Jacksonville Library Cancels Storybook Pride Prom

[Tacachale]

Willowbranch Library's Storybook Pride Prom faced online attacks from anti-LGBTQ activists. Now, amid concerns about protests and counterprotests, the library has cancelled the event.

Read more: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/jacksonville-library-cancels-storybook-pride-prom/

[marcuscnelson]

A pretty sad reminder that despite all the progress that has been made, this is still The South, and we still live in a place where people can't stand the idea of two consenting people in love.

[JaxJersey-licious]

The events leading to the cancellation of this event are truly sad and maddening but using the "This is the South" argument to explain this level of ignorance an hatred is a lazy one. Here up north we've had our share of protests and angry calls and e-mails objecting to numerous library LGBTQ-friendly story hours, and the fact that you had a library come up and host an event like this plus having a community willing to defend it from objections partially stirred up from people who are NOT Jacksonville Public Library taxpayers says a lot about LGBTQ progress in your so-called "Southern" town.

And God Bless the church and the people behind this event stepping up determined to give these kids a welcoming, creative, and joyous night to remember. 

[marcuscnelson]

The events leading to the cancellation of this event are truly sad and maddening but using the "This is the South" argument to explain this level of ignorance an hatred is a lazy one. Here up north we've had our share of protests and angry calls and e-mails objecting to numerous library LGBTQ-friendly story hours, and the fact that you had a library come up and host an event like this plus having a community willing to defend it from objections partially stirred up from people who are NOT Jacksonville Public Library taxpayers says a lot about LGBTQ progress in your so-called "Southern" town.

And God Bless the church and the people behind this event stepping up determined to give these kids a welcoming, creative, and joyous night to remember. 

Don't get me wrong, like I said, there's been progress. But between stuff like this, all the issues in North Carolina, and what we're seeing in places like Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, I don't see it as unfair to characterize these actions as somewhat typical of our region.  It's better than it was before, but there's still more progress to be made.

Agreed on the church, that's a bold move and it deserves praise.

[jaxnyc79]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

[Tacachale]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

BeBe Deluxe was only going to be there to judge a costume contest (attendees were invited to dress as book characters) and running an info booth in case students had any questions for her. Unfortunately she became a symbol the homophobes to used to attack the event. As for trans sexuality and body dysmorphia, I don't know that that was going to be specifically addressed - this was just a dance. However, lots of kids 14-18 experience that. No sense in keeping them in the dark about others having the same experience.

[jaxnyc79]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

BeBe Deluxe was only going to be there to judge a costume contest (attendees were invited to dress as book characters) and running an info booth in case students had any questions for her. Unfortunately she became a symbol the homophobes to used to attack the event. As for trans sexuality and body dysmorphia, I don't know that that was going to be specifically addressed - this was just a dance. However, lots of kids 14-18 experience that. No sense in keeping them in the dark about others having the same experience.

Questioning whether something should be a Library event is quite different than suggesting kids struggling with trans-sexuality concerns stay in the dark...activist mommy is a homophobe...finding drag queens distasteful at a celebration of romantic and sexual freedom isn't necessarily homophobic.

[Tacachale]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

BeBe Deluxe was only going to be there to judge a costume contest (attendees were invited to dress as book characters) and running an info booth in case students had any questions for her. Unfortunately she became a symbol the homophobes to used to attack the event. As for trans sexuality and body dysmorphia, I don't know that that was going to be specifically addressed - this was just a dance. However, lots of kids 14-18 experience that. No sense in keeping them in the dark about others having the same experience.

Questioning whether something should be a Library event is quite different than suggesting kids struggling with trans-sexuality concerns stay in the dark...activist mommy is a homophobe...finding drag queens distasteful at a celebration of romantic and sexual freedom isn't necessarily homophobic.

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but "Activist Mommy" and her followers used the presence of BeBe Deluxe to claim she was a bigger part of the event than she was, imply she'd be performing a drag show, etc. I'll update the wording in the article.

[KenFSU]

The events leading to the cancellation of this event are truly sad and maddening but using the "This is the South" argument to explain this level of ignorance an hatred is a lazy one. Here up north we've had our share of protests and angry calls and e-mails objecting to numerous library LGBTQ-friendly story hours, and the fact that you had a library come up and host an event like this plus having a community willing to defend it from objections partially stirred up from people who are NOT Jacksonville Public Library taxpayers says a lot about LGBTQ progress in your so-called "Southern" town.

And God Bless the church and the people behind this event stepping up determined to give these kids a welcoming, creative, and joyous night to remember. 

Don't get me wrong, like I said, there's been progress. But between stuff like this, all the issues in North Carolina, and what we're seeing in places like Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, I don't see it as unfair to characterize these actions as somewhat typical of our region.  It's better than it was before, but there's still more progress to be made.

