A Texas legislator is trying to ban children from attending drag shows following a controversial Pride event in Dallas.
Video of the event, which was billed as a "family friendly" drag show at a Dallas gay bar soon went viral. The footage shows kids front and center as drag queens dance on stage in front of them, and some children were reportedly tipping the drag queens with dollar bills. Behind the drag queens is a neon sign that says "IT’S NOT GONNA LICK ITSELF!"
Concerned activists caught wind of the event beforehand, and were outside to protest what they allege is “grooming” of children into the LGBTQ lifestyle.
LGBTQ advocates, however, say the event was all in good fun, and that children are exposed to far more sexually charged straight imagery on a daily basis.
Now, state legislators may attempt to ban children from events like these in the future.
The incident raises an interesting question: do kids belong at drag shows?
Drag the Kids to Pride
“The Ultimate Family Friendly Pride Experience!” read the Eventbrite listing for the "Drag the Kids to Pride" show. Inviting kids to “come hangout with the Queens and enjoy this unique pride experience,” the bar even offered “limited spots for young performers to take the stage solo, or with a queen of their choosing!”
Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the bar, holding signs with sentiments like "STOP GROOMERS" and "Children are born of a man & woman."
One group that helped organize the protest stated that events like these represent an “ongoing assault that has been ruthlessly waged against our children’s identities, core development, and traditional values."
Many took issue with the "It’s Not Gonna Lick Itself" sign behind the drag performers, arguing the obvious innuendo is hardly age-appropriate.
But others fought back against the criticism. They say that introducing children to the LGBTQ community is crucial to fighting bigotry at a young age and normalizing acceptance of queer people.
And at its essence, drag is just a more elaborate form of dress up, advocates point out. They ask: is that really so dangerous?
Plus, supporters say, children see sexually charged heterosexual imagery on a near-daily basis.
Legislate the Gay Away
While the debate continues to rage online, in Texas, lawmakers are taking action; drag shows in the Lone Star state could soon be off-limits to kids entirely.
State Representative Bryan Slaton announced he will be sponsoring a bill banning minors from drag shows in Texas.
"The events of this past weekend were horrifying and show a disturbing trend in which perverted adults are obsessed with sexualizing young children," Slaton said in a statement. "Protecting our own children isn’t enough and our responsibility as lawmakers extends to the sexualization that is happening across Texas."
What do you think? Is introducing children to parts of LGBTQ culture an important step in fighting bigotry? Or are drag shows an inherently sexual performance, and by definition inappropriate for young eyes?
134 comments
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Chris
People take their kids to or let them watch all sorts of sexualized events. Pro football cheerleaders? Pro wrestling? Movies and television? Video games? Drag shows are no worse than anything else. It's just men dressing as women. If you can't handle that, don't go.
As for "grooming".... What a joke. "Grooming" is taking your kids to your church, buying them a gun, teaching them to hate people different from you.
Would I take my kids? Maybe. I don't know. But I do know I don't have the right to tell anyone else they can't take their kids. So get over yourselves and learn to love one another instead of being hateful bigots. Jesus said to love one another. How hard is it for his so-called followers to do that one thing?
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Joseph SCott Queen
You are very ignorant,
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Chris
And you're helping to prove my point. Thank you.
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Kevin W George
Listen I wouldn't allow my kids to go see them sick demented people something is off in their brain that makes them like that.
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Chris
Nobody says you have to take your kids to see anyone. However, your opinion that there is something wrong with drag queens says more about you than it does about them. In my opinion being a hateful bigot indicates a sick demented person with something off in their brain. Letting your children learn tolerance and acceptance of those different from them is a good thing. Teaching them hate is child abuse.
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Martin Daniels
So this means that children can’t go to church anymore because that is the biggest drag show of them all. Be serious people!
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Rev Nolan
I don’t think any church is age appropriate for children because they introduce bias, bigotry, and brainwashing. I believe in introducing people of all ages to reality and truth for what it is and allowing individuals of all ages to decide for themselves what is personally appropriate. Religion is the exceptional faux pas of exceptions unless your religion is strictly supported by true science.
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Rev. MichaelRS
What is the point of having one's faith if they don't believe it is the right one or on the right path? I don't mean just Christians but also for Muslims, or Jews, or Buddhist, or what have you.
Not inhibiting anybody's freedom to worship as they please is different than oneself believing that that other path is correct
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
There are two ‘problems’.
First, that the religiously delusional don’t see how these differences in opinion are highly regional.Your ‘beliefs’ are dependent upon where you are born. Well, if the sociological conditioning works,which it seems to do about 85% of the time in the US, even higher in countries with poor/no educational systems. In other words, religious people are cognitively challenged (stupid) sheep and that is both sad and frustrating.
Second, religion breeds intolerance of others and this leads to hatred. (Note: I don’t hate religious people. I don’t hate crazy or retarded people. I just find both types equally annoying and do what I can to limit my exposure to them.) And hatred leads to all kinds behaviors, many of which are illigeal and often land the person in prison.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
And Martin, don't you think it would be cool if they served free hotdogs at those church dragshows? That would attract quite a crowd, and everyone would have a gay ol' time!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
They should especially allow and encourage the boys who polish their nails to go to drag shows.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
ALL men are created equal and they are ALL entitled to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yet conservatives keep trying to steal these constitutional rights.
How do we ban conservatives?
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Rev Mark D
You don't. You just get out the vote, like they've done in Texas.
