Far right activists don't know the difference between a circus act and a drag show

In their zeal to attack drag shows and falsely accuse drag queens of  'grooming' kids, the far right and their allies have on occasion misrepresented public events to further their claims.

Here is the latest:

Comments about the video are of course filled with venom against drag shows and false accusations against the LGBTQ community at large. I've seen pictures from the video used in montages (with other misrepresented events) in order to push the hysterical idea that drag shows are filled with sexually explicit content while kids are present.

But . . . wait for it . . . here is punchline.

The event is question is not even a drag show.  It was an event by a circus troupe (you visit the Facebook page) which took place in London.  And while some folks may rightfully question it as an event where parents should talk babies, no one can honestly say that it was a drag show.  Unfortunately, an article about the event may have contributed to the false accusation that it was a drag event. The headline read Fury at 'Drag act for BABIES': Semi-naked man in thigh high boots performs bondage routine in front of tots and parents at 'sensory event'  

However, nothing in the article identified the event as a drag show.  Even the phrase "drag act for babies" doesn't appear anywhere in the article. The publication in which the article was published, The Daily Mail, has been called out on more than one occasion for its questionable sources and lack of accuracy. 

According to Media Bias Fact Check:

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The Daily Mail tends to publish stories utilizing sensationalized headlines with emotionally loaded wordings such as “Woman, 63, ‘becomes PREGNANT in the mouth’ with baby squid after eating calamari”, which is a misleading headline. In 2017, Wikipedia banned the Daily Mail as an ‘unreliable’ source. When it comes to sourcing information, they use minimal hyperlinked sourcing and sourcing to themselves. Further, a Reuters institute survey found that 26% of respondents trust their news coverage and 47% do not, ranking them #11 in trust of the major UK news providers. In general, most stories favor the right; however, the Daily Mail will report either side of the story is sensational enough.

Below are several other examples of how the far right have misrepresented incidents to demonize drag queens. These outbreaks of wanton hysteria would be funny except for the fact that they have contributed to the violent climate against drag shows and oppressive laws against the LGBTQ community at large.

Related posts, articles:

Taken out-of-context video fuels ugly lie about drag queens 'grooming' children

Drag performer sues far-right blogger alleging defamation over edited video 

BUSTED! Far right caught spreading false story that a drag queen exposed self to children 

Candace Owens can't even tell a good lie. Far right personality busted using fake photo of 'drag queen' 

Babylon Bee editor Seth Dillon caught spreading false story about a child tipping a half naked drag queen 

Silly conservative 'activist' doesn't know the difference between drag queens, drag kings, and strippers

Creator of homophobic Libs of TikTok came for AOC in halls of Congress. AOC wasn't having her nonsense.

Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik (left) tried to stunt Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But AOC wasn't having it.

From Mediaite:

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Chaya Raichik of the “Libs of TikTok” Twitter account engaged in a war of words in the Capitol Building on Thursday after the latter filed an ethics complaint against the former. Raichik alleges that Ocasio-Cortez lied about her during a February committee hearing when she said that the political influencer’s advocacy had “culminated in a real-life harassment and bomb threat to the Boston Children’s Hospital.”

 With help from the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, Raichik filed an ethics complaint alleging that she broke House rules by doing so, and sought to personally deliver the complaint to Ocasio-Cortez at her office.

 Raichik managed to run into AOC later and the following happened: 

 Raichik explained that she had “just delivered an ethics complaint to your office because you lied about me in a committee hearing.” “Uh-huh. Oh hi! Yeah no, I actually didn’t,” began Ocasio-Cortez as the two tried to speak over each other. “I never inspired a bomb threat,” replied Raichik while Ocasio-Cortez explained that the social media star is “actually super transphobic and I never want to share a space with you!” “Thank you!” she added before walking away briskly. You can see the exchange here:

 

.@AOC told Chaya Raichik aka libs of tiktok that she's transphobic straight to her face when she ran into her. pic.twitter.com/FKebaCmOiA

— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) March 30, 2023

Unfortunately, the Mediaite article failed to add more context. AOC wasn't being untruthful. According to Politifact, Libs of TikTok did  help to spread a false story that Boston Children's Hospital were giving young girls hysterectomies:

A viral tweet falsely claims that a pediatric hospital is offering surgical treatment for transgender children. "Boston Children's Hospital is now offering 'gender-affirming hysterectomies' for young girls," read an Aug. 11 tweet from Libs of TikTok, a conservative Twitter account with more than 1 million followers. 

 . . . Libs of TikTok's tweet included a video of a physician at Boston Children's Hospital discussing gender-affirming hysterectomies — or the removal of the uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes. Nowhere in the 33-second video did the physician suggest that the procedure is offered to children. The notion, however, seemed to rely on the hospital having "children" in its name. 

 . . . Although the Center for Gender Surgery is inside a pediatric hospital, medical treatment is offered only to "eligible adolescents and young adults," the center's website said. The hospital adheres to medical guidelines developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or WPATH, which doesn't recommend surgical treatment for children. 

 And this lie did in fact lead to several bomb threats against the hospital. In September, a woman, Catherine Leavy, was arrested for making one of the bomb threats. And during all of this,  Libs of TikTok continued to target the hospital, accusing the physicians of lying and mocking them for complaining about the chaos it was causing.

