and Caillou.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Why not?

[The DEI Hire]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Why not?

Because there is no reason this should be allowed around kids

[Fuzzy Bear]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Why not?

I tell you what:  You want them there so badly, you tell us why you do.  What educational value does Drag Queen Story Hour bring to children to the point where these things ought to be sponsored by schools or public libraries?  You tell me.  Because in a democracy, "We just don't want them there!" is often good enough, particularly when it's at the level of a school board.

[Frodo]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Why not?

Because there is no reason this should be allowed around kids

Wow.  Okay, if this is what kids are being exposed to, then I can understand the vehement reaction of their parents. 

[Joe Kakistocracy]

What about these performances in public libraries?

What about them?

Drag shows are adult content. Should not be in public places where they can be seen by kids

This, I agree with.  They should certainly not be part of any public school educational event.

Why not?

I tell you what:  You want them there so badly, you tell us why you do.  What educational value does Drag Queen Story Hour bring to children to the point where these things ought to be sponsored by schools or public libraries?  You tell me.  Because in a democracy, "We just don't want them there!" is often good enough, particularly when it's at the level of a school board.

No, that's not how this works when you want an act of free speech banned.  Tell us why!  What did you experience when you went to see one?  Was it the only one you went to?

But since you asked me a question, I'll still answer.  Because I'm not a coward, you see.

This 4-minute video sums it up quite well:

Or this summary in particular: "Its goal?  To inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love, and an appreciation of others.  "Everyone is different and everyone is not bad," said Scooter, who is a turtle. "Different is special.""

Or, from Drag Story Hour's website:

Does this promote an agenda?
Our agenda is simple: we believe that people of all ages should be free to express themselves however they want, free from the constraints of prescribed gender roles. In other words, there’s no such thing as “girl clothes” and “boy clothes,” or “girl toys” and “boy toys.” DSH teaches children that there are many ways to express themselves and their gender, and they are all OK.  Of course, drag is an art form that is rooted in diverse LGBTQ communities, and we support equality, justice, and respect for all people—for us, that’s just a given. Given that LGBTQ people are present in every community, we believe that children deserve to experience these aspects of our shared history and culture, in age appropriate ways. Any insinuation that we have an agenda to indoctrinate children misunderstands LGBTQ experiences and is rooted in homophobia and transphobia.

Why is this necessary?
DSH helps children develop empathy, learn about gender diversity and difference, and tap into their own creativity. DSH can also be life-changing and ultimately life-saving for LGBTQ kids and teens, kids with LGBTQ parents or family members, and anyone who feels different because of their identity or interests or who may not otherwise see themselves reflected in the broader culture.

Should kids be exposed to gender fluidity?
Most children naturally explore gender identity and norms through imaginative play. However, too often gender norms are socially enforced at all ages, from the colors or clothes we’re supposed to wear to the toys kids are allowed to play with to the kinds of jobs we’re trained for. DSH teaches children to follow their passions and embrace gender diversity in themselves and others. This helps to curb bullying of LGBTQ kids and kids who may be perceived as different in all kinds of ways.

Now; your turn.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

Wow.  Okay, if this is what kids are being exposed to, then I can understand the vehement reaction of their parents.  

Don't fall for it.  Still photos don't tell as much context as the videos they were plucked from.  Especially when those cherry-picked, out-of-context photos are hosted on a right-wing site called the 'Child Protection League'.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I don't wish this to be banned for ADULTS.  If adults want this garbage, let them have at it. 

Drag, in all its forms, is inappropriate for children.  Children should not be exposed to this sort of thing on the taxpayer's dime.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

I don't wish this to be banned for ADULTS.  If adults want this garbage, let them have at it. 

Drag, in all its forms, is inappropriate for children.  Children should not be exposed to this sort of thing on the taxpayer's dime.

Why?  Come on, I answered your question in some depth, but you're very clearly avoiding mine.

There's plenty of forms of entertainment I don't particularly care for despite never actually experiencing it first-hand, e.g. NASCAR.  That doesn't mean I want to see it banned for children, and if I tried to argue as such, I would at least attempt to make a case!

[Comrade Funk]

I don't wish this to be banned for ADULTS.  If adults want this garbage, let them have at it. 

Drag, in all its forms, is inappropriate for children.  Children should not be exposed to this sort of thing on the taxpayer's dime.

Religion is far more dangerous and yet you want to impose that crap on children and the whole world

[7,052,770]

I don't wish this to be banned for ADULTS.  If adults want this garbage, let them have at it. 

Drag, in all its forms, is inappropriate for children.  Children should not be exposed to this sort of thing on the taxpayer's dime.

Again, are you saying that "Looney Tunes" and "Family Matters" are inappropriate for children? Because I grew up watching those and never heard of a single classmate who had a parent who wouldn't let them watch them.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I don't wish this to be banned for ADULTS.  If adults want this garbage, let them have at it. 

