AnonymousBy Jess Silverstein
I recently became aware of a harmful and bigoted protest scheduled for this Saturday. Normally, I’d ignore these hateful people and not bring any attention to their disgusting discrimination, but as we’ve seen, ignoring doesn’t seem to work anymore. What they’re doing and saying is dangerous and we need to stand up to these bullies.
The Santa Barbara GOP is promoting a protest against “Draq Queen Story Hour” at the Crafter’s Library on 9 E. Figueroa Street this weekend. It’s a lovely event where performer “Miss Angel” reads uplifting and inclusive books for kids and their families, and organizes craft events.
The SB GOP is no stranger to sharing false stories incorrectly labeled as news, blatant lies, and mischaracterizations to fit their own extremist agendas, but this is by far the most disgusting and incendiary thing I’ve seen them lie about. A nondescript flyer published in their email said these story hours confuse and sexualize young children, make them more accepting to sexually deviant behavior, and promotes grooming. None of that is true. Anyone with a shred of common sense, or has the limited brain power needed to simply google facts, knows this is complete crap. Additionally, research shows the majority of pedophiles/”groomers” are straight white men, NOT members of the LGBTQ community.
It’s disgusting to see people in our local area and part of a local political organization, attacking our beautiful LGBTQ+ community. The demonizing and false claims directly correlates to increased harassment, threats, and violence against innocent people. Incidents of armed white nationalists and far right extremists disrupting LGBTQ events and threatening people have significantly increased in recent years. Are we going to stand by while this happens in downtown Santa Barbara?
The majority of American families do not fall under the straight, white, and Christian demographic so stop imposing your religious indoctrination, political extremism, and homophobia onto everyone else. These events are wholesome examples of accepting everyone and their differences, just as they are.
The American Library Association supports these types of events stating that it “strongly opposes any effort to limit access to information, ideas and programmes that patrons wish to explore” and “includes a commitment to combating marginalisation and underrepresentation within the communities served by libraries through increased understanding of the effects of historical exclusion.”
I urge anyone who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, allies, supporters, and anyone who isn’t a bigoted ignoramus to come out and cheer, show support for this event, and protect children and their families from these protestor’s disgusting display of hateful discrimination.
This type of rhetoric is false, dangerous, and has no place in Santa Barbara. The organizer of this gross event published their number on the flyer 805-570-3619, perhaps they would also be open to hearing the community’s love and support for ALL its residents and not the select few this organizer deems worthy.
Shame on you Bobbi McGinnis (SBGOP chair) for publishing this trash. Without respect, the Santa Barbara GOP, the event’s organizer, and anyone attending this protest, can fuck all the way off.
Stand up for love and acceptance for everyone Santa Barbara! Our LGBTQ community needs allies more than ever! The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m., at 9 E. Figueroa Street.
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This is disgusting. The protest, I mean. Someone should go out and photograph each and every one of these hateful morons and post their photos for their friends, neighbors and employers to see. It makes me sick we have people like this in our community, but unfortunately, given the words of many here, it’s not surprising.
SAC, protesting isn’t wrong. They have every right to protest this and for once i am with them. We (us lefties) protest all of the time for things THEY think are dumb and pointless. We all own this right as americans.
Drag is nothing more than a character in costume. So a character in costume is reading children’s books to children. Nothing crazy about it and if the GOP has an issue then they should boycott Disneyland too. Oh wait, they are!
The Santa Barbara GOP newsletter also has an event promoting Mayor Randy Rowse speaking to SB Repub Club on 2/18.
Mayor Rowse, how can you support an organization that is an open hate group against a minority in our community? I urge you to cancel this event ASAP!
Disgusting and ridiculous that reading books to kids is somehow political now? Rudy Giuliani did a sketch in drag back in 2000 with Dump himself! George Santos almost became Miss Queen Rio de Janeiro or whatever and that’s totally cool with them? The only large-scale grooming and indoctrination going on is in southern evangelical and some Catholic churches or GOP circles. Dennis Hastert, all I’m saying.
They should take their picket signs and their protest to the Catholic Church – the breeding ground of groomers and those that assault children and continually cover it up.
you are just as bad as the group circulating the flyer mentioned in the article.
See. This comment is a fact. This is what the Catholic Church has done and continues to do. All the other BS the republicans are spinning about the gay community is not based in any truth.
