It’s called the Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act, but the bill a Republican lawmaker just introduced in Missouri is specifically targeted at libraries’ drag queen story hour events, according to NBC News.
Related: Mrs. Kasha Davis on the importance of drag queens reading books to kids
State Rep. Ben Baker said his bill would require all Missouri public libraries to establish voter-elected parental review boards tasked with approving library display material and events. But he specified that he’s not aiming to censor books; he’s seeking to stop drag queen story hours.
“They’ve had these drag queen story hours, and that’s something that I take objection to and I think a lot of parents do,” Baker said. “That’s where in a public space, our kids could be exposed to something that’s age-inappropriate. That’s what I’m trying to tackle.”
Under the bill, any librarian who defies the parental review boards would face misdemeanor charges and the potential of a $500 fine or a year in jail.
Related: Drag queen shuts down anti-gay protestor saying gays will be ‘cast into a lake of fire’
Shira Berkowitz, communications manager for the Missouri LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, told NBC News the bill is “just based on fear.”
“The oppositional spin is that these [events] are supposedly dangerous in a religious context, or dangerous because LGBTQ people are sexualized,” Berkowitz explained. “Right-wing media spinning a reading experience for children into something sexual is what is creating bills like this.
They added: “I think what [Baker] gets wrong is that libraries are creating a very safe space for children to be read to, in a gentle environment and in a very playful and whimsical way. They’re not encroaching on any kind of sexual content.”
Berkowitz explained that LGBTQ visibility is “extremely important, especially in a state like Missouri where you can still be fired from your job, denied housing or knocked out of public services simply for being gay or transgender.”
Josh Swindler, children’s library director at St. Joseph Public Libraries, expressed concern for LGBTQ youth — who face disproportionately high suicide rates yet are much less likely to attempt suicide if they have at least once accepting adult in their life, according to a 2019 Trevor Project report.
“We believe that offering programs that affirm LGBTQ youth saves lives,” Swindler said.
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Harley
Name one drag queen who has molested a child and I’ll name you 100 priests that have.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
RIMSHOT!!
Jim
Let’s leave priests out of it. Let’s talk about Republicans who are molesters
Den
Exactly! Democrats have adultery, but republicans victimize children and underage adolescents.
Democrats acknowledge they are fallible humans, but republicans claim they are warriors for spiritual purity anointed by the “holy spirit” until all the foul skeletons come tumbling out of their closet.
And children love cosplay, seeing drag as nothing more than a really funny version of that until their parents scream about it being sinful and demonic.
It’s not like the queens are reading them sex manuals! Its kids books!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
But wait there’s more!!
The bill would also criminalize the act of letting a child check out any Gay themed book..m
Jim
Those Republicans just hate the 1st amendment.
Den
Modern republicans hate democracy. They don’t just hate the first amendment. The only part of the constitution they like is the right to own guns.
They seem to have a real desire for faith based dictatorship, even those who should be aware they would be pariahs (like the really, really dull Log Cabin types).
Thad
Oh dear! Has Rep. Baker ever actually ATTENDED a drag queen story hour? Oh, the horror of kids pretending! The shame of innocent fun! The heresy of a love of learning!
Indeed, a bookstore in Phoenix had a drag queen story hour for adults last fall. Why should kids have all the fun?
MISTERJETT
i’m sure the kids enjoy all of the colorful outfits along with the stories. little kids are so smart. too bad they have to grow up to be ignorant hateful adults.
Kangol2
If he doesn’t like his kids attending it, don’t bring them. Also, it’s a public library; does he not believe in “free speech” or is that only for the right-wing and not for anyone else? These crackpot Republicant homophobes are too much!
Dwight
Exactly! The children at these events are there because their parents allow or choose for them to participate. If children were forced to attend no matter how their parents felt it would be a different matter.
inbama
Does this actually accomplish anything other than hand the rabid evangelicals an issue to rally their troops?
cliche guevara
Who cares if rabid evangelicals get worked up?
niles
They certainly have the right to do it, but I really don’t see the point in a drag queen story hour.
cliche guevara
Okay? ummm…. then skip it.
GREATGLORYHOLER
Hey Niles, Maybe Get Off Your Ass and Volunteer Your Time and Read To children. You know Dam Well Those Republicans have never Read To Children
Clay83
If you dont want your kids to go to a drag queen story hour, then dont take them! More space for open minded parents thats kids can be exposed to all the different people of the world
ShowMeGuy
Q. What kind of Missourian hates freedom?
A. A fauxmerican.
Republicans suck …… and not in that good way.