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Jason LaBarre
Back when I was a kid. You were not allowed in bars, even if you were accompanied by an adult. Exposing children to accept all lifestyle choices. Is fine but this may have not been the best way to go about it. Just like taking a child into a movie, that is not appropriate for there age or maturity level. If this was a fashion show with people in drag. I would have been more acceptable than a bar. Most parents want to raise there children to be well rounded and able to handle most situations.
Use some common sense people! Your raising the next leaders of the world.-
Rev Wayne Steven
Here's an idea! Let's do something radical and just let it up to the parents of the children for what they want I think we have enough a big brother in our lives. Let the parents raise their own children pretty simple isn't it I don't know maybe not
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Jason, some parents are also raising the next generation of drag queens of the world, too, and just want their kids to explore possible career options.
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Rev Mark D
Girl I like your creative take, yes indeed that's an interesting way of looking at it.
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Rev Mark D
Sorry Carl that was a typo. Website, why can't you allow us some ability to correct typos before we are forced to hit send or at least so that we can correct something once we see like newspapers do, have an edit button for the author of the comment? Is that so hard?
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Richard Darwin Richards
Great point Minister Jason!!!!
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Johnny Mac
I agree, 10,000%. This is an abomination! GOD frowns on what men think is right! Trust in HIM and know HE is right! Amen
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Robert James Ruhnke
I actually agree with this. The gods find Christianity abhorrent, and since it’s men that think it’s right, it’s time to do away with it. Drag Story hour stays, Christianity, gone.
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Lisa Rose Morton
I am a LGBTQ supporter. I perform weddings for gays and lesbians. About 40% of my friends are lesbians gays and trans. I think drag shows are fun. Yet I would not take my child to a drag show. Just like I would not take my child to an R movie. It just makes sense. I challenge anyone to show me a scripture that bands Drag dressing Specifically. Hey all of the male characters in The Bible wore robes that looked like dresses.
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Chris
Considering how long "drag" has been a part of our culture you'd think it wouldn't be such a problem. Milton Berle. Bugs Bunny. Flip Wilson. Even Shakesperean actors were men dressed as women. It's only now because the Fundigelicals are so emboldened that it's becoming a "problem." They want a theocracy where their religion is law, and the ironic part is they can't even follow their own religion.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
If you knew the Bible it does say men should not dress as women but I'm not going to tell you what passage. Use your hands and eyes and look it up yourself. Otherwise, do your homework.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I don’t give an airborne rodent’s anal sphincter muscle what some Bronze Age collection of mythology says. It also says not to eat pork, no tattoos, no clothes of mixed fibers and promotes slavery. You’re essentially finding a very subjective ‘pearl’ in a septic tank.
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Rev Mark D
"some Bronze Age collection of mythology" - l like it!
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I was being lazy. I usually describe the earliest Abrahamic texts as “a collection of myths by Bronze Age nomadic desert goat herders that thought they could explain the origin of the universe AND biogenesis at the same time and yet lacked even the scientific ability to explain where the sun went at night.”
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Patricia G. Humphries
Well said :)
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
You're right, Lisa! And I've even heard that Jesus was the first drag queen, and the reason why priests started wearing dresses on their altar stages. They started doing solely in remembrance of Jesus and the girls, his apostles who incidentally left their wives to be with him, and never wanted to be with another woman. And that's why priests don't get married. It's also in remembrance of the lifestyle of Jesus and the girls.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Lisa, I've attended some truly fabulous gay weddings (and receptions). And I must say, those people sure do know how to party!
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Richard Darwin Richards
Great point! Disney is worse for a child than a drag show!
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Reverend Cory
I wouldn't take a child to a drag show, but leave it up to the parents. Representative Slaton wants to make that decision for everyone. Let the parents decide for themselves and their child
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Personally, I wouldn't take a child anyplace. I don't even like children. But if my girlfriend wanted to take her little brats with us to a drag show I wouldn't object. I do whatever she says, so she won't discipline me too severely.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Before condemning the drag show, why not see it first?
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Robert A Stiff
Because by doing that, they'd have to back up their bigotry with "alternative facts'. There's nothing at a drag show to actually condemn. Republicans want to take the country down the wicked path to a theocracy, based upon religious edicts they themselves don't follow.
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Catherine Christina Deslippe
Minister Catherine Deslippe
For God created us all equal, after years of seeing torture and pain upon those who loved the same sex, I totally feel it is wonderful to teach your children. That Love is Beautiful - Equality to all man kind.
Depending on the age (a Drag show would only be appropriate to those who could really understand). When it comes to the young you can teach them in many wonderful different ways.
After reading the bible I love the ten commandments.
Love thy neighbour as thy self. We are all created equally.
LOVE, conquers all.
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Matthew Lane
Love thy neighbor as thyself...what if you hate yourself?
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Lisa Rose Morton
Dream on that there is a scripture in the Bible that says "Drag" is wrong. That is precisely why you didn't cite it...it doesn't exist!
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Half Pynt
If you really want to know, yes it most certainly does! The BIBLE FORBIDS men to wearing Female clothes, and visa versa.
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Stephanie D Riggs
Deuteronomy 22:5 itself says this: “A woman shall not wear a man’s apparel, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for whoever does such things is abhorrent to the Lord your God.”
I'm not saying it's right. I'm just giving you the info of where it's located in the bible.
Have a blessed day!
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Ahh,thanks very much. It would save me some time if Ai were to be interested in what location I could find that in a collection of Bronze Age superstitions.
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Ian MacDonald Shaw
Jesus had two fathers and he turned out ok. Is that grooming?
