Reading drag queen story hour. Radicals attempt citizen arrest

[crfriend]

There is much evil done in the name of religion, so I can understand the feeling.

Would it not be that way!" Sadly, however, your words ring true, and it's worth recalling that organised religion is a construct of man, and not the divine. Thus, it is precisely as flawed as the weakest link in its creation.

I suspect Moon's thinking was along those lines and not a slam at the entire notion of deity. We are, indeed, our own worst enemy, and we become that way for the basest of reasons possible. We really should strive to do better.

[Barleymower]

The event could have been legitimately, peacefully protested as inappropriate for kids. It was ambushed by the far right and the trans exclusionary radical feminists who used the protest to stir up fear and further their own ends which was to further portray trans women as sick.

I don't understand shouting/angry protests. In my opinion it just sours the mood towards whatever the protestors are opposing. Like... if you want people to support you, maybe act like adults?

They do because it works. People are more likely to immediately change their minds if they are in a crowd. The haters stirred up anger and hatred and swung the crowd.
I looked into it in more detail and their were number groups present. The peaceful concerned parents, the pro LGBTs. A group called Patriotic Alternative, a right wing organisation (the angery man posted by Moon) and Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists lead by Emma Nicholson (who wrote a hate filled open letter to the Tate). The jaw dropping bit was that the right wingers were mostly men and the rad fems hate men. They joined together iagainst a common foe.

[moonshadow]

The jaw dropping bit was that the right wingers were mostly men and the rad fems hate men. They joined together iagainst a common foe.

So nice that Dee is doing their part to unite the people!

If there's one thing everyone can agree on, it's that people like Dee have no right to exist.

My God, the unity really tugs at the heart. *wipes tear*

[Barleymower]

The BBC is broadly in favour of the event. It could easily have taken a different stance supporting the activists and the rad fems.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... m=news_tab
I am not surprised as the BBC is in favour. The event would not have gone ahead without HMGov sanction. It's the Tate afterall.

[crfriend]

I am not surprised as the BBC is in favour. The event would not have gone ahead without HMGov sanction. It's the Tate afterall.

However, the bald fact of the matter is that the event caused a fair bit of social unrest that wasn't necessary. Somebody in HM's office should have seen this coming if it was officially sanctioned. I stand by my original assertion of, "own goal". What conceivable point can there be for stirring up a large percentage of the population that has a low level of tolerance for PC and at the same time enraging a small percentage of the population who has an axe to grind?

Had I been the mayor of the locale where the "event" took place, I'd have opposed it from the get-go for precisely the above reasons, and if was overridden would have counselled the primary participants on the thinking, because they clearly (1) weren't and (2) decided to do it in spite of "disapproval".

[Barleymower]

I am not surprised as the BBC is in favour. The event would not have gone ahead without HMGov sanction. It's the Tate afterall.

However, the bald fact of the matter is that the event caused a fair bit of social unrest that wasn't necessary. Somebody in HM's office should have seen this coming if it was officially sanctioned. I stand by my original assertion of, "own goal". What conceivable point can there be for stirring up a large percentage of the population that has a low level of tolerance for PC and at the same time enraging a small percentage of the population who has an axe to grind?

Had I been the mayor of the locale where the "event" took place, I'd have opposed it from the get-go for precisely the above reasons, and if was overridden would have counselled the primary participants on the thinking, because they clearly (1) weren't and (2) decided to do it in spite of "disapproval".

Its a fair point. Baroness Emma Nicholson (resident in the second house, the house of lords). Wrote an open letter to the Tate describing a different picture, equating drag queens with “murderers, paedophiles, terrorists, furries and other fetishists”. So the Tate knew and there was dissention between parliament and the house of lords. Sadiq Khan (mayor of london) stayed out of it. London is widely known as a left wing and pro LGBT and the Tate is London. My guess is the Tate wanted it to go ahead and was prepared to risk the wrath of the TERFS and the Nationalists. I can't say whether they or the pro LGBT won the day. I just think it could have been approached in a better way, tone it down a bit. However if the Drag Queens can pull it off then all power to them! Normal people, good people, you know the type, with proper values, don't have drag queens as friends, instead they sneak off and see them on hen, stag and office parties. The next day they walk past them in the street and ignore them. You have to like Drag Queens, they are really on the sharp end of it. I would have a drag queen as a friend any day of the week.

Is fair to say that Transwomen are currently the most hated group in society today? The Radial Feminists absolutely hate them, even more than they hate men. 'Normal' women are not a fan (they can never be a woman). Your average Joe sees them as queer. People do tolerate drag queens (Rue Paul) and I think although suspicious of MIS we are also tolerated. I think that MIS have a big role to play by chipping away at the bigotry in society.

[moonshadow]

Is fair to say that Transwomen are currently the most hated group in society today?

Yes.

But I don't hate them, even though I've been accused of it a time or two.

[rode_kater]

The BBC is broadly in favour of the event. It could easily have taken a different stance supporting the activists and the rad fems.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... m=news_tab
I am not surprised as the BBC is in favour. The event would not have gone ahead without HMGov sanction. It's the Tate afterall.

I don't see the BBC taking an stance at all in that article? They describe what happened, asked a number of people and the gallery their opinions. That's it. How do you read that they're in favour?

And the Tate needs HMGov's sanction to hold events? For a country that claims to want small government, the government appears to spend a lot of time on things that have nothing to do with governing.

[Grok]

Furries-a group who enjoy wearing animal costumes. Just for fun, not as a fetish.

