Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

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Barleymower
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Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Barleymower »

For those of us who think the world is getting somewhere and maybe accepting that people can dress as they want to without being a threat then this story brings you back down to earth with a bump.

"THE FIRST drag queen story hour in a UK-wide library tour descended into chaos after parents broke into the venue and screamed abuse in front of children.

Drag Queen Story Hour UK, a group that hosts sessions for three to 11-year-olds, is run by Sab Samuel, a 27-year-old autistic male children’s author, who performs as drag queen Aida H Dee. Almost 70 events across 20 areas of the UK are stated to take place over the next two months. But the first event in Reading Central Library was met with an outburst of hatred from locals as police sought to protect Mr Samuel from parents threatening to perform a “citizens’ arrest” and accusing him of paedophilia.
About a dozen parents and young children were seen dancing with the drag queen in the library on Monday - although the protesters, reportedly numbering around 25, could be heard outside. Reading Council officials had planned a heavy police presence at the event.

The event was derailed when two mothers, one of whom Mr Samuel claims used her disabled child as a “trojan horse” to gain entry, confronted the event’s host and labelled it “disgusting”.

They shouted: “You’re allowing child grooming to take place, this is disgusting, do you know what autogynephilia is?”

Autogynephilia is when males are sexually aroused by the thought of themselves being female. They were escorted out by police officers and security guards, leading the room to erupt with applause at their removal."


https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... rotestors/

Comment:
This is frightening stuff and Sab Samuel is very brave when facing down this bigoted mob. I live in Reading and I have been out and about in Reading in skirts and really did not realise the depth of anger the population still has for anyone who crosses the barrier between the genders. I won't go out in a skirt now knowing what's out there. I help out with my local scout group, my three children all go there. I dont wear a skirt and I have not told them I do. Looking at twitter feeds I could easily be on the receiving end of these types of protest but without police presence.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Coder »

IMHO, I think drag has different connotations than men in skirts. To me drag has a sexual dimension - in fact an article by a drag artist goes as far as saying so.

Granted, if parents want to expose their children to that behavior it should ultimately be up to them - but I think those kind of events are in poor taste, and some of the performers do have a record.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Barleymower »

For what it's worth, no matter which part of society you examine you will always find people hiding there who are deviant. The majority of deviant criminal behaviour is found hidden in plain sight. I don't believe that this autistic man is trying bring himself into contact with kids via a library story time. Dressing in drag does not make him a pedophile. Dressing drag does not mean he wants to groom kids. He is reading stories which have been vetted and he is raising awareness for the LGBT+ community.

Drag queens are men, typically gay men, who dress like women for the purpose of entertainment. Like it or not, if we as men in the current climate wear a skirt we are seen as crossdressers. There are proper crossdressers who regularly frequent this forum, they go the whole hog wigs, makeup, the works and they are accepted. What cross-dressing means can vary a lot from individual to individual. For some it's a full transformation for others it's just a man in a skirt.

If we in this forum or are not accepting of someone who is doing good and promoting their community then how will we ever gain acceptance as just 'Men in Skirts' by a world that sees anything outside of accepted norms as deviant and potentially criminal?
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by new2skirts »

I think people want to compartmentalize here, although we wear skirts, we are not like that ... but in a few years I have seen more variety than the typical man in jeans skirt look. (I'm ironically wearing a 21" mini Levis jeans one now :mrgreen: ) but drag has always had the connotation of false bits that guys don't have, wigs etc rather than teaming a nice skirt with a t-shirt etc.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by renesm1 »

Just wait until those mums take their kids to panto this Christmas, they are going to blow a gasket when they see men dressed as women and women dressed as men!!!!
Barleymower wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 12:50 pm For those of us who think the world is getting somewhere and maybe accepting that people can dress as they want to without being a threat then this story brings you back down to earth with a bump.

"THE FIRST drag queen story hour in a UK-wide library tour descended into chaos after parents broke into the venue and screamed abuse in front of children.

Drag Queen Story Hour UK, a group that hosts sessions for three to 11-year-olds, is run by Sab Samuel, a 27-year-old autistic male children’s author, who performs as drag queen Aida H Dee. Almost 70 events across 20 areas of the UK are stated to take place over the next two months. But the first event in Reading Central Library was met with an outburst of hatred from locals as police sought to protect Mr Samuel from parents threatening to perform a “citizens’ arrest” and accusing him of paedophilia.
About a dozen parents and young children were seen dancing with the drag queen in the library on Monday - although the protesters, reportedly numbering around 25, could be heard outside. Reading Council officials had planned a heavy police presence at the event.

The event was derailed when two mothers, one of whom Mr Samuel claims used her disabled child as a “trojan horse” to gain entry, confronted the event’s host and labelled it “disgusting”.

