Letters to the editor Feb. 19

Misguided comments

My Jan. 2 letter documented some of the lurid history of drag queen story hours. I see in the Feb 10 Inter Lake report on Rep. Braxton Mitchel’s bill that there are still some misguided people who insist drag shows are a good idea. I was surprised, to say the least. After all, youths under 18 have lots of restrictions starting decades ago: burlesque shows, R-rated movies, tobacco purchases, PayPal accounts, and the list goes on. The best argument against kids at drag shows comes from an outspoken drag queen Kitty Demure. Here are some excerpts from YouTube video transcripts aimed at parents:

“What in the hell have drag queens ever done to make you have such respect for them? Backstage there is a lot of nudity and drugs and sexual language. To actually get them (your kids) involved in drag is extremely, extremely irresponsible on your part. I understand that you might want to look like you’re with it, you’re cool, you’re woke, you’re not a Nazi, not a homophile, whatever it may be. But, you can raise your child to be just a normal, regular, everyday child without including them in gay, sexual things.” She (he) also asks parents “What is the lesson to be learned to see a man dressed up wearing a wig and being sexual in front of your child? We used to arrest men like that.” Also commenting on the possible agenda: “Something to do with using drag as a transition or as a gateway to trans kids to make them think it’s fun.”

The pro-drag thinly disguised excuse is “It’s a way of celebrating diversity.” That’s nuts! You can do that without drag. Why do we have to normalize what is not normal? We don’t and certainly shouldn’t.

— Gary Goers, Kalispell

Drag-show hysteria

As I often ponder such philosophical questions such as: If Rob Lowe could rob Lowe’s, would Rob Lowe rob Lowe’s?

I have started to ponder: If a drag show was held on Halloween, would anyone care? Meaning, Halloween is a broadly culturally sanctioned event in which a large swath of the population dresses as they please to artistically and creatively express themselves in ways they normally would not. Same for drag shows, just not as largly sanctioned.

Stop the hysteria.

— Gretchen Brown, Kalispell