[Myopic Bookworm]

I don't see the BBC taking an stance at all in that article? They describe what happened, asked a number of people and the gallery their opinions. That's it.

And the Tate needs HMGov's sanction to hold events? For a country that claims to want small government, the government appears to spend a lot of time on things that have nothing to do with governing.

The Tate is governed by an independent Board but sponsored by the UK Government's Department of Culture, so it has to be mindful of political considerations.

The UK is not a country that claims to want small government: it is country whose current ruling party claims to want it.

[Barleymower]

The BBC is broadly in favour of the event. It could easily have taken a different stance supporting the activists and the rad fems.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... m=news_tab
I am not surprised as the BBC is in favour. The event would not have gone ahead without HMGov sanction. It's the Tate afterall.

I don't see the BBC taking an stance at all in that article? They describe what happened, asked a number of people and the gallery their opinions. That's it. How do you read that they're in favour?

And the Tate needs HMGov's sanction to hold events? For a country that claims to want small government, the government appears to spend a lot of time on things that have nothing to do with governing.

I agree, it is not stated in the BBC article that they were taking a stance. As with all things BBC it is not 'what was said' it is 'what was not said'. The article reported on groups present and that there were clashes leading to arrest. This was followed by statement by Aida H Dee (emotional), infringement of LGBT rights and concerns of Cheska from London who said its not suitable for children.
They did not mention 'Patriotic Alternative' and their right wing views or harsh words of Baroness Emma Nicholson. Surely a member of the House of Lords would have some bearing and newsworthy?
The article is clearly in favour of of Aida H Dee and his reading stories to children in a nursery. It also emphasises that its is essentially Panto where Men in dress have always entertained children. To put this in perspective google Aida H Dee. His clothes are just fine and not provocative in any way.

[cookieninja]

Here in Norwich the storytelling event in the library passed without a big fanfare. A small group succeeded in stopping one in a nearby town, which was a huge overreaction to the actual protest. However it galvanised the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Norwich to make sure there was a counter protest for the Norwich one, where we managed to have a much larger crowd in support. Probably 10/1. We created a space in our group for the parents going in to get inside without having to pass through the protest. It was necessary, because the police stupidly actually allowed the protest to stand right in front of the entrance, intimidating anyone walking in!

It wasn't a normal protest, for what its worth, it was fully orchestrated by patriotic alternative and everyone of the people in the protest was one of their crew, with a few also appearing in the one that was successful in the nearby town, so they had to travel to get even that small number of people out. Totally not nice people, their leaflets were offensive and I've seen them being antagonistic. Also they turn out to events organised by groups they don't like, to antagonise and troll in person, and when they do so often target women and record what they're doing as content for whatever is they online. Unsurprisingly they're also unafraid of also being antisemitic, racist etc. Some of it may have been live streamed.

[moonshadow]

It wasn't a normal protest, for what its worth, it was fully orchestrated by patriotic alternative and everyone of the people in the protest was one of their crew, with a few also appearing in the one that was successful in the nearby town, so they had to travel to get even that small number of people out. Totally not nice people, their leaflets were offensive and I've seen them being antagonistic. Also they turn out to events organised by groups they don't like, to antagonise and troll in person, and when they do so often target women and record what they're doing as content for whatever is they online. Unsurprisingly they're also unafraid of also being antisemitic, racist etc. Some of it may have been live streamed.

Sometimes I think "protesters" (both sides) are just people on some special interest payroll somewhere.

I actually don't know anyone who has ever "protested". Of course everyone I know has to work a full time job and generally has somewhat of a life outside if that so.... where does one really find the time?

It's like these people who protest PRIDE events... who waste an entire BEAUTIFUL Saturday holding up a enormous sign condemning everyone to he'll?

I mean, don't these people have anything better to do?

"Aw man its a BEAUTIFUL day, what shall we do? Go fishing? Take a long country ride? Go for a picnic? Visit an antique mall? Go flea marketing?"

"Nah... let's go hold pointless signs that everyone will just ignore all day..."

[rivegauche]

I have neutral feelings about what drag queens do. I do not find them remotely entertaining and don't really understand why people pay to see them. I also fail to see any logic in getting drag queens to read to children. But I am not opposed to them doing so. I just think WHY?

I do not agree that transwomen are the most hated group of people in the UK at present. I go out presenting as a woman as well as a man in a skirt. The public would not know the difference between me and a transwoman - yet I have never had a bad experience or been on the receiving end of any hate. Quite the reverse - people are lovely to me. I think the most hated group is probably immigrants, but not in Scotland, where we welcome them. It is deeply distressing to see the demonstrations against refugees in Liverpool - I thought Liverpool was better than this.

[rode_kater]

Sometimes I think "protesters" (both sides) are just people on some special interest payroll somewhere.

I actually don't know anyone who has ever "protested". Of course everyone I know has to work a full time job and generally has somewhat of a life outside if that so.... where does one really find the time?

I've been to two protests. One was against the 2nd invasion of Iraq. It was a lovely day. The bit that surprised me was that the communists and socialists (real ones, not the caricatures Americans invented) were out in force handing out leaflets. I didn't know how to handle that, but someone who goes more often says it's just something you learn to ignore. Hold a folded up piece of paper in your hand and politely tell everyone you've already got whatever they're giving.

The second was a smaller one in against the government of Belarus a few years back during corona, with a friend. Fairly boring affair, got a stiff arm from holding up a flag for an hour. Not something you do for fun.

In neither case did I think there were people being paid to be there. That's why protests are usually in the weekend. I support the right to protest, but when it turns into intimidation of people, they can F right off.