See, your comment isn’t fact. While there have been assaults on children in the church, that isn’t what the church “does and continues to do”, just as while there have been actual occurrences of what the republicans are spinning about the gay community, that isn’t what the gay community does or continues to do.
“that isn’t what the church “does and continues to do”,” – Yes, it is.
Vor – but there is much factual evidence to support that the Catholic church continues to assault children and cover it up.
You consider yourself the judge of others because you put yourself on a pedestal of impunity VOR
GT – of course, he’s the “Voice of ……” dang it, I can’t bring myself to say it in the same sentence. Well, you know what he calls himself.
“you are just as bad…..” – are drag queens molesting children and then being protected by one of the largest religious organizations in the world? No.
You two have no place criticizing the people that put out this flyer, you have just as much hate and disdain in your heart as they do. Both you and them project that hate from a position of righteousness, that you’re the side “fighting the good fight against other evils” and both sides are wrong. Two wrongs don’t make a right, fighting hate with more hate is wrong, and the ends DO NOT justify the means. Do better.
To claim or even imply that there is any comparison between the rampant pedophilia that has been perpetrated and covered up throughout the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the way that drag queens interact with children is literal insanity.
Do better VOR
Alex, wrong again. The comparison is between Sac/GT and the hate they show others whom they believe are wrong, and the hate this group organizing this protest shows drag queen story hour. Neither of them nor you are correct.
Ummm should we turn this itty bitty protest into an epic drag show? All these scared little boomers need is a big hairy lipstick kiss
Ok boomer, blowing kisses your way now 😉
It’s pretty much like WWE but promoted fun and love instead of fake violence.
Sac, WE protest about things, they have a right to protest as well. its not one sided buddy. they have a voice. we may not like that, but it’s the correct way. voices can and should be heard. no more different than that saying, there are two sides to every story….right? cmon….
SBsurferlife, nah, i’m happy with my life, my views and my family. you go educate yourself instead. ASAP
Wow! A little rough language here don’t you think Jess? Kind of in-your-face don’t you think? I believe everyone has the right to their opinions. I hope you do too.
Nobody has a right to hate speech and intimidation tactics. Even if this was a good-faith protest, it’s almost like the SB GOP is trying to lose harder than 70-30 in 2024.
You’re more upset about an F word and not the hatred of minorities in our community? Racists, sexists, homophobes, and bigots are allowed to have their opinions, but do it at home without impeding others personal safety.
So it was okay for protesters to intimidate the Supreme Court Justices and their families after the Roe v Wade decision?
HAMMONDS – take your homophobic whataboutism and shove it.
Now now…
Aside from them being public figures, they also effectively took away the right to choose from millions of American women. Drag queens aren’t trying to take your rights away, they’re just trying to spread love and understanding for those who are different than you. If anyone deserves to be protested, it’s those taking human rights away, not those trying to help others.
Everyone has a right to protest,it’s their opinion. Anti and pro abortion supporters were both out in force now it’s this.so what hey can protest. Don’t like it don’t take your kids.all that’s going on in this world this is irrelevant. Just another thing to divide us.
Anyone can protest anything in America. The author is asking for counterprotestors to come and shield these families from their vile hatred. The KKK is also allowed to protest, would you be ok with that too?
Channel, you know not what you speak of. For anyone under 18 to begin a transition process needs countless doctors and appointments. Studies have shown the risk of suicide is actually a greater risk to children who are denied gender affirming care. I guess if the child is successful at suicide that’s a better result to some in the GOP than just letting them be exactly who they are.
Wow!
Such hatred here!
Hypocritical maybe?
JohnLemon, nice try. The right wing loves to claim that the left wing is hypocritical because of a false claim that they espouse love and tolerance for all people.
That’s really not the case. The left has a long history of standing up against hate–however, the way it’s all in the details, i.e., the way you stand up. If you track down an avowed racist and beat them up or burn down their house–not okay. If you show up to protect somone being attacked by that racist, perfectly okay.
JOHNLEMON – no, we don’t “love and accept” hate. Neither should you.
ZERO – your opinion is your opinion and that’s fine. What’s not OK, is actively going to protest and be intimidating at an innocent story hour for kids. Yeah, I don’t take my kids to drag shows, but that doesn’t mean I’m ok with right wing nuts raging their hate at a kids event.