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Ronaldo
Many children from divorced homes have two fathers, or two mothers, or perhaps even multiples of each. Children of adulterous women could have two fathers, but they may never know one of them.
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Leela Marie Middleton
Did either of his fathers take him to a club with a neon sign saying "it's not going to lick itself?" Did either of his fathers have him tipping adult entertainers? I think the book is pretty clear on the subject: It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. | Luke 17:2
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
THE book? Actually, many people seem to have limited themselves to that single book. There are other books out there. I know you like that book but try some others. Studies have shown that as the level of education reached increases people are less likely to believe in Bronze Age deities. Same with astrology, homeopathy, tarot cards, ghosts and magical powers.
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Leela Marie Middleton
I agree with Kitty Demur on this subject. (see video below). Drag is adult entertainment, similar to stripping and taking a young child to an event with overtly sexual overtones is not only bad for the child, it is bad for the gay community and the rights we fought so hard for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVqSiN4qr_4
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robert
Take my child like that to done perverted gay drag show and somebody is going to get whipped!
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Mike
When I was a small boy, I was forced to dress up as a girl to be in a summer day camp show. I did not want to do it and was not given a choice. I hated doing it. While in girl's clothes the camp's owner touched me. I was seven. I realize that people who put on drag shows are not criminals and would not have done that to me. However, at seven, I did not understand why I had to wear girl's clothes and I had not idea why this man, this criminal, touched me. I am not gay and I married and have a family, but that assault affected me and caused me to wonder why it happened? Why was I chosen to be his victim? I'd never take a child to a drag show. I'd let a child dress up as the opposite sex for halloween or if he or she wanted, but I'd never push a child into seeing something he might not understand.
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John Daly
Mike, that is a pretty normal opinion.
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John Daly
The biggest question I have is, who is responsible for promoting this evil? I dont care if consenting adults go to drag shows. I dont care what adults do. Any man or woman or grandmother that takes a kid to a show or encourages a kid to go to a drag show is pure satan's spawn and they will pay the piper some day. This evil came out of nowhere like so many other behaviors that are attacking western societies right now/today. This effort is obviously being coordinated by someone.
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Brian Edward Colgan
I am against any sexualizing activity for kids, straight, gay or trans, but especially against gay and trans grooming of innocent little children. Florida is 100% correct in banning any sexual content of any kind for kids in 3rd grade and below.
Get a grip on yourselves people, let kids be kids! No wonder so many kids are messed up, confused and depressed, thanks to exposure to inappropriate stuff like this.
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Paul Donaldson
In my experiences in prison and in society, some of those who waste their efforts on denouncing homosexuality do so for reasons that often disguise their often latten tendencies toward that lifestyle.
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Gail A. Miller
Let children be children. Keep their innocence intact for as long as possible. Pray daily that you can guide, nurture and protect your kids in he right ways. Every child should be taught to be kind to everyone. No one should ever advocate for hatred due to gender, race, color, religion, etc. But children also need to be protected from abhorrent and deviant sexual activities that are not blessed by God nor accepted in the Bible. A decade ago we would have screamed out against what goes on today. That proves we are giving into the sickness when we should be reinforcing our beliefs and how we live our own lives. Literally speaking, God help us!
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Half Pynt
Drag shows ARE NOT for children they are inherently ADULT themed, and comparing that to a football game is LUNACY. The performers at the Dallas event should be in JAIL for sexual assault. Children dont belong in ANY sexually charged event no matter What the orientation! Stop calling common sense "hate". Leave it to the PARENTS to teach their young about such issues!
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Lionheart
Yep...this is Democratic liberalism for you. The Woke seem to be controlling the way forward, or should I say, backward, for this country.
🦁♥️
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Robert James Ruhnke
That’s conservative regressive theory. Woke just means people have empathy, open mindedness, and accept what was once demonized by religion idiots who’ve been writing all the science books the last 80 years. Now that we are seeing life is more colorful, and we see it for what it is. People are moving beyond biological superstition, into biological reality, it’s messy, not perfect, and humans aren’t in the center of it any longer. Center, Conservative, Jewish, Atheist, is quite the combo 🦁❤️
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Lionheart
Thank you for your reply Robert, some of which I actually agree with 🤗
I’m all for people being whatever they want to be. Whether that be the very Liberal left, or the ultra conservative right, as long as they don’t dictate how I want to live my life and force their doctrine upon me. However, we do have to now start living our lives looking over our shoulder to see if we are being followed to be pounced upon. I never thought I’d have to carry Mace with me, or a Taser gun, to live my life. This is because of the very lax policies of past governments, which affects us all.
From this particular blogs OP it looks as though it’s now okay to indoctrinate children into activities that their young immature brains cannot comprehend. Some will eventually become our leaders as we all slip into geriatric years. I hope they look after us well and don’t force us to wear a dress in our later years 🤪
🦁❤️
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Robert James Ruhnke
That’s a lame retort, 🦁❤️. There’s a huge difference in indoctrination and exposure and learning about accepting queer identities can be taught early, and it can be done so easily. Teaching them acceptance is not indoctrination. I’ve found that young people are far more resilient and knowledgeable than they seem. I’d say that it’s not the adults projecting indoctrination who need to grow up and mature from their right wing indoctrinations. Right wing atheists annoy me more so than the religious loonies. All well, that’s life.
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Lionheart
Please re-read what you just said. “Teaching them [children] acceptance is not indoctrination”
I’m sure those are typical words of many offenders of children. If anything is a lame retort, Robert, that is.
