| I'm an American who leans politically center-right. Here's my opinionated perspective on this issue. In recent years, public libraries across the US and UK have hosted a number of Drag Queen Story Hours. These are events where men dressed as sexual parodies of women read books to young children. Sometimes the men dance provocatively for the kids, or wear revealing outfits, or have kids climb all over them: https://alphanews.org/drag-queen-flashes-crotch-to-children-... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VA72t7o24I https://www.lifesitenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Drag... Several performers and sponsors of these events have turned out to be sex offenders: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-public-libra... https://reduxx.info/drag-queen-charged-with-25-counts-of-fel... https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/second-drag-queen-story-ho... Across the pond, the founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK has tweeted "love has no age" and openly associates with pedophiles: https://thepostmillennial.com/founder-of-uk-drag-queen-story... At the same time, "child-friendly" and "all-ages" drag shows have popped up at gay bars and clubs across the US. These are often much more sexually provocative than shows hosted in libraries: https://reduxx.info/children-tipped-drag-queens-during-perfo... https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1543662744616013825 https://twitter.com/TaylerUSA/status/1538733481492094977 Far-left militia armed with AR-15s have shown up at some all-ages shows to "protect" them from protestors. The armed militants in these photos are self-identified anti-fascists: https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/08/30/drag-brunch-ro... These events have become the focus intense polarization. Republicans say they're sexual performances designed to desensitize kids to advances from adults. Democrats say they're expressions of LGBT pride. There is a growing conservative backlash to "all-ages" or "family-friendly" drag events generally and Drag Queen Story Hour in particular. Many parents are uncomfortable with the sexual displays aimed at children. Some women see drag as sexual blackface. This backlash is framed by Democrats as opposition to drag shows in general, which generally speaking is untrue. It is the targeting of young children that aggravates conservatives. Librarians host these events in taxpayer-funded venues. The elected government of the state of Missouri seeks to limit this practice. |