The statement of the opinion piece writer is plain and simple. It stands on its own.
The GOP is focusing on non-issues. It’s time for Republicans to work with Democrats to compromise and begin to solve the real problems facing this country. Cutting Social Security, MediCare, repealing the Affordable Care Act, repealing abortion rights, and combatting CRT are not important issues and go against the will of the people.
Zerohawk- Thanks for the support. To be clear, does this mean that you agree with me that sexuality instruction begins in the elementary school? I was stressing seriously on the subject at 6 yrs old, flailing with no direction, and was perfectly capable of parsing information at that age had it been availb at the time.
1) “I have a gay relative” doesn’t mean you aren’t homophobic
2) Even if you SAY you don’t care what people do in private, it doesn’t mean you aren’t homophobic
3) Being upset about the existence of pride parades is homophobic
4) Calling normal people doing normal activities “out there” is homophobic
I think you should work to educate yourself, you have a lot of homophobic tendencies and seem to be in denial about it.
JOHNLEMON – you’re just spilling over with hate and ignorance, aren’t you? Now you think all LGBQT folks are also “peeping toms?” Do you even bother to think or research facts before you spew lies and hate? Should we also call all Catholic leaders child rapists? Makes about as much sense…. actually has more validity given the church’s history.
Zero, I read your deleted comment. You need to educate yourself ASAP.
John Lemon, you can fuck off as well.
gay/straight/drag/stripper whatever, sexual content isn’t appropriate for my kids. I have seen drag shows that would be appropriate for my kids – elaborate costumes, lots of signing, and funny, and drag shows that were not appropriate for my kids that were more like burlesque shows. From the promotional material, this story hour at our local library seems rather kid appropriate, but of course the extremes love jumping in and making mountains out of mole hills.
The GOP has oozed into a sick cancerous blob that is only capable of reproducing nonsense or hate – because this far-right political organism no longer stands for anything other than division, hate and control in order to gain and retain power–to bring some type of dystopian ethno-Christian nationalism “normalcy” to their white-bread existence.
Sacjon, and this thread is on topic?
The DNC has oozed into a sick cancerous blob that is only capable of reproducing nonsense or hate – because this far-left political organism no longer stands for anything other than division, hate and control in order to gain and retain power to bring some type of dystopian woke nationalism “normalcy” to their race-based existence. WOW it fits both sides!
VOR freaking out again. Don’t you find living in a constant state of fear to be exhausting?
GeneralTree, I couldn’t agree more! From MTG heckling at the State Of The Union like she was at a monster truck rally to the lies and putrid drivel that comes out of the MAGA far right to the insurrection on Jan. 6, I cannot begin to fathom ANYONE who could support today’s Republican party! Anyone with a shred of decency would run from them. They are a stain on our nation.
Yet only one side is losing there shit about men dressed in women’s closing at story hour.
VOICE, it really REALLY doesn’t.
VOR–lol.
Yep, I’m fat phobic. I am uncomfortable with and pretty much disgusted by obesity.
I’m not remotely in denial about it. That was exactly my point, try and read more deeply.
What I DON’T DO, is harness my fat phobia into actions that make other people unhappy or sad or scared. I don’t run around with signs and a megaphone trying to attack fat people, or going to a place that fat people like to eat with their kids to try and scare them out of eating there.
That was precisely my point.
Nice try, VOR, but another fail on your part.
If their base had nothing fake to complain about, they would have time to ponder better lives for themselves, which would naturally lead to considering worker rights and taxes on the rich. Can’t have that. And so, they have to be misdirected toward these distractions constantly.
We need to have drag bible readings. I’m not a kid, but I would attend.
And the Boomer move of the week goes to… Protesting Drag!!! Classic boomers. Just classic.
What’s the big deal? Such nasty drama.
It’s just another protest in S.B.
I wasn’t aware someone’s sexual orientation was affiliated with a political party. This article makes assumptions I find offensive . It gives the event publicly . Was this a plant? Only 9 tickets bought. Regardless, these people have a right to have their storytime and the protesters have a right to protest .
Word is on the street that there will be a very large counter protest tomorrow to these GOP ethno-Christian white nationalists.