They shouted: “You’re allowing child grooming to take place, this is disgusting, do you know what autogynephilia is?”

Autogynephilia is when males are sexually aroused by the thought of themselves being female. They were escorted out by police officers and security guards, leading the room to erupt with applause at their removal."


https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... rotestors/

Comment:
This is frightening stuff and Sab Samuel is very brave when facing down this bigoted mob. I live in Reading and I have been out and about in Reading in skirts and really did not realise the depth of anger the population still has for anyone who crosses the barrier between the genders. I won't go out in a skirt now knowing what's out there. I help out with my local scout group, my three children all go there. I dont wear a skirt and I have not told them I do. Looking at twitter feeds I could easily be on the receiving end of these types of protest but without police presence.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by skirted84 »

This has been simmering in the UK for several years. Its ahead of society. Theres a huge difference between quietly getting on with your life in womens clothes and presenting extreme versions of femininity to children. Joe public is slowly coming round to the former of these, why risk the progress already made?

It doesn't help with the narrative here about transing more kids in school, however true it may be. The potential to become a trendy subculture through schools and social media way beyond the small number of those with actual gender dysphoria can't be ignored.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by rode_kater »

skirted84 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:06 pm It doesn't help with the narrative here about transing more kids in school, however true it may be. The potential to become a trendy subculture through schools and social media way beyond the small number of those with actual gender dysphoria can't be ignored.
What do you mean by this? The idea that teaching children that transpeople exist will somehow cause ordinary children to become trans is just... bizarre. And frankly, if it becomes cool for guy to wear dresses at school, I'm not complaining. Sounds like an improvement to me.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by skirted84 »

Unfortunately its not "just" about clothes which I fully support a more fluid understanding of. It can involve things like puberty blocking which have legitimate concerns over long term effects, girls binding breasts or removing when old enough. Such drastic measures may be justified for a small minority but can't be done lightly. Letting a kid live "as the opposite gender" when they are not really is not a neutral act. Then knock on effects like gendered changing rooms/toilets/sports, secrecy from parents encouraged by schools or social media figures.

Could a shy/sensitive boy who likes dresses and long hair etc. just be exactly that, not a girl? I don't have a view on that but its a legitimate question.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by moonshadow »

Barleymower wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 12:50 pm I won't go out in a skirt now knowing what's out there. I help out with my local scout group, my three children all go there. I dont wear a skirt and I have not told them I do. Looking at twitter feeds I could easily be on the receiving end of these types of protest but without police presence.
Now stop that.

People of all types of subcultures have fallen victim to "angry mobs" INCLUDING those of minority religions and even Christian sects over the years. People fear what they do not understand. The fight it with all their might. They are terrorist. And it sounds like they have succeeded in their task. They want people like you afraid to show yourself in public, and they've gotten what they want.

Deny them their prize. Stay away from their precious little hell-raisers, and strut your stuff like there ain't no tomorrow.

Two rules for men in skirts:

1) Mind you own business.

2) Stay away from children.

Abide those two guidelines and you'll be fine no matter where you go.
skirted84 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:10 pm Could a shy/sensitive boy who likes dresses and long hair etc. just be exactly that, not a girl? I don't have a view on that but its a legitimate question.
Well, I try to come to peace with any trans-ness I may have. I endeavor to find a balance that nobody can legislate away from me. It is a balance rooted in fact, I am a human biological male with a feminine heart and soul. I use the men's facilities, because people are funny about that. Honestly in my opinion a toilet is a toilet. But it's whatever... as long as the snowflakes are happy, that's the most important thing, I couldn't care less what pictogram is on the door, and at the end of the day I'm fine to just use the private side of a bush when nature calls, just as our ancient ancestors did (both male and female).

Just like the scene in Shawshank Redemption where Andy gets locked in the hole for two months. He said he had Mozart and Beethoven to keep him company, when asked if they let him take his record player down there, he pointed to his heart and replied "no... it's in here, that's the beauty of music, they can't take it away from you".

That's how I feel about where my gender is on the masculine/feminine spectrum, it's a part of my heart and soul, they can't take it away from me. They can lock me in whatever "hole" they want, ban this and ban that, but they can never take the feminine out of my soul. The fire always burns.

But that's just me, how others reconcile their transness, gender non-conformance, or just plain old "man in skirt-ness", is a matter for each to decide individually.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by crfriend »

skirted84 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:10 pmCould a shy/sensitive boy who likes dresses and long hair etc. just be exactly that, not a girl? I don't have a view on that but its a legitimate question.
This sums it up in a nutshell. Thank you.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Barleymower »

moonshadow wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:21 pm
Barleymower wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 12:50 pm I won't go out in a skirt now knowing what's out there. I help out with my local scout group, my three children all go there. I dont wear a skirt and I have not told them I do. Looking at twitter feeds I could easily be on the receiving end of these types of protest but without police presence.
Now stop that.