Raichik's attempt to approach AOC and her complaint is obviously a stunt meant to drive more attention to her demonizing attacks against LGBTQ people. And the organization assisting her, The Heritage Foundation, is known for its constant attempts to undermine LGBTQ people's rights and safety.

And not just in America. 

Earlier this month Delano Squires, a research fellow of  the Heritage Foundation, defended a possibly soon-to-be passed law in Uganda which would jail people simply for identifying as LGBTQ. 

And he defended it using the same tropes Libs of TikTok does to dehumanize LGBTQ people:

Perhaps Uganda doesn’t want its culture colonized by the West again. Maybe the people there would rather fly their own flag than yours. https://t.co/xa18gUMqVE pic.twitter.com/minkMnRIvV

— Delano Squires (@DelanoSquires) March 22, 2023

 

'Trans Tennesseans fear violent backlash as trans identity blamed for school shooting' & other Thur midday news briefs

Trans Tennesseans fear violent backlash as trans identity blamed for school shooting - Be strong, y'all. A lot of people are on your side. 

The Far Right Is Exploiting the Nashville Tragedy to Promote Transphobia - THIS is what the folks in the above article are having to deal with. 

House & Senate Democrats Unveil Legislation to Promote LGBTQ+ Rights Abroad - Keep your fingers crossed. 

California May End Travel Ban to States With Anti-LGBTQ Laws - Her idea sounds interesting. Some folks may not agree but I understand she wants to do. 

Ghana’s president softens country’s stance on draconian anti-LGBTQ bill as Kamala Harris visits - We'll see.

Disney pulls the rug from under Ron DeSantis takeover attempt with major power play

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis

From The Associated Press:

Board members picked by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee the governance of Walt Disney World said Wednesday that their Disney-controlled predecessors pulled a fast one on them by passing restrictive covenants that strip the new board of many of its powers. The current supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District said at a meeting that their predecessors last month signed a development agreement with the company that gave Disney maximum developmental power over the theme park resort’s 27,000 acres in central Florida. 

 The five supervisors were appointed by the Republican governor to the board after the Florida Legislature overhauled Disney’s government in retaliation for the entertainment giant publicly opposing so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, as well as lessons deemed not age-appropriate.

 In taking on Disney, DeSantis furthered his reputation as a culture warrior willing to battle perceived political enemies and wield the power of state government to accomplish political goals, a strategy that is expected to continue ahead of his potential White House run.

 

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis chose to play a game with the Disney Corporation - while exploiting homophobia - to bolster his image before the 2024 election. Now he is learning that a billion dollar corporation generally plays for keeps. 

He was probably expected a neat victory, but now he is in for a long war. And don't think that his more than likely opponent for the GOP presidential nomination isn't taking note

Ouch:

Senior @RealDonaldTrump campaign staffer just now: "President Trump wrote 'Art of the Deal' and brokered Middle East peace. Ron DeSantis just got out-negotiated by Mickey Mouse." https://t.co/UQwbfcpPoQ

— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) March 29, 2023

'From hair stylists to vocal coaches - anyone 'aiding and abetting' trans youth could be targeted in SC bill' & other Wed midday news briefs

From hair stylists to vocal coaches, anyone ‘aiding and abetting’ trans youth could be brought to trial in new South Carolina bill​ - This is easily the most insane thing I have read this year. Completely insane. 

The Far Right Is Exploiting the Nashville Tragedy to Promote Transphobia - Collectively, these people ruin all of my faith in mankind. 

NHL teams using Russia as excuse for screwing up their Pride nights - Wimps. 

From drag shows to pronouns: Florida GOP takes aim at LGBTQ issues - Florida's supermajority of Republicans have declared war on LGBTQ people.

Congressman called out in embarrassing comparison of his remarks about drag shows versus school shootings

Those of us on my side are probably desensitized with how many times conservatives reveal themselves to be hypocrites. They do it so much that it's lost the shock value necessary to get people motivated. But the solution, as difficult as it sounds, is to not give in. Particularly in the case of the awful school shooting which took place in Nashville on Monday. Too many of these things have happened and we know the main reason why. It's the easy ability in this country for folks to get guns, even the guns which go way beyond self-protection. 

And no matter how many times school shootings happen, it doesn't seem that Congress is going to do anything about it. Their priorities are in the wrong place as this video of Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett proves.  He's all for acting against drag shows, but when it comes to school shootings, his opinion changes on an embarrassing level.

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett on drag queens vs mass shootings. This demonstrates perfectly the complete moral rot of Tennessee politicians.

Drag: "We're not going to put up with it.

Mass shootings: "We're not gonna fix it."pic.twitter.com/e6lCpEE5YK

— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) March 28, 2023

Hat tip to Alejandra Caraballo

'As 2024 NC Gov race looms, possible candidate obsesses about targeting LGBTQ people' & other Tue midday news briefs

NC Lt Gov Mark Robinson

'God formed me' to fight LGBTQ issues, NC's Mark Robinson says as 2024 governor's race looms​ - Some people have to learn the hard way. His personal crusade against LGBTQ people is NOT an issue voters want to talk about. 

How This Queer Woman Became One of the Best Stunt Drivers in the Industry - Get it, girlfriend! 

Idaho passes law letting students sue for “emotional harm” if they see a trans kid in the restroom - Another court case they will lose. 

Students, LGBTQ group sue Texas university over canceled drag show - Good for them!