Drag, in all its forms, is inappropriate for children.  Children should not be exposed to this sort of thing on the taxpayer's dime.

Why?  Come on, I answered your question in some depth, but you're very clearly avoiding mine.

There's plenty of forms of entertainment I don't particularly care for despite never actually experiencing it first-hand, e.g. NASCAR.  That doesn't mean I want to see it banned for children, and if I tried to argue as such, I would at least attempt to make a case!

Drag shows are sexually-based "entertainment". 

Children do not need to know that "Gay is OK".  They need to learn that they need to get along with all people.  They don't need to think about the private lives of other kids, or their parents, and issues of the moral correctness of gay/trans etc. are matters for their parents, and not teachers. 

Kids don't need to learn DEI.  They need to learn to treat their peers and their teachers with respect, and that can be done without Drag Queen Story Hour, Black Lives Matter At School, any stealth form of CRT, etc.

Drag Queens don't have a right to access to children.  Period.  If parents don't want that, this shouldn't happen, and those pushing for it should be told "No!" with the strongest pushback imaginable.

Perhaps the Armistice in the Culture War is:  We'll not bother consenting adults, but stay away from our kids.  Rest assured, however, that million of Americans are fine with ramping up the Culture War, since there seems no end to how far the Left wishes to ramp it up.  In the meantime, these matters of DEI and gender/sex are for PARENTS to be arbiters of.  Not teachers.  Not outside activists.  On that, I will never compromise, and their ought to be no compromise on that point ever.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

Drag shows are sexually-based "entertainment".

Are all movies "sexually-based entertainment" because R-rated movies exist?  You're going to need to elaborate on that statement, because it appears you just don't know what you're talking about.

Children do not need to know that "Gay is OK".

Yes, they absolutely do.  Good grief.

They need to learn that they need to get along with all people.

Agreed, and that's one of the stated goals of Drag Story Hour.

They don't need to think about the private lives of other kids, or their parents, and issues of the moral correctness of gay/trans etc. are matters for their parents, and not teachers.

The kids' parents are bringing them to the shows, so...

Kids don't need to learn DEI.  They need to learn to treat their peers and their teachers with respect, and that can be done without Drag Queen Story Hour, Black Lives Matter At School, any stealth form of CRT, etc.

There are many ways of accomplishing the bolded sentence, and showing children that people don't always look or dress the conventionally 'normal' way and still be worthy of respect is one way to do it.

Drag Queens don't have a right to access to children.  Period.

They... don't.  Again, I know you've clearly never experienced a public drag performance in real life, let alone a family-friendly version of one, but the ones in public libraries are usually held in their events room if possible.  They kind of have to, to keep away from the bigots inevitably protesting close by.

---

It's truly sad that you hold such fear and hate in your heart for something you don't even understand and have never even seen.  I hope some day you might open your mind just a crack.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Here's my non-lawyer but attemptedly level-headed and non-agenda driven take: If the law is only enforced to prohibit minors from attending drag shows or events that involve drag, then it'll probably withstand any challenges (not that such events are likely common in Tennessee anyway.) If it's enforced in a way using vague wording to try to harass Pride events in general, etc. then it'll likely be struck down. Of course I also bet most Pride events in Tennessee take place in areas where the local municipal government is friendly so it remains to be seen what happens there.

[Badger]

Here's my non-lawyer but attemptedly level-headed and non-agenda driven take: If the law is only enforced to prohibit minors from attending drag shows or events that involve drag, then it'll probably withstand any challenges (not that such events are likely common in Tennessee anyway.) If it's enforced in a way using vague wording to try to harass Pride events in general, etc. then it'll likely be struck down. Of course I also bet most Pride events in Tennessee take place in areas where the local municipal government is friendly so it remains to be seen what happens there.

Define "drag".

[Comrade Funk]

Fuzzy saw Rocky Horror accidentally once and thinks a public library drag show involves Tim Curry screwing a guy.

[Horus]

Drag is not inherently sexual, though most acts are pretty R rated. It's sort of like mime or clowning though. It can be completely PG if the performer so chooses.

Drag queen story hours are sort of like having an interracial kiss off in northern Arkansas 5 years after the civil rights act was passed. Of course the people kissing are morally in the right, but they are trying to force the conservative folks to evolve too quickly, which only results in backlash. Gay rights have made such immense strides in just the past few decades. Let's not overdo it just to get points with overly woke white moms and weird, terminally online social justice activitists.

I am against this bill of course.

[Torie]

Terrible.  My state is on track to do the same.

Many Republicans want to install a Christian version of Sharia Law.  They are not for freedom, and anyone who thinks they are has a bizarre idea of what “freedom” means.

What the hell is wrong with keeping half-naked perverts away from little kids?

There isn't.  But why are you talking about it here?

Look at the title of this thread and the liberal depression about it. You can see why a Republican would get involved.

The only thing I notice is that your seeming sophomoric attempts at trolling do not seem to be getting much traction, which is a credit to the forum.