#drag queen story time

[antifainternational]

Ohio Valley MMA is antifa. Also: you don't have to be an MMA fighter to defend Drag Queen Story Time or trans people. The truth is, at every Drag Queen Story Time where people showed up to defend the event, the fascist transphobes were defeated and crawled back under their rocks.

[fox-steward]

pretty good (and short!) article detailing some actual objections to drag as misogynistic, as well as why one might object to drag queens performing for children.

i especially appreciate this last point because there’s so much conservative pearl-clutching in the USA about “drag queen story hour” that amounts to homophobia and the insinuation that it is inappropriate because the men are gay and therefore must be kept away from children, giving new life to the old homophobic idea of gay men = pedophile.

because of this conservative nonsense, it’s become difficult to publicly object to drag queen story hour without being lumped in with these homophobic, conservative assholes. they may be right about the fact that drag queen story hour is objectionable, but they’re wrong about WHY. it’s not because the drag queens are gay, it’s because drag is a mockery of women that is specifically sexual in nature, which has no business anywhere near children due to both the misogyny AND the overt sexualization.

[nando161mando]

Rainbow Community Angels are calling out for community support at Shepparton library today if anyone wants to dress up and join in!

THIS EVENT IS NOT BEING CANCELLED.

Well done to Shepparton library for standing strong! 👏🏻 Absolute legends!! 🌈 💫

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EmfF63bgBAnYnwPT/?mibextid=Na33Lf

@anarchistmemecollective @antifainternational @kropotkindersurprise @radicalgraff

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[archivlibrarianist]

Canada's library associations saying what needs to be said: "Guided by our shared values and our resolve to articulate support of library programming that contributes to and bolsters reading, language, and literacy development in the communities we serve, Canada’s community of library associations proudly defend and celebrate educational initiatives, including drag storytime, as the valuable catalyst for public good that they are."

[ashleyfableblack]

A pleasant afternoon of studying up at the New Friendship Academy with special Apple family guest Orchard Blossom reading for a few of the students.

A few faces y'all know, a few OCs. Aigle n her frog-friend Sir Wart, Li'l Changeling Regina and Ophiotaur Bluecifer join the class to listen to the Big Gal of Sweet Apple Acres.

Happy PRIDE Month and Big Love to all y'all. 💜💙💚💛💗

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-OK) has penned several bills loosening gun restrictions, including the nation's first anti-red flag law. He thinks these bills protect the Second Amendment and that they make us safer. We think it's probably one or the other.

Transcript Below:

State Sen. Nathan Dahm: "I'm a strong proponent of the Second Amendment."

Jon Stewart: "Uh-huh."

ND: "I believe that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. That's the one right that's listed in the Constitution that uses that very specific affirmative language. You know, 'Shall not be infringed.'"

JS: "Oh, it's also the one, right, that also uses the phrase, 'well-regulated.'"

ND: "Correct. When it's talking about the militia and the state."

JS: "By the way, just for clarity's sake —"

ND: "Yeah."

JS: "— I'm not against the Second Amendment. I'm not against — I don't want to ban guns. But you're saying more guns make us more safe."

ND: "Yes."

JS: "So, when? We got 400 million guns in the country. We had an increase and gun deaths went up. So when exactly does this curve hit that takes it down? Would a billion guns do it?"

ND: "Let's just run those numbers. You know 400 million, 50,000..."

JS: "Uh-huh."

ND: "You're talking about a — less than a fraction of not even a percent, of 100th of a percent."

JS: "But it goes up, not down. So, your argument is backwards."

ND: "But if you want— ok, so — so let's — let's come up with a solution, ok? So, one of the issues, a contributing factor, again, I — I believe that it's the individual that is the problem."

JS: "So, your solution to that is to 'give them more guns?'"

ND: "So, I'm saying, because people are the problem, we need to look at the problems that those few people are facing and how do we address it versus —"

JS: "But, you've removed the ability for the state to do that."

ND: "No, because you — because you're —"

JS: "If you don't have background checks —"

ND: "Mmm-hmm."

JS: "— and you don't have registration and permitting, how do you know who has a problem in terms of the people who you're giving a gun to?"

ND: "Do you want to talk about the background checks first or do you want to talk about solutions first?"

JS: "I want to talk about, what you're doing is you're bringing chaos to order."

ND: "That's your subjective opinion, that it's bringing chaos to order."

JS: "It's not my subjective opinion."

ND: "It is."

JS: "We have 50,000 gun deaths. That's not a subjective opinion. That's dead people. Let me — let me back up for a second. In every other place in your life, you want to bring order. But guns are the outlier for you. So, let's start with immigration. You want registration, maybe a wall, maybe not a wall. Why do you want that?"

ND: "Well, one of the reasons is because of the fentanyl crisis."

JS: "Right, you —"

ND: "I mean, ok, but —"

JS: "— and you don't know when it's coming across. So what do you do —"

ND: "But the fentanyl crisis is twice what the gun death crisis is."

JS: "Ok, so until the gun crisis gets to the fentanyl level —"

ND: "Not until it —"

JS: "— you don't want to bring order?"