🦁❤️
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Robert James Ruhnke
Typical right wing projection, to teach someone is not the same as indoctrination. Teaching is not the same as brainwashing or grooming. Then again, The dominionist Abrahamic are all about indoctrination, and have had monopolies on grooming people with violence, whether they be Jew, Christian, or Muslim. Have been the last 5000 years. Oldest carrot and stick tactics your lot have been using. Personally I find the three faiths to be toxic and even those atheists who’ve walked away from those traditions are still tainted by it. Teaching kids to accept LGBTQ+ people for who they are isn’t wrong or perverted. I see your shenanigans 🦁❤️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
When I was in my late teens in the early eighties there was a gay bar here on Galveston Island called Robert's Lafitte (which is still in business, and has the same owner) that had comedy drag shows weekly which I attended religiously, and thought were hilarious. I got the impression that all drag shows were comedic, but later found out I was wrong. Years later I went to a drag show in the same bar, and I was the only one laughing. Everyone else was giving me dirty looks. Regardless of the type of show they are entertaining. Drag shows are entertainment, and drag queens are entertainers. Only a small percentage of gay men are cross-dressers or even womanly, which means drag does not represent a lifestyle, even though, as far as I know, they only have drag shows at gay bars, and gay festivals. There's not even anything X-rated about them. They are just good, clean, entertainment for whoever enjoys watching them, regardless of age.
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John Condron
First, the great majority of "cross dressers" are straight, cis men.
Second, no, drag shows don't always take place in bars.
Third, by "womanly," I guess you meant "effeminate?" If that is the case, I would agree with you about only a small percentage of gay men falling into that stereotype.
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Ronaldo
Just because "children are exposed to far more sexually charged straight imagery on a daily basis" does not mean that such exposure is correct, proper, and according to God's plan. The FCC passed regulations nearly a century ago regarding what could or could not be said on the radio, and its main purpose for doing so was to limit what children heard. Those same regulations were modified for television later, but the main purpose stayed the same. If you compare the moral behavior of the two youngest generations who were the most exposed to this new, relaxed censorship to that of earlier generations, you'll see that, with more suicides, school shootings, and homicides in general, it's pretty obvious that they may care less about life, liberty, or property.
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Rev Ned
Republican? You can't teach history correctly. You can't vote easily. You can't read some books. You can't have affordable healthcare. You can't take kids to drag shows. Etc. IMHO they should be called Republican'ts.
Also, if by being exposed to a book or two of books with gay characters turns their kids gay, those kids must be very weak minded. Gay kids are barraged with books with straight characters and remain gay.
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Christopher Rocco Scafidi
If you don't want children exposed to sexual themes, then they need to be banned from going to church.
A child is more likely to be f*cked by the clergy than a drag queen.
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Rev. MichaelRS
You don't have to be an Evangelical Christian or an orthodox Jew or a Muslim to believe that children are already exposed enough to a variety of unhealthy degradations inadvertently during the week without purposely exposing them to more.
There is generally nothing beneficial from events the whole purpose of which is celebration of sex or sexuality. The only thing it serves to do is cheapen that aspect of one's life and return us to a state where we are little better than animals
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Rev Mark D
With all the sexually-preoccupied exhibitionism, blurring of boundaries between genders and sex, blurring of boundaries between child and adult, and between public and private, and between impulses and actions, it looks like we are on a devolutionary path.
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Rev Nolan
It is what it is. Cogito ergo sum.
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Richard Darwin Richards
Any parent that would take a child to this should have their child taken away from them!
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Any parent who takes their child to church and exposes them the sex, mass murder and violence in the bible should have their kids taken away.
Are you trying to tell me the Bible, Ezekiel 23:20 is something children read and understand? "There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses."
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Douglas W Challenger
Parenting is a demanding formidable task. The shaping of young lives is a daunting responsibility. How a parent, or parents, raise those under their care is up to them. But with that being said, recognition must be given to the fact that young minds are easily manipulated and given that, we need to be careful how information is provided. Young minds can easily jump to inaccurate conclusions based on how and when information is provided. A live drag show in a bar is probably not the best choice to introduce children to this topic. With regard to the scriptural reference, the verse is graphic to be sure. When you look at it within the context of the chapter it takes on a more figurative nature, but your point of the graphic nature of some verses is legitimate. However, the idea that most children attending church would read this passage is unlikely. Truthfully most kids in church barely read the New Testament, much less something in the Old Testament. Exposure to this reference, in most cases, is usually limited to older teens and adults doing a deeper dive into the scriptures that have a more mature mindset. All cultures have their own version of morality customs and laws. If you disagree with them, you have choices, work to change them, accept them or relocate. If you choose to work to change them, using anger and vitriolic hyperbole will only galvanize those who would work against you. This topic could have been presented in a more age appropriate location and manner. In a time when there is still no justice for the victims of Eipstein/Maxwell, where we see reports of teachers who take sexual advantage of the young, where clergy molest children with little to no consequences, is it any real surprise that communities would attempt to protect children by setting laws in place to deter attempts to manipulate them into things they don't have the maturity to process or understand.
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Richard Darwin Richards
Well said Minister Douglas!!!
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Richard Darwin Richards
Raise a child in the way they should go! End of story!
