Dallas Bar Hosts ‘Child Friendly’ Drag Show, Stirs Debate
A Dallas drag event for children was promoted by a bar this weekend, stirring debate from supporters and those opposed on the streets.
In an effort to pander to children, a cocktail bar in Dallas, Texas hosted a “DRAG your kids to pride,” event. The Saturday show was held during the day to avoid keeping children up past their bedtimes, while offering an accurate portrayal of the nightlife scene. Now opponents are decrying the Dallas drag show as inappropriate and grooming.
Pride month has gained so much support from corporations and politicians that it has become unavoidable. Created to offer the LGBTQ+ community a month to celebrate who they are, it has turned into a commercial monstrosity resulting in what some have coined the “rainbow tax,” as merchandise and products switch to rainbow packaging in support of pride month. All facets of entertainment are promoting pride month and children are being taught to consider their sexuality at younger and younger ages. Children are encouraged by teachers to explore their sexuality before they’re old enough to spell their names, and even being taught the colors of the rainbow using LGBTQ flash cards. Numerous drag shows have been held at public schools, and in an effort to keep up with the trend Mr. Misster offered an LGBTQ Pride event specifically for children. This Dallas drag performance ran from 11a.m.-2p.m. and encouraged children to get up on stage and interact with performers.
The Dallas drag show was complete with a neon sign that said, “It’s Not Gonna Lick Itself!” Children were encouraged to interact with performers and some even offered them dollar bills. Protesters who gathered outside the event held signs that said things like, “Stop grooming the kids.” The question of whether or not teaching LGBTQ content to children before they reach puberty has become a serious issue in the United States.
Some parents are outraged at the sexualization of minors, while others happily encourage their children to not only explore their sexuality but to walk in pride parades and place dollars in drag queens’ underwear. What is appropriate content for children has changed drastically as pride month gains popularity. The Dallas drag show is no big deal to some parents who believe that allowing children to explore their sexuality is healthy, but many concerns have been raised about grooming.
Young children are often more easily manipulated. They are more likely to trust adults and can be taken advantage of without question. Pedophiles and abusers know this and often target children. While it is unclear if the Mr. Misster event organizers had taken any precautions to ensure that pedophiles and child abusers do not come to their shows, the Dallas drag performance did normalize sexual dancing and the behavior of strippers to children. Any youths who can read were likely to question what the neon sign was indicating.
This is exactly why so many parents are leaving the public education system and no longer supporting pride month. While the Dallas drag show was an optional event, and parents chose to bring their children to an adult bar with adult content geared at children, it is yet one small situation connected to a growing epidemic of the sexualization of minors in society. Families working to protect their children from groomers and abusers are finding it more difficult to raise their kids without others sexualizing them before they are sexually mature and that is what most concerns them.