ND: "No, not until it. But —"

JS: "But do you see my point?"

ND: "— if we're going to talk about protecting lives—"

JS: "Uh huh, yes..."

ND: "— that's a larger issue in America than guns is. If we're talking about individual lives —"

JS: "Yes..."

ND: "— of ways they can be protected, loss of life in America, there's loss of life through fentanyl, there's loss of life through obesity. The obesity crisis in America —"

JS: "Mmm-hmm."

ND: "— costs six times the number of lives as guns and so —"

JS: "Right, and you're the guy saying, 'You know what would help this? Ice cream.'"

ND: *chuckles* "No. So, you know what would help the problem that we're facing with firearms?"

JS: "What?"

ND: "The fatherlessness crisis that we have in America. If you look at the statistics —"

JS: "Right. Yeah, they're dying from gun deaths."

ND: "80% of school shooters —"

JS: "Yeah, uh-huh..."

ND: "— either came from a broken or fatherless home."

JS: "So you would say no guns for fatherless homes?"

ND: "No, that's not what I would say."

JS: "Oh..."

ND: "I would say that fathers need to be more engaged."

JS: "Great. So let's — let's put more —"

ND: "— crime with a firearm if they don't have a father in the home."

JS: "— let's put more resources into areas that are poverty stricken. All for it."

ND: "And into fatherlessness, and that's something we're doing —"

JS: "But why with guns are you against bringing order?"

ND: "I'm not against bringing order."

JS: "You are! You're also making it less safe for cops and for people. When the police go to a domestic call, it's the most dangerous call they can go on."

ND: "Mmm-hmm."

JS: "In your world, if they knew that there were firearms in the house, that's a safer call. Is that what you're saying?"

ND: "No, because police —"

JS: "Because why?"

ND: "— because police treat every situation as a potential risk."

JS: "But more guns make us safer? So why don't — when the police go to a house filled with guns — why don't they breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this Second Amendment, that shall not be infringed, is being exercised so fruitfully in this home?"

ND: "Are you familiar with a 39-year-old woman in New Jersey?"

JS: "I'm familiar with a ton of anecdotes."

ND: "That — that —yeah..."

JS: "I'm asking you a simple question."

ND: "This is not an anecdote Jon."

JS: "When the police go to a house —"

ND: "This actually happened. She had a restraining order on her ex-boyfriend."

JS: "I can run through —"

ND: "I know."

JS: "— hundreds and hundreds of examples of women killed by their domestic partners by guns that were not taken away through the lessening of red-flag laws. You're pivoting to anecdotes."

ND: "But the knives — no, this is not anecdotes."

JS: "What the police say is, 'If we had fun registration, if we are able to track purchases, if we are — they have a technology — that every bullet will be stamped with an individual, like a fingerprint, if we had an ATF that wasn't defunded, we would be able to enforce gun laws more effectively, and we would be able to solve gun crimes more effectively.' You're against all of that?"

ND: "Because the person is the threat, not the firearm, not the knife."

JS: "I get it. Great —"

ND: "The — the person, the individual is the one who is the concern here."

JS: "Great. But you don't want anything that could help law enforcement or society determine whether or not a person is a good guy with a gun or a bad guy with a gun."

ND: "Most, even law enforcement —"

JS: "That registry would allow you to have much more effective background checks."

ND: "Mmm-hmm."

JS: "So, I don't understand why you won't just admit that you are making it harder for police to manage the streets by allowing all of theses guns to go out without permits, without checks, and without background stuff. Why is that hard — why can't you just stand by that?"

ND: "Because that's not what I'm doing. I'm defending the individuals right to keep and bear arms."

JS: "That's a different argument."

ND: "Ok, but —"

JS: "You may do — here — here's — here's what I'm saying..."

ND: "Mmm-hmm."

JS: "You want to say, 'I'm a Second Amendment purist, and I'm making it safer.' You're not. You're making it more chaotic, and that's not a matter of opinion, that's the truth."

ND: "That is a matter of opinion, Jon."

JS: "But why take away their tools?"

ND: "Because certain of their tools that they're using would be infringements upon the people's right to keep and bear arms upon their constitutional rights, upon their due process and upon other things."

JS: "So, you're saying that registering is an infringement?"

ND: "Yes."

JS: "Ok, is voting a right?"

ND: "It's a right for citizens, yes."

JS: "Do you have to do anything to do it?"

ND: "Yes."

JS: "What do you have to do?"

ND: "It depends on the state."

JS: "What do you have to do?"

ND: "Sometimes you have to — you have to be at least 18-years-old."

JS: "What do you have to do?"

ND: "And in some places, you have to have a government issued ID."

JS: "What do you have to — you have to —?"

ND: "You have to be on the voter rolls?"

JS: "Register. You have to register."

ND: "Mmm-hmm."

JS: "So, you have to register to have a right. Is that an infringement?"

ND: "Does the right to voting [amendment] say, 'shall not be infringed?'"

JS: "Oh, so this is just a semantic argument now?"

ND: "No, it's not."

JS: "You believe voting rights can be infringed because it doesn't say specifically, 'shall not be infringed?'"