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Robert Gagnon
Kids have it hard enough trying to figure out their place in this world. Adding to the confusion with (alternative) life styles is not constructive parenting. Of course if each child is told how high the suicide rate is for these performers, or the severe lack of life filled with happy moments, it could be a learning experience. The lesson being they are great for entertainment, but you wouldn't enjoy life as one.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Maybe LGBTQ+ People would stop killing themselves if people would just accept them for who they are, instead of being spat at and hated on by god botherers and Bible thumpers. Being LGBTQ+ is more than a lifestyle, and isn’t really matter of choice. Queer Folk are who they are. The only ones confused as to why they exist are those trying to exterminate them. 🤷🏻♂️
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Robert Gagnon
That's a big maybe. If you cannot fulfill your reproductive instincts, including the relationship and child nurturing ones: than you may, on the deepest level feel incomplete. If you are gay, bi, or even (god forbid) straight, that's just what you are attracted too. Sexual preference should not be the whole essence of your being. Gay folk can walk by a church, they don't have to parade through them. If everyone would get out of each others face, and stop trying to force their peculiarities on the masses, they may avoid a lot persecution. As far as the high suicide risk, grow a thicker skin. Pretending to be another gender is a whole other issue. No Pinocchio, you will never be a real boy!
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Rev Nolan
The problem is that children are forbidden to be true children, where they’re allowed to develop their own identity. That prohibition is a shame all adults supporting it in their parenting should be ashamed of.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Drag shows are tangentially related to sex, all sex references have to be controlled, let’s control drag shows. Social conditioning is a powerful drug.
I wouldn’t take (wouldn’t have taken) my kids to a drag show. Just like I wouldn’t have taken then to a sexually explicit movie. But not because I think either of those things are bad or even remotely need to be governed by a law addressing who can attend. It should be up to the parent. The reason I wouldn’t take my kid is that society has some really frucked up attitudes involving sex and exposing kids to this gives them knowledge that may prove problematic in dealing with the frucked up attitudes.
Texas really likes to legislate morality, huh?
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Robert James Ruhnke
That’s not true entirely. Some drag artists are dirty, some aren’t. If some drag shows were teen friendly and the bar said that they could go with parental attendants I don’t see the harm in it. Arming your kids with knowledge isn’t a bad thing, so long as you teach them responsibility to go along with it. Our society has too much sexual repression and it leads down dark paths.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
That’s more or less my view. I just don’t see the need/purpose/justification to take kids to such events. And the problematic aspect of that is when my kids tell their teachers and classmates that they went to a drag show. THAT can be problematic.
There’s a place in Osaka called Betty’s Mayonnaise. I’ve been. Worked for a Japanese company when I first came here and it was the company president’s idea to take an American business associate there as part of a night’s entertainment. Not a thing ‘wrong’ with it. Actual entertainment. But there were no kids. It’s a bar of sorts. BUT THE JAPANESE HAVEN’T SEEN THE NEED TO PASS A LAW PREVENTING SUCH.
Now, let’s compare this with the typical titty bar. Probably against the law for kids to go in bc of alcohol, right? Then let’s pass a law where no kids can be in any event serving alcohol. No golf courses, no restaurants, no football games, etc. That’s stupid. Then why bars?
So I am 100% against the law. I am 100% for parents making that decision. I’m for no drinking age, too. Until recently although Japan had an age limit of 20 to buy alcohol, the vending machines were everywhere and sticked with beer, shochu, wine, whiskey and sake. That wasn’t a problem though bc the machines were turned off from 11pm to 6pm. Huh? So kids had to stock up before 11pm bc they couldn’t get it in the convenience stores that sell it 24/7/365??? All countries have passed laws that essentially say ‘Look how frucking dumb we are!’ Texan legislators just seem to have a real knack for it.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
After you've taken your son to a drag show, if he feels really inspired by it, you should encourage him by buying him a dress, and allow to perform on a home stage, in front of your family and friends, as well as their children, some of whom which may feel compelled to join him.
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Robert Gagnon
After you take your son to a ball game, wresting match, or boxing lesson, you should explain to him the merits of competition and sportsmanship. Teach him respect must be earned through values and honor. Deeds and bravery are far more impressive than prancing around in a dress. Which message would better improve our world?
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Robert James Ruhnke
Honor and values lol. You can take that claptrap of romantic illusions and shove it. Respect is both earned and given. Considering all the violence that queer folk face for just existing on their own terms, I’d say they’re braver than you. You’re just following the crowd with your religious nonsense. 🤷🏻♂️ Also, there are queers who do both. Who enjoy boxing and drag. Who says you can’t enjoy both. I mean I do. I’m a 6’4 300lb gorilla and I appreciate both. I respect both beauty and the beast. It’s called being well rounded. 🤷🏻♂️
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Robert Gagnon
Ok lets forget about honor and values. While we are at it lets forget about fairness. It is all claptrap. So the stronger more fit and organized should just roll the weak little wimps that whine and cry how unfair their life is. Everyone should work hard to destroy what ever they find unappealing. How can you respect what disgusts you? Sounds like you don't know what you want. I believe the flaming minority may suffer in your world.
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Daniel Gray
As well they should. If they are not old enough to understand and they dont have the parents permission this could be construed under state and federal law as distributing pornography to minors
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John Condron
First, Daniel, where did you get the impression that these children attended a drag show on their own, without their parents? I am sure that if that was the case, it would have been mentioned in the histrionic statements of the protesters.
Also, by what definition does watching men performing as fully dressed women qualify as "pornography," Daniel?
One more thing, Daniel: What does parental permission have to do with distributing pornography to minors? Are you saying that handing out porn to kids is legal with parental consent? I think that would be a huge surprise to every prosecutor in the nation, Daniel! Perhaps you would do better to stay in your land; whatever that might be.
