My only add to this convo is that I wish we treated others like dog lovers do with dogs. There are black dogs, white dogs, brown dogs, ginger dogs, gay dogs (honest!), straight dogs, nasty dogs, lovable dogs, noisy dogs, quiet dogs, big dogs, little dogs, fat dogs, thin dogs. But dog lovers love them all. Maybe if we looked at our fellow humans like we do our four legged friends, the world would be a better place.
I am fully in favour of Hampshire County Council who promote Story Time at our local libraries for under 5s. Librarians do a fantastic job engaging three and four year olds by reading stories to them with the aim of encouraging youngsters to find pleasure in reading as they grow up. Where I have difficulty with our Council, was in their paid engagement of a Mama G on his UK tour for Drag Queen Story Time last year. Promoted as teaching 'creativity' and 'inclusivity' in a fun and interactive show. I think the quote from journalist Jo Bartosh is quite succinct here, DQST claims to offer ‘queer role models’ to children. But despite the popularity of its events, it remains unclear how a man in a lurid frock will make kids with two mums feel supported, or how DQST serves to stop the bullying of kids who don’t conform… DQST is a sinister attempt to force an adult ideology on to children Personally, I would be very uncomfortable taking my children to the likes of an Aida H Dee Story Time event as I'm not convinced that this is a book-marker in his pants or if he is just happy to be around children. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I would assume the requisite DBS checks were done before his being allowed to do this. Why is a man in a dress any more likely to be a *****phile than one wearing a suit, or a pair of jeans?
I think the point here is that there aren’t any “Goldman Sachs Story Time” events being run where a bloke in a pinstripe suit turns up to read to kids. At least not formally. Those companies to have CSR stuff that might involve that But with the drag story time you have a specific event where the participants normally perform in events that are definitely more sexual than what most guys in jeans or suits would be doing. It’s the point I asked about before that I’m pretty sure was ignored - what if it was “stripper story time” and the council brought in the women from FYEO in town? I expect there would also be push back. Or Chippendales story time. Now those are more sexualised than drag performers but I’d suggest that drag performers are closer to them than the people who would normally do readings for children - teachers
Yes you did “I'm not convinced that this is a book-marker in his pants or if he is just happy to be around children.”
He is a man in trousers with an erect penis who reads to children and appears to enjoy a hug from them. I couldn't care less if he has a DBS check, I wouldn't want my children anywhere near him. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
It hasn't broken containment outside the US, mercifully. Mordaunt tried to float it and got no traction. But mainstream (to the extent that such a thing exists anymore) conservatives in the US are certainly pushing it. Ron DeSantis is a leading candidate for the 2024 GOP nomination and the governor of Florida. When people pushed back about Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, his press secretary repeatedly suggested that anyone who disagreed with it was a ****phile, or supported ****philes. And a bunch of prominent conservatives are responding to the massacre in Colorado by claiming that it was a 'grooming event' that needs to be dealt with via 'an armed population', while their fans openly suggest that the killing was a good thing, and that killings will continue until...trans people cease existing, I guess?
I get most of your points and the stances taken by conservatives are extreme and over the top. That said your conclusion after the “will continue until…” is rather disingenuous don’t you think? The context is quite clear from what you yourself posted. These people want an end to what they call “grooming events”. And following through the other messages and interviews it would be because they fear that exposing kids to this early will make them decide they want “gender affirming care” at an age they consider too young (mainly because they have been lead to believe such care involves body altering surgery in the early teen years without parental consent) Does any of this warrant a capital response? No. Is this conclusion particularly reasonable? Also no. Can a causal link be drawn between children going to drag shows and deciding to transition? It’s too soon to say as they seem a recent thing and also there are too many variables in such a decision for that to ever be a claim that can be reliably made. But does this all boil down to them wanting trans people to “cease existing”. Based purely on what you have posted - also no. That is wild hyperbole. Are there going to be some conservatives who have that view? Of course. On the extremes there will. But you made a pretty big leap there really There is another pretty unpleasant stuff said by some of these people to point out without making things up. But on a tangentially related note - you’ve almost got to admire some of the branding the right wing can pull off. Although I’m not sure how well some of it sticks. But pitching their bill as “anti groomer” certainly would make some people think twice about opposing it. Not sure which name has more traction though. That or “Don’t say gay”. DeSantis won comprehensively in Florida though so not enough people there see it as something to switch over. The more obvious one is “pro life”. Pretty good branding especially for a party that really isn’t pro life at all (once you are born). Means by default if you oppose you are “anti life”. Recently the other side of this issue have started trying to call them “anti choice” but it hasn’t stuck
It hasn’t broken from the US yet but don’t most things make there way here eventually? Or maybe it didn’t gain much traction because we are already considered “Terf Island” and are arguable to the right of this issue as a national average compared to the average American? Although I’d say both the US extremes are far more extreme than anyone here - both on the TRA and full on transphobic sides of things And I imagine our health system is far more centralised and aligned whereas different US states can have very different approaches (allowing for the extremes already mentioned )
Banning trans people from the military isn't about 'protecting children'. Attempting to remove gender identity as a protected class in a number of states isn't about 'protecting children'. Restricting people to ID cards with their gender at birth isn't about 'protecting children'. Attempting to prevent health insurance for covering trans health services *for any age* isn't about 'protecting children'. It's not even remotely disingenuous to suggest that they are attempting to erase trans people, that's absolutely the goal. But just to pick on one element: This is silly, I'm afraid. Why in god's name would there be a link between going to drag shows and transitioning? Drag performers aren't even trans!