I looked at the Facebook comments for the library's cancellation post expecting the worst, but you know what, they literally appear to be 10-1 against the library's decision.

Emojis - the ultimate barometer of statistical validity - are also about 9-1 (800 sad/angry to 67 thumbs ups).

https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/posts/10157203173044654

Maybe Jacksonville is making some progress.

Can't say I frequent the Activist Mommy blog, but she seems like a terrible human being.

Sucks that the event was canceled, but hopefully it proves a blessing in disguises and further galvanizes the community against hate in any form.

[JaxJersey-licious]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

Given the social media outrage culture we are currently in, I first want to say that you bring up a FAIR question that should be discussed and debated and it saddens me how many who have similar concerns are quickly labeled as secret homophobes or ignorant.

That being said...

The hullabaloo over a known drag queen judging a costume party at a dance is beyond me but there have been concerns raised about them reading stories to children. To get children engaged it is not unheard of for men and women, regardless of their sexual orientation, presenting these stories to act out scenes dressed in costume. If you happen to be an LGBQT presenter, it would be naturally to spread messages on your presentation that are important specifically to you and your life like acceptance and inclusion, but it would be safe to say that same person would have no problem spreading more universally encouraged lessons for children like knowledge, adventure, empowerment, teamwork, kindness, and hopefully reading more damn books?

I personally feel a lot of these negative reactions are not so much an issue of outright prejudice than it is of short-sightednes, that there has to be an "agenda" to having someone not straight trying to entertain their kids. It's also why I give pushback when labeling any form of ignorance a "Southern thing" not just because I lived in the South most of my life and there are countless of examples I experienced that buck these stereotypes, but because labels like these regardless of how much truth there is to them have a tendency to squash further discourse on truly important matters.

[JeffreyS]

The skinny from sources I believe is that Tim Rogers of the Library system was looking for an excuse and he found it. (Not anyone at WillowBranch) To act like JSO couldn't secure this event is preposterous. The event will now be held at a Church same time and date other details will become public closer to the event.

[JaxJersey-licious]

^^^^ would not be totally surprised the director was looking for an excuse to cancel this. The key word he used were the fact that there were going to be counterprotesters coming to the library in support of this event. Also saw on Facebook posts about this (not sure of the veracity of these accusation) that apparently he shut down other LGBTQ events and activities scheduled in the library.

[JeffreyS]

Yes he shut down other city wide events and agreed to let individual branches have their own events. However it looks like he is not living up to the agreement,(at least from the outside.).

[Adam White]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

Given the social media outrage culture we are currently in, I first want to say that you bring up a FAIR question that should be discussed and debated and it saddens me how many who have similar concerns are quickly labeled as secret homophobes or ignorant.

I personally couldn't care less if a drag queen reads stories to a bunch of gay kids. But that said, I cannot stand drag and drag queens. I appreciate that it is supposedly part of "gay culture" or whatever, but not liking drag doesn't make you a homophone any more than hating Morris dancing makes you an Anglophobe.

On a side note, is this the first post-Dare drag queen story? (I realise there's more to this story than just drag queens, but the amount of drag queen-related content has taken a dive since Stephen left MJ).

[Tacachale]

I support gay rights, and I support government recognition of those rights and unions. As someone who lived in New York City for 14 years, including 8 of those years in Chelsea, I was around gay culture quite a bit.  I never quite understood why drag queens and transgendered persons became such prominent symbols of gay rights and culture.  Having said that, I've been to a couple drag shows (was never a huge fan), and did see the artistry in them, but the shows I saw I always considered to be adult-themed.  I don't like the idea of buckling to this "activist mommy" character, because I think her agenda is more nefarious than just creating a more child-appropriate pride event, but I also don't understand why the Library had to include the drag queen in their plans.  Being gay, and the implied dysmorphia of the drag queen and transgendered agenda are two very different things.  Transsexuality and dysmorphia are fairly heavy topics for children...not sure if this is the right forum.  I really don't have answers on this, just questioning...

Given the social media outrage culture we are currently in, I first want to say that you bring up a FAIR question that should be discussed and debated and it saddens me how many who have similar concerns are quickly labeled as secret homophobes or ignorant.

I personally couldn't care less if a drag queen reads stories to a bunch of gay kids. But that said, I cannot stand drag and drag queens. I appreciate that it is supposedly part of "gay culture" or whatever, but not liking drag doesn't make you a homophone any more than hating Morris dancing makes you an Anglophobe.

On a side note, is this the first post-Dare drag queen story? (I realise there's more to this story than just drag queens, but the amount of drag queen-related content has taken a dive since Stephen left MJ).

Lol, quite probably. And I haven't seen a single shirtless Tebow.