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Daniel Gray
From the schools who claimed it was a field trip. Thats why the parents are so angry as if they had been told that this was part of the trip, most of the kids would not have been allowed to attend. And even the School Principal said that it was an authorized field trip but refused to say why this wasnt told to the parents. That good enough for you or are you going to whine the parents are liars now? Strike 1
And look at what I stated, if you are an adult and want to do this then fine knock yourself out. And while having a man dressed up as a woman and reading to children, to me is disgusting; but that I can deal with. But when you have a man or woman for that matter wearing skimpy clothes and pole dancing and having CHILDREN putting money into a strippers G-String, then sorry that DOES constitute pornography if they are not adults. My Brother was a police officer before he died in the line of duty, my nephew is a police detective in NW Ohio and I was a part time police officer myself, as well as my other nephew being on the US District Court of Northern Ohio as a Judge. I think I know far more about the law then you ever will. Strike 2.
And nice try in trying to spin it to fit your agenda and failing miserably. The law clearly states that you CANNOT give porn to children and the last time I looked anyone under the age of 18 is still a child in the eyes of the law unless they are emancipated. And sorry again to bust your bubble but every District Attorney in the US will back me up as my statement is based on US law. Nice try but you failed again Strike 3
So I think that you should stay in your own reality as you clearly would be in trouble if you tried anything like this in the real world or would be destroyed in less then 5 minutes by any attorney or judge if you made this claim in front of them. Oh and one more thing, you might want to hush and read 18 U.S.C. §2252 which makes it a federal felony to distribute pornography or anything “sexually explicit conduct” if it is sexually suggestive. Now this applies to making child porn and or distributing porn as described above to a minor.
Game set and match, you lose. Deal with it
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John Condron
Hi, Daniel. You have outdone yourself yet again!
First. Rep.Slaton's release refers to ""The events of this past weekend." Generally, school field trips take place on school days. Perhaps things work differently in Texas? The words "field trip" do not appear anywhere in this article or any of the many other articles I have read on this event.
Second, the photo of a child putting a dollar into a G-string was in actuality from another unrelated event: a woman performing at a burlesque brunch. In other words, it was deliberately misleading.
Third, I was a police officer and have a degree in criminal justice. That might be part of the reason that I know that pornography is the PORTRAYAL of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Perhaps you think you are smarter or more knowledgeable about the law than US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who said "I cannot define obscenity, but I know it when I see it." In other words, this is not nearly as simple an issue as you seem to think.
Fourth, nobody gave any child any pornography. That claim is not contained in ANY of the news coverage I have read, including articles appearing in right-wing "news" sources. If it had happened, I am sure Rep. Slaton would have mentioned it.
Finally, what does this have to do with making child porn?
Your last sentence is a wonderful example of the adage: "Arguing with conservatives is like playing chess with a Pigeon... No matter how good you are, the bird is going to shit on the board, knock over the pieces, and strut around like it won anyway."
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Rev Mark D
I do like the chess pigeon picture analogy, I think I'm going to use it.
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Daniel Gray
Sorry John, I am stating fact and if you cant or wont accept it that is your problem not mine. All you have to do is go to any attorney and they will tell you the same thing, or go to a police officer and ask them what would happen to you if you took a child to a stripper bar or a gay bar and had them put money into the dancers g string. They would have you cuffed and stuffed and have Child protective services on your case so fast you wouldnt know what hit you.
My family and myself have close to 130 years in law and law enforcement. You have not even had one day as you never once mentioned this until I embarrassed you by citing my familys background in law, so your claim is nothing more then a "I wanna claim something so people might take me more seriously) and yet you somehow seemingly think that you know more about the law then we do? I told you want state and where, you on the other hand have done nothing of the sort so dont expect people to believe you. My question to you is this, delusional much are you?
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John Condron
If you say so, Daniel.
Here are the actual facts:
- Nobody took any child to a "stripper bar" in this story.
- Every jurisdiction has different laws about this stuff, but in most states, no law prohibits an adult from taking a child to ANY kind of bar. I don't know if you have ever been to a "Hooters," but they are definitely bars (i.e., alcohol is served), and are pretty close to "stripper bars," given the scanty dress of their servers (but I guess that's OK because they cater to straight men. Right?). Every state has laws against serving children alcohol, but again, nothing like that was alleged in this case.
- The widely circulated picture of a child pushing a bill into a G-string was from a STRAIGHT burlesque show. In other words, completely unrelated to this story, but circulated by conservatives to drum up anger.
- Even if it is true that you and your family have close to 130 years in law and law enforcement, you are factually wrong. I was, in fact, a cop, and one thing I learned from that experience is that many cops are completely clueless about the law. If that were not the case, I guess we wouldn't have need of attorneys, courts and judges. We could just assume the cops got it right. That is obviously not the case. Is it?
PS: I was wrong about the chess analogy. Arguing with a pigeon really CAN be fun!
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Daniel Gray
here are the facts, you are wrong and are embarrassed to be proven so, so you make up this nice fantasy and failed at that.
And arguing with a pigeon is fun as since that is the only way you can win any argument you start.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Well. They better ban the Bible next, something about women lusting well endowed men in Ezekiel. Lol plus there’s lots of incest, violence, genocide, and murder in it.
Daniel here is another white Oklahoman who pretends he’s native. Even though he doesn’t know the actual first thing about natives and their two spirit practices.
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Daniel Gray
Sorry Ruhnke, I dont live in Oklahoma and I can validate my Cherokee family clear back to the Dawes Roll, something that you cant prove if your life depended on it. Try again.