ND: "Is it an infringement upon a 17-year-old's right to vote since they don't have that right to vote?"

JS: "No."

ND: "Oh, it's not an infringement on them?"

JS: "No. Absolutely not."

ND: "Why not?"

JS: "You're the — because, you're the one making the argument not me. I'm saying even rights have responsibilities and that within those responsibilities—"

ND: "Responsibilities, yes—"

JS: "— are responsibilities and order. Otherwise, it's chaotic. I'll go you one further. You want to ban drag show readings to children. Why?"

ND: "To minors, yes."

JS: "Why? What are you protecting?"

ND: "Why can we prohibit children from voting, those under 18 from voting? But also that —"

JS: "Why are you banning — is — is that free speech? Are you infringing on that performer's free speech?"

ND: "They can continue to exercise their free speech, just not in front of a child."

JS: "Why?"

ND: "Because the government does have a responsibility to protect —"

JS: *puts hand to ear* "I'm sorry?"

ND: "The government does have a responsibility in certain instances to protect children."

JS: "What's the leading cause of death amongst children in this country? And I'm going to give you a hint, it's not drag show readings to children."

ND: "Correct, yes."

JS: "So, what is it?"

ND: "I'm presuming you're going to say it's firearms."

JS: "No, I'm not 'Going to say it,' like it's an opinion. That's what it is. It's firearms. More than cancer, more than car accidents, and what you're telling me is, you don't mind infringing free speech to protect children from this amorphous thing that you think of. But when it comes to children that have died, you don't give a flying fuck to stop that, because that 'shall not be infringed.' That is hypocrisy at it's highest order."

Watch the Episode in full HERE.

[etakeh]

Anyone looking for something to do on Sunday?

June 11 2023.

Tigard. OR. Portland metropolitan area.

[choppedcowboydinosaur]

How do kids wind up at drag queen story time anyway? Do the parents willingly take them or do the teachers take them during school and the parents are unaware of this? I’m not even trying to be a dick about this I’m legitimately curious.

[antifainternational]

Another day, another antifascist successfully beats all charges after The International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund helps him pay to hire a decent lawyer! Here's what Leif had to say after winning in court on Tuesday: "ALL ASSAULT CHARGES DROPPED, THANKS TO YOU! 🏳️‍⚧️ Today's trial date took an unexpected turn for the better! Due in large part to your show of support, Leif and his lawyer were able to secure a plea deal which eliminated all 3 of the assault charges, and the fascists are seething mad! 🏳️‍⚧️ WHY TAKE A PLEA DEAL? 🏳️‍⚧️ Some of the witnesses for the prosecution included a 12-year-old whose testimony was being coerced by extremist parents. As Leif is an abolitionist and an advocate for children he decided that it would be unethical to proceed with such a trial. Furthermore, his lawyer was able to secure the plea in a way which would not entail jail time, which is a priority for Leif at this time due to an unrelated skateboarding injury which requires extensive orthopedic care. 🏳️‍⚧️ WHAT HAPPENS NOW? 🏳️‍⚧️ Leif will plead to a lesser misdemeanor and be sentenced on December 6th at 10:30am. Join us for his hearing, and continue to show the court that the community is watching and holding them accountable! You can also still donate to Leif's ongoing legal expenses - one of the fascists who accused him is watching the fundraiser and whining about it on social media. YOU TOO CAN SUPPORT LEIF AND MAKE THE FASCISTS CRY!"If they are willing to drop the assault charges - and they are willing now, because the assault charges were bullshit which they knew all along - then it doesn't make sense to me to put myself in front of this particular jury with my injury on the line. If they decide to be bigots about the case, there's no way a jail is going to provide me with the extensive follow-up care and physical therapy I'm going to need. Plus this knight guy showed up to court today in his whole chainmail costume, and this is making me realize that he is probably way more mentally ill than I realized. This dude needs help, not more attention. Why subject vulnerable individuals like that to the stress and scrutiny of the injustice system?" - Leif You can help us keep our winning track record of helping antifascists fight charges in court and win! Make a contribution to the Defence Fund today.

[take-a-dip-in-the-deadpool]

Ive had this song stuck in my head all night

[nando161mando]

[hellopuns]

Bun-Berry #43 !

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[nerdygaymormon]

Reading Time with the Queens began with a craft-making session, then individuals dressed in drag read books, followed by a song singing portion and a brief sign language lesson. Sounds absolutely delightful and perfect for children. In fact, sounds pretty similar to the LDS Church’s Primary organization doing singing & sharing time, but led by drag queens

This time a group of Christian anti-gay protesters arrived by bus and took all the available seats, meaning families who showed up and wanted their children to participate were unable. The protesters don’t want the library’s rooms to be available for certain groups to use and for children not to be allowed to be in contact with the drag queens or other queer people. 

The reason I chose to share this particular story is a number of the protesters belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stake president issued a statement on behalf of the LDS church to the newspaper. 

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not sanction or support these protests. Our faith does not support divisive or hateful behavior toward our brothers and sisters. We strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ to love one another.”

The mayor of Pocatello made an excellent point that the library and the government are there to serve all citizens and visitors.