People of all types of subcultures have fallen victim to "angry mobs" INCLUDING those of minority religions and even Christian sects over the years. People fear what they do not understand. The fight it with all their might. They are terrorist. And it sounds like they have succeeded in their task. They want people like you afraid to show yourself in public, and they've gotten what they want.

Deny them their prize. Stay away from their precious little hell-raisers, and strut your stuff like there ain't no tomorrow.

Two rules for men in skirts:

1) Mind you own business.

2) Stay away from children.

Abide those two guidelines and you'll be fine no matter where you go.
skirted84 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:10 pm Could a shy/sensitive boy who likes dresses and long hair etc. just be exactly that, not a girl? I don't have a view on that but its a legitimate question.
Well, I try to come to peace with any trans-ness I may have. I endeavor to find a balance that nobody can legislate away from me. It is a balance rooted in fact, I am a human biological male with a feminine heart and soul. I use the men's facilities, because people are funny about that. Honestly in my opinion a toilet is a toilet. But it's whatever... as long as the snowflakes are happy, that's the most important thing, I couldn't care less what pictogram is on the door, and at the end of the day I'm fine to just use the private side of a bush when nature calls, just as our ancient ancestors did (both male and female).

Just like the scene in Shawshank Redemption where Andy gets locked in the hole for two months. He said he had Mozart and Beethoven to keep him company, when asked if they let him take his record player down there, he pointed to his heart and replied "no... it's in here, that's the beauty of music, they can't take it away from you".

That's how I feel about where my gender is on the masculine/feminine spectrum, it's a part of my heart and soul, they can't take it away from me. They can lock me in whatever "hole" they want, ban this and ban that, but they can never take the feminine out of my soul. The fire always burns.

But that's just me, how others reconcile their transness, gender non-conformance, or just plain old "man in skirt-ness", is a matter for each to decide individually.
Moonshadow, I appreciate everything you say and agree. There's is, however a BUT:

"Two rules for men in skirts:
1) Mind you own business.
2) Stay away from children.
Abide those two guidelines and you'll be fine no matter where you go."

My kids attend scouts and I help out there, I'm now one of the leaders. If I stay away the group will be one less leader and will mean less activities for the children. If I carry on and continue my sideline in wearing skirts in public then sooner or later I could find myself in hot water. It seems that the two cannot co-exist without some level of risk. I live about 700yds from the scout hut, I live among the parents of the kids. I think my best course of action is to level with them and see if the object. Even then I might not be in clear.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Stu »

I don't like this and children don't benefit.

I have no issues if a male teacher turns up for school in a denim pinafore and ballet flats and teaches as usual.

I have no issue if a teacher tells children that men sometimes wear skirts and dresses and that it is rare because it is currently unfashionable for males to wear these.

I have no issue if a child sees drag at a pantomime, or a TV comedy show, or in a Shakespeare play or Mozart opera.

I start to have a problem when the drag consists of the highly-sexualised parody that is commonly found at, for example, gay clubs. I believe that is unacceptable to the vast majority of parents as well. Let's keep that for adult-only audiences.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by rivegauche »

I have a problem with drag because I think it mocks women. The make-up is so OTT that for me there is a significant overlap between drag and circus clowns. Both of these make me uncomfortable. I don't find a man doing a parody of a woman remotely entertaining and I can only think of one exception which really involved a costume rather than actual drag - and that is Lily Savage, who was genuinely funny. Because of the mockery of women element I don't think drag is appropriate for young children. And yes, I would include pantomime in that - I don't get that either. The ones who magnify the breasts to ridiculous proportions are especially disturbing. For the record I do not regard Grayson Perry as drag - his costumes are over the top but he is not mocking women and is having fun with dresses. There is a line between costume and drag and I would suggest that if it involves any element of mockery of women it has crossed that line and is a gender equivalent of blackfacing.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by denimini »

rivegauche wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 10:37 am There is a line between costume and drag and I would suggest that if it involves any element of mockery of women it has crossed that line and is a gender equivalent of blackfacing.
Yes, I have the same discomfort viewing drag performance. Transgender performers are somewhat different in that they are being women and not mocking, although perhaps overdressing. Then there are women, like Barbara Cartland, who seriously dress over the top and look like a parody of drag.
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Re: Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

Post by Sinned »

I think that introducing drag, as the article describes, is wrong. Let kids have their childhood. Or maybe I was brought up in a more naive time ( the fifties and sixties ).
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