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Richard Darwin Richards
Looking at this isn't as bad as watching a Disney show for a child. That said, please don't lower the bar any further for these poor kids!
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Richard Darwin Richards
You mean the job they were supposed to do? Our government is too worried about virtue signaling.
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Robert James Ruhnke
I see you put stupid on top of dumb on your comment here. Well done, RDR. I see that since Disney is trying to be inclusive and not as traumatizing and making princess’s not so dependent on prince’s that bothers you, not to mention they’re flexing feminine independence, and some LGBTQ+ acceptance, plus there’s the thing where they’re not killing off parents, which I ever understood for plot line development. Y’all wrote the book on Virtue Signaling, and now that your superstitious nonsense isn’t at the center, are you worried about it. Figures. 🤷🏻♂️
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Richard Darwin Richards
Disney has always been on the wrong side so no you don't and won't understand where we are coming from.
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Robert James Ruhnke
Explain how that is. You made the claim now show your homework. I’ve seen some of the oldest Disney and looney toons. It was racist and had some other questionable elements. But now that they’re trying to be more inclusive and a bit more female empowered, I could see how that might upset white male chauvinists. I’m betting you’re closeted antisemitic to boot. But do go on. Explain, bey ya won’t, for some insulting reason or another. 🤷🏻♂️
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Marius Gabriel Burja
Sex offenders in my opinion. I always believed that pride is a fools tool. Give them some rope and they will hang themselves with it. Drag is not for children.
Menstrual garments. 🙏😇🇺🇸 That's what they get from me for bringing this up on my birthday.-
Rev Mark D
Did you mean "minstrel?"
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Tamika L Casey
people who do drag are not sex offenders, you are making a judgment on someone you clearly know nothing about. if my exhusband were to do drag or my 19 year old autistic nephew were to do drag they are sex offenders??? lord help us all, my ex and my nephew are both definetly not sex offenders.. i really hope you do not ever know anyone that does drag and you to think this way. so hurtful
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Coleman Wallace
We argue as if there’s a choice. It must go this way. “As in the days of Noah..”. The only opinion that matters is the one we have for the kingdom. Evidence is everywhere.
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Michael Barton
Kids should NOT go to drag shows, even worse when in a bar. It's up to the parents at the end of the day, but as a society we can make laws that prevent schools, libraries, and city events from including drag shows. Sure drag shows are cheaper than clown shows, but all the sexual acts and dildos should be hidden from children.
Pass more laws to protect kids from this filth.
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Ronald Joseph Dent
A male who dresses up in women's clothing, typically for public performance. The man's clothing and makeup are typically greatly exaggerated, so the end result is typically a parody of women in general.
- What is the purpose of parody and do all viewers of all ages understand the performance?
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Kenneth E. Salvage Sr
Children under the age of 10 or so generally don't under parody!
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Robert Alexander Owens
Seems to me that for a supposedly Christian organization there are alot of non Christians here. I think I must be on a Satanic site...sounds like alot of horrible people with hate in their hearts....where's the love.
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Eric James Hudnall
You SHOULD take your children to drag shows. Better yet a porn show. Heck, you might even want the kids to put on there own show! Make sure everyone understands their gender role.
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Ronald Joseph Dent
Entertainers throughout recorded history have performed on stage to entertainment the audience. Those who view performances without "understanding the purpose" may be inclined to conclude something different than the intended purpose. - Drag Queen's show or competition is intended for entertainment not seduction in my experience. Certainly age and education of the audience are important to appreciation or rejection of the performances. Meeting the performers after the competition was over was enlightening for me. The performers were competing for Title and Money as winners of the Acting Competition. Each performer portrayed a character with flamboyant flair. The song and dance performance exaggerated by overdone theatrical makeup added to the parody competition. The audience in my experience were all adults who knew and cheered their friends as competitors. - I never witnessed children at a drag show, so why were children there? A parent's choice?
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Sharonne Renea Richmond
If a man was killed by God for wasting seed to prevent pregnancy, I'd think from a biblical perspective a fetus has more rights than sperm.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Yeah, ‘if’. Even you are using the conditional form. ‘Since’ would have indicated positive belief.
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Sharonne Renea Richmond
In the world we are in gender seems to be an important concept - enough to honor. When a child is old enough to understand the concept, tell them what it is, how babies are made, what love is, what science is, that there is no gender in heaven or in spirit and let them decide.
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Emerald Moon
So it's not okay to take kids to an entertainment show done by drag queens but it's ok to take children to Trump rallies, abortion rallies and kkk rallies..... Hmmmm so it's okay and not ruining their growing brains as long as it's about Hate and taking away others freedoms....ok got it...🤔🙄......if given the choice I think I would rather take my kids to see some men dressed up as women because at least it's teaching them freedom of expression, freedom of choice and that isn't going to cause much harm to their brains or the human race. Namaste ☮️✌️
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Half Pynt
You gotta ask yourself wtf STRANGERS are so INTERESTED in other peoples childten?? LEAVE THE CHILDREN BE!
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John Daly
One more thing......In post world war 1 Germany, when the western world teamed up to ruthlessly destroy the German people and their country, all kinds of perversions were pushed on the Germans of the Weimar republic. Kind of like what is going on in the US today, in a small but growing way. What happened as a result of all those efforts to destroy the good people of Germany? Who rose to prominence by first attacking all the destructive forces being pushed down on the smothering German people? Yea thats right. One thing HISTORY proves time and time again is that people are too stupid to learn from it.
