The statement at the end of the public comment portion of the agenda at last night’s Warrensburg City Council meeting – read by Bruce Uhler, on behalf of the city council:
STATEMENT REGARDING DRAG SHOW
The City recognizes and appreciates the citizen input received over the last several weeks related to a drag show planned for June 3, 2023. While the organizers have announced cancellation of the “all ages” portion of this event, these discussions still merit response. This event was scheduled to take place at a privately owned property in town, and as such, the City must operate for any similar future events within its constitutional and statutory boundaries related to private conduct on private property.
At the same time, the City also takes seriously the protection of children, and recognizes and enforces state law related to private activity that exposes children to illegal content or actions. Just as the City enforces state laws related to other crimes, the City will continue to uphold its duty to enforce state laws related to children. Crimes that involve child victims are serious, and should be handled under the state statutes that set those rules. City ordinance violations carry fairly minimal penalties when compared to state law. Nuisance violations, which some have suggested the City apply here for example, have a statutory cap of a $200 fine, inclusive of all court costs, for a first violation. Jail or imprisonment is not an option available for this offense in municipal court. State law on providing minors pornographic or obscene material, however, can result in imprisonment, and fines reaching the thousands of dollars. Enacting city ordinances to address serious state crimes does not deter those crimes, it actually makes the consequences for their commission less severe. The City stands behind state law, with its proportionate penalty provisions for all crimes involving child victims.
A suspicion that a private person or entity might commit a violation of law, however, does not empower the City to shut down private property or private assemblies in advance. The City must respond to violations of law as they happen, when the facts provide probable cause to believe that a crime has taken place. This situation is no different. The City will investigate any allegation of criminal activity involving children, and will, when probable cause exists, forward the results of those investigations to the County’s elected prosecutor to file charges.
The police power entrusted to the City by the State of Missouri is an awesome responsibility, and must be exercised with care, and without favortism to any person, group or point of view. Passionate viewpoints have been expressed on many sides of the public comments surrounding this upcoming event. Passionate viewpoints alone, however, cannot determine arrest and charging decisions. Any law enforcement action of the City or its officers must be based upon the facts as they occur and the law as it exists. It is the charge of the City and its officials to honor the rights of all citizens, and at the same time to see that all citizens live up to their duties under law as well. That obligation will be honored by the City without fear or favor. But there is no crystal ball. We will review the facts as they happen. One of our most famous founders, Alexander Hamilton, put it best when he said, “There can be no truer principle than this– that every individual of the community at large has an equal right to the protection of government.”
Whether that protection be for a child, for a parent, for a concerned citizen, or for a performer, the City will stand steadfast in its obligations to ALL parties, and demand that those same parties do the same with respect to their own duties to comply with the law.
“…[turning to the gallery] So many times I cannot hear the words of love you are professing because your actions are too loud…”
A group billing themselves as Johnson County Citizens for the Protection of Children is still up in arms about the Warrensburg Pride Festival scheduled for June 3, 2023. There will be drag shows on the program. You know, fancy costumes, theatrical makeup, show tunes. This is nothing new. There were Pride Festivals in Warrensburg in 2021 and 2022.
These right wingnut busybodies had organized on-line to present a petition to the Warrensburg City Council during the public comment portion of the City Council’s evening meeting on April 24th to limit or cancel the Pride Festival. A loosely organized group of LGBTQIA+ allies organized on-line to speak in support of the Pride Festival.
The pearl clutching busybodies returned to last night’s City Council to demand an ordinance banning drag shows in Warrensburg, this time with photos on posterboard. In the period between the two council meetings the producers of the Pride Festival had already changed the festival format to 18 years of age and older due to reported threats against the festival and the venue. A similar group of LGBTQIA+ allies attended and signed in to speak in support of the Pride Festival and against a city ordinance.
This time there were about fifty individuals in the city council chamber gallery.
The portion of the meeting for public comment was again prefaced by a brief explanation of the ground rules. Individuals who signed up for public comment were allotted three minutes, with a city official acting as the timer. Speakers were asked to state their name and address. Some did, some didn’t.