please log in to view this image Admirable sentiments No7 but there are male dogs who sometimes try to muscle their way into female dog kennel spaces where they don't belong and then there are adult mongrels who want to put their noses into the bottoms of young pups. When this happens some owners just look the other way or say "all dogs do it, it's not just sausage dogs". Male dogs love to dress up like bitches and have names that could be either male or female. This one is called Eddie Vizsla They/Them please log in to view this image Then there is this odd breed which quite clearly isn't a real dog but everyone has to pretend they are or risk being called Fidophobic. Their attributes are that they are very quick....to take offense and will bite you if you don't call them back using their preferred pronouns. They are quite often taken into schools to teach the children about pack inclusivity and will perform tricks for the kids. One of their favourites is called humping the headmaster's leg. They are very affectionate and are more than happy to have the kids pet them but they can get over excited. please log in to view this image
Anyone else getting fed up with the crocodile tears and faux outrage coming from Michael Gove, with regards to the condition of council/social housing rental properties? Is he going to visit privately rented properties, with tv cameras to film him, to expose the poor conditions in them, as well? Gove, along with his party, voted against a bill that would have made ALL rented properties HABITABLE, so he and his party have to shoulder an equal share, if not a greater share, of responsibility for the poor condition of rental properties. To a certain extent I can understand why/how Council properties have become rundown, after years of Tory government spending cuts forcing councils to choose what services to cut back on and, IMO, Gove and his party wouldn’t be saying a word about this had a child not died and exposed how poor conditions in some homes have become. Read the last sentence of the report, below, and ask how homes can be improved, if funding is stopped. And as for his comment about questions not being answered. ****ing pot, kettle, black. TENS of thousands of rented homes are feared unsafe to live in, Michael Gove has revealed. His admission came a week after a coroner ruled Awaab Ishak, two, died after exposure to mould. Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove said he was “angry” at the figure, after 12 years of Tory rule. Last night he held talks with Greater Manchester housing chiefs who rented the flat to Awaab’s family. And Mr Gove said he “does not have confidence” in Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. A source said: “They failed to answer questions on how they will ensure tenants are safe.” Mr Gove has blocked £1million in funding for the group. He said: “It does not deserve this.”
RuPaul, made famous in the UK by the BBC, has had such an influence in the US on Desmond Napoles that at that tender age of two, he decided to become a drag queen or as Tom O'Carroll (whom I'm sure you are all familiar with) prefers, "drag princess" At the age of two? Like the vegan cat analogy, I think we all know who is in control here. Mommy Dearest saw an opportunity to monetise her son and created 'Desmond the Amazing they/them/he/she'. The US and UK have an obsession with celebrity - always on the lookout for the next phenomenon and the younger the better, it seems. So of course they lapped up 11 year-old Desmond caked in 'Woman Face' and twerking for tips from adults. Wow, child exploitation, anyone? 'Desmond the Amazing' can be seen on Youtube and is promoted on BBC Minute as a role model for children - he also has a range of products to help your children be their 'true self' . There are *****philes like O'Carroll in every walk of life and of course our role as parents should be to safeguard children from them the best we can. I would do everything I could to ensure pictures of my children at ballet, swimming or just at play don't end up on their hard drive. So who benefits from taking children to drag shows and what do children learn? That a little sashay in front of Uncle John is perfectly fine as he will stick a fiver up your knickers for doing so? Drag shows -loved by groomers. Link warning, content may be upsetting https://heretictoc.com/2019/05/08/desmond-is-truly-amazing-and-hot/
CWU leader Dave Ward is another good speaker and in this short video he draws attention to the way Royal Mail bosses are trying to turn the service into a gig economy company by it’s replacing of staff with self employed drivers and agency workers. Worth noting that since privatisation, in 2013, the company has paid £1.9 billion out in dividends.