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Mike
When I was seven, I was forced to dress up as a girl to be in a summer Day Camp show. I didn't want to do it. Once I was dressed up like a girl the camp's director touched me under my dress. At the time, I thought he grabbed at me to embarrass me for being made to portray a girl in the show. However, the shame and confusion over why he touched me haunted me for years. I'm trembling as I type this.
I think many children have no idea why there are drag shows. I'm sure many don't think twice of it as being anything more than fun. However, to say that there aren't some people who are attracted to drag shows because it's a sexual arousal for them would be inaccurate. The man who touched me was an abuser. Luckily it only happened to me that one time, but it was not in fun and it had deep consequences to my well being.
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Mike
Didn't really mean to enter the above story twice. I simply thought the first one hadn't been posted.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Posts are sometimes moderated. Some words raise a red flag. In other cases individuals may get monitored. I asked about this.
I didn’t enquirer why the option to delete a post seems to exist only for a short period of time after the post goes live.
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Rev. Donut
No.
A person has to be 17 years old to get into an "R" rated movie, 18-21 years old to go in and buy a drink in a bar and 18 to buy a gun.
Nuff said.
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Kelly Manning
Absolutely disgusting that anyone would push this garbage on our children. Jesus is returning soon. Anyone who believes this is okay obviously doesn't stand for God. Homosexuality is a perversion. Right next to Beastiality.
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Half Pynt
Im not antigay. Im not christian either. But that being said, What happened at that Dallas event adds up to sexual assault Imo and those folks should be in jail! Those parents need some jail time too! Thats just wrong and i dont understand those who justify it! Like its none of their concern how parents raise their own kids! LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!!!
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
It’s laughable that people have been saying “He’s coming soon!” for over 2000 years.
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Serena Ann Lewis
As a parent and grandparent I would not want my children exposed to this by the schools. Our schools are ment to teach our children reading, writing and math. Teach science yes geography yes but not attend such matters that involve sexual or gender identity or CRT that needs to be left to the parents. This should not be debated. Teach them yes but leave morals and values to the families to teach.
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Tamika L Casey
i personally do not see anything wrong with children seeing a drag show. the way our world is today some parents may see this as a learning experience or even a dress up thing something children do alone with out promt from adults/parents. i would 100000 percent take my children to a show like this. there are alot of gay people in this world and i have atleast 10 friends that are gay or bisexual. there is nothing wrong with that
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Thomas A. Follis
What parent exposes their child to sexually “charged” heterosexual acts? Where does one get the idea that drag queen shows are family oriented when they’re held in gay bars? If I exposed my child to heterosexual ANYTHING, it’s because my child was born heterosexual, and will be raised as such. Also, I don’t go to gay bars or gay anything. Why would I expose my child to that? This is not only wrong, it’s ridiculous.
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John Peter Dugan
I didnt even know about the existence of drag till I was 40.............
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Takaya Kovani Sweeney
People need to mind their own damn business.
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Rev Mark D
I would think it would make sense for everybody to focus more on the fact that shootings are the number two cause of death and children in the US.
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Rev Mark D
children have developmental needs and needs for protection while they pursue and fulfill those needs, both personal and social. When I think of something for children, but generally expect that there has to be some benefit, and if not, then I have better things for them to do for the brief and important time while they still get to be a child. Whatever it is has to be justifiable or I will give them something else and do my best to make sure my wishes, as are my biological right and their biological need, obviously bestow. Anybody with a different idea has to go through me.
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Paul Edward Nunis
And where's the moral outrage to ban kids from Hooters, or from watching Tootsie, Jamie Lee's hooker strip makeover in True Lies, etc.??
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James G. Heinle
Why would anyone allow their children to a drag show and encourage them to tip the dancers. This is completely inappropriate for their age. Whether it's a drag show or a peep show children are to young to be exposed to adult sex themed entertainment. Would you allow your child to watch gay porn or straight porn? Why can't children just be allowed to be children and keep the innocence of childhood for as long as they can?
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David Bartlett
I live in Florida and our governor and legislature has seen fit to ban the topic of LGBT from being discussed in K-3 schools. I Don't agree entirely but I do think such discussions need to be age appropriate. Likewise, a "drag show" is fine if it is age appropriate. The neon sign in the background is NOT. Granted most of the younger kids won't get the reference and most of them won't understand the significance of tipping a dancer a dollar. If you are going to let kids into a "family friendly" drag show then make sure it is actually family friendly. The dressing up is fine. These days kids see that all the time. It has become part of our culture. For entertainers to do that on stage is fine. More power to them and I'm OK with kids watching clowns (basically they are a form of clown) perform. But it should not have any of the trappings of a burlesque show (yes I an old enough to have actually been to one).
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Michael Dwayne Cooper
This organization doesn't seem interested in the Christian point of view. Jesus never gave humans the go ahead to sin. we are sinful creatures. we fall way short. but we should strive to be more like Jesus, people have forgotten that we are suppose to grow in the Lord after we get saved NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH. We should teach our children the same. Children should never be taken into sinful situations. I understand that many gay people are gay because they were mistreated by "straight" people but where does blatant mistreatment of children help that. When we get saved we should let Jesus start fixing us. Jesus desires that all should come to him. Maybe this site should focus more on the Christians that are saying I love you.
Dear federal and state government officials, As a citizen and former service member, I respectfully request that you concern yourselves with the business of inflation, infrastructure, jobs, and kindly leave parenting up to the... parents. Thank you