The Dead End of Drag Story Hour
In a move that should come as a surprise to absolutely no one, our local library recently announced it will be hosting its very own “Drag Queen Story Hour.” Betty Baker has been invited to “share some of her favourite stories that explore diversity, inclusion, and respect.” Judging from the response so far, such respect doesn't extend to those who feel uneasy about two-year olds being entertained by — well, adult entertainers.
As we continue our plummet towards the bottom of the slippery slope everyone keeps denying we're on, perhaps this is a good time to stop and reflect on the signposts we've already blown through.
Let us recall that rainbow flags, not to mention rainbow curriculum, are now standard issue for most elementary schools. Let us recall that pride parades, abundant in nearly- naked men, are increasingly advertised as “all-age events.” Let us recall the numerous clips of drag shows in which children are cajoled into tucking bills into the thigh pockets of mardi-gras horrors. And let’s not forget Canada’s own broadcasting network, which several years ago released a sympathetic documentary following the journeys of several kids on their respective “drag journeys.”
The kids aren't just collateral damage along the steady march of the sexual revolutionists. They're next in line.
The more the alphabet brigade vehemently denies they are “grooming” minors, the more apparent their intentions become. They will never acknowledge this publicly of course; they may not yet have arrived at the doneness of conscience required to acknowledge it to themselves. But acknowledged or not, it is the logical end of their methods. Constantly exposing kids to adult sexual content — which drag culture undeniably does — results in kids who are increasingly comfortable around adult sexuality. What we are witnessing is the dictionary definition of normalization playing out before our eyes.
Upon several of us voicing our concerns to library staff, we were sent a stock letter brimming with vague assurances. Strangely, none of them made us feel any better.
They included:
1. “Other libraries in neighbouring communities have had success with programs like this, as seen through their high attendance and messages to the library afterwards.”
Right off the bat we're met with the age-old enemy of honest dealings: pragmatism.
Let's not forget that bear-baiting, witch-hunts, and gladiatorial combat were also well-attended events in their day. Which is why you don't assess the morality of an event by a headcount. Evil, as Solzhenitsyn famously said, cuts through the heart of every human being — the fact that some are born to instigate while others prefer to sit back and enjoy the ride doesn’t change the fact.
And of all ages not to trust a mob with right judgement, surely our own remains one of the least qualified; we, sanctimonious gnat-strainers, who require all visitors to the Colosseum to first sanitize their hands before being allowed to watch as innocents are thrown to lions.
2. “We offer a wide range of programs that celebrate all members of our community while acknowledging that not every program is a good fit for everyone.”
Here we are led to believe that drag-time story hour is really no different than a lil’ tots craft hour or a preschool sing-a-long. This statement reveals a whale-sized breach in the moral vision of officials at our library.
There's a reason drag culture, before a decade ago, was confined to seedy late-night karaoke bars and grainy personal ads. It wasn't because it was being unfairly stigmatized. It's because everyone, including the performers, instinctively knew this was soul-destroying stuff — you know, back when “instinct” was still at least residually informed with a biblical worldview. It’s not something that inspires the next generation to greatness.
The pesky problem of image has been the ongoing scourge of sexual progressives. That is, until some brave pioneers dared ask the questions no one had ever asked before, “How can we make fishnet stockings, silicone boobs, and fetish gear more kid friendly?”
And the answer was — take a page from the Mary Poppins playbook. If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, then surely sparkles, rainbows, and storytime will distract the children from the fact that Mother Goose has a five o' clock shadow and a pronounced Adam’s apple.
Of course it helps when the program is hosted by a learning center; and when the child's guardians willingly accompany them; and when the rest of the adults in the community sit by and concede, “All of this is fine.” To play on a known maxim, the only way a degenerate narrative advances is when the adults in the room do nothing.
This isn’t just a matter of parents deciding which program is “right for their child,” as if they were choosing paint colors for their playroom.
This is a matter of parents deciding whether to let their children swim near the base of a hydroelectric dam. This is a matter of deciding just how serious Jesus was when he said it would be better for those who caused children to stumble to tie a cinder block around their necks and drown themselves in the sea than face him at the judgement.
If it helps, he was deadly serious.Children hold a dear place in Jesus's heart — to the extent that those who mess with them are someday going to wonder why Sodom and Gomorrah got off with a slap on the wrist.
3. “Drag shows aren't about exposing children to adult sexuality. They're about encouraging conversations about gender identity.”
Even though we can obviously hope that no child will be exposed to explicit content during story hours, that isn't our biggest concern here. The biggest concern is what adult men dressing up like women communicates to children — namely, that with some makeup, a wig, and some fabulous heels, you too can be a “woman.” Or a man. Or an African pygmy shrew. Or whatever it is you feel that you are.
It is this doctrine — the doctrine of the infallibility of feelings — that is most damning of all.
In our school, the foundation of all future learning is established during what we call the “grammar” stage. By grammar we're not just referring to nouns and adverbs but the nuts and bolts of created reality — the things one must know in order to live a fruitful life: right and wrong, up and down, truth and lies, male and female. It's about learning to conform our feelings to the bedrock of reality as opposed to the shifting sand of trends and feelings.
Setting out to reverse this order in the grammar stages of a child's development — as transgender advocates are bent on doing — is one of the quickest ways to damage them for the rest of their lives.
The real reason there’s no such things as “conversations about gender identity” is because gender isn't something that’s up for discussion. Gender isn't something people gradually realize for themselves. It isn’t like a career or a hobby in which you get to choose from a variety of options. It's something that comes us entirely without our participation — as a gift to steward for God’s glory.
This is what we should be teaching our kids.
The idea that reality must submit to the inner world of the individual is as arrogant as it is unsustainable. The narrative being supplied to children through “playful” mediums is bankrupt and will only lead to confusion and despair.
4. “We will not be cancelling the program. It is about diversity, inclusion and respect and the content is entirely appropriate for children. If this particular program is not to your liking, the library offers many other programs that I hope you will enjoy.”
In other words: this is the way it is and we don't want your inconvenient truths spoiling our (truly) mad tea party.
But here's the thing — remember how the left loves to wax on about how it takes a village to raise a child? Sure they say it to erode parental authority; but the thing is — they're not entirely wrong. Left to simmer in an isolated echo chamber, there's a good chance your kids will grow up lopsided, or even downright demented.
Being in a community — being forced to reckon with unfamiliar voices — is a healthy and humane way to live. All this to say — here we are! — the backwards peasants from beyond the edge of town. Those you don’t speak of. Here to remind you of the things you've been trying to forget.
We're here on behalf of your sons, who can't articulate why they feel so wrong wearing a dress. We’re here on behalf of your daughters, who don’t want their hair cut short. We're here on behalf of your kids, who shouldn't have to endure an hour of gender propaganda from Betty Baker.
And we know you’ll hate this, but we’re also here for you: educators, parents, and guardians. Not like Jonah, gloating and glowering over the hoped-for overthrow of Nineveh; not with a gospel that just confirms our suspicions of condemnation. We’re here with good news. The Father — the good Father — is calling you home.
“Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”
Leave the mud. Leave the pigs. But bring the kids.
We’ll leave the lights on.