…I appreciate the chance to speak to you as a city council. I am a Johnson County central committee [political party] member, a wife, a mother, a grandma, a christian, and a very concerned citizen of Johnson County. Let me ask you a few questions. Do you want Warrensburg to be known as a safe community for families and children? [….] But are we really thinking about the long-term consequences of allowing drag shows and their perversion into our town. Uh. how important is the safety of our kids’ souls? I’m a mom and a teacher so I am very in tune with children. If you’re not thinking about long-term, how this would affect our community, I would encourage you to do that. You’ve been entrusted to protect Warrensburg citizens and provide day-to-day public service. This includes protecting our children and I understand that you are in a challenging position. But now you have a chance a decision that will impact children and generations of young people for years to come and our community. I am requesting that you as the city council would consider two points today. One, to protect the children. And, two, I’m requesting a city ordinance to ban all drag queen shows to protect the children, now and in the future, and all public areas, libraries included. Missouri senator Rick Brattin [r], District 31, sent a letter to the Warrensburg chief of police and the police department April the 21st, sharing several Missouri laws that prohibit these activities. And to be truthful, I didn’t even know there were this many laws against sexual, uh, deviance with children. But I am, uh, now understanding that there are Missouri laws, there’s federal laws [….] And I really do propose that having these drag queen shows in our community is illegal and it does psychological damage to our children. It’s known as grooming. And as you can see with these signs [posters], uh, this is pictures from last year’s drag show here in Warrensburg [….] Uh, they have drag queens that are stripping in front of children. I get chills just thinking about this. I cannot believe this is where we are at in our society. So I am encouraging you guys to stand strong, don’t cave into political pressure. But, where would this ever be okay, to strip in front of children? Thank you.
.
Sure. “…ban all drag queen shows…”
Rick Brattin (r) is the pre-eminent legal scholar and final arbiter of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.
Rick Brattin (r) [2013 file photo].
Stripping? Uh, you do know what drag actually is, right?
“…I cannot believe this is where we are at in our society…” Ditto, but for much different reasons.
The busybodies had more individuals who signed up to speak, and they were, for the most part, at the top of the sign-up list.
…So, I know a lot of people…So, my purpose in telling you all that is to let you all know I know a lot of people around town. Uh, and since the last city council meeting two weeks ago I have been approached by a lot of citizens who were made aware of the drag show from the article in the paper. Um, they didn’t know about the all ages drag show until that information came out. A hundred percent of the people I spoke to were absolutely against a drag show for kids. Now, while I don’t mean that as any threat, I do mean to report that many of them said that the council was to allow this drag show for kids to continue they would certainly remember that come the next election. From what I learned the silent majority is not gonna remain silent on this issue. So, I want to make it clear to the council that when people spoke at the last council meeting it was misinterpreted that we were against the drag show. That’s not true. Personally, I have nothing against someone performing for adults. But, when you consider the age of the kids, please keep in mind I can’t send my underage kids to buy alcohol, they can’t buy cigarettes, they can’t drive, and they sure can’t attend an R rated movie. All these rules put in place to protect the kids. So why should an all ages drag show be any different? In closing my recommendation to this council would be to implement an ordinance against allowing an all ages drag show in the future. If people want a drag show for kids they can do that in the privacy of their own home. Thank you very much.
(audio edited)
.
The plural of anecdote is not data. And, if you don’t live within the city limits you don’t get to vote in city council elections.
“…while I don’t mean that as any threat..” Yes, yes you do.
“…So, I want to make it clear to the council that when people spoke at the last council meeting it was misinterpreted that we were against the drag show…” Uh, no, that was quite clear.
Missouri has graduated drivers license starting at age 15, when accompanied by a parent.
A rated movie? A parent or guardian can accompany their child to a movie.
“,..If people want a drag show for kids they can do that in the privacy of their own home…” You mean like on private property? Interesting. Wait, if you really believe it’s illegal then it’s illegal everywhere.
…I was thankful to learn that the drag show scheduled for June 3rd is now an eighteen and over only event. I wish their decision to limit the event to adults could be the end of this affair. I’m sure you all hope for the same thing. It is clear from their statement that they intend to try again in the future to bring an all ages event back to Warrensburg. I never again want to see photos of children in our community holding up dollars for drag queens like patrons at a strip club posted on social media. More importantly, I want to insure that the children of our city are never exposed to such environments in the first place. And I know that I’m not alone in that hope. In speaking with our state senator, Rick Brattin [r][…] I urge you to act quickly. Doing so will add additional support to our great police. And, most importantly, protect the children of Warrensburg and surrounding communities from these highly sexualized and inappropriate performances in the future…
. “…I wish their decision to limit the event to adults could be the end of this affair…” Well?
“…holding up dollars…” Never heard of tips? Busking?
“…like patrons at a strip club…” How would anyone know?
Again, Rick Brattin (r) is the pre-eminent legal scholar and final arbiter of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.
…Judge righteously…
.
Well?
…My husband and I are new to the area. And, um, you could only imagine my shock and dismay at learning that the past two years there’s been a drag queen performance that included children, um, being invited to it, encouraged to come to it. Uh, advertised as being appropriate for children and families. I couldn’t disagree with something like that more…
. “…you could only imagine my shock and dismay…” Don’t need to. You’re telling us.
“…advertised as being appropriate for children and families…” And it was.
“…I couldn’t disagree with something like that more…” Yet you weren’t there because, you know, you’re new to the area.
Maybe ask for an ordinance where you actually live? Just to see how that works.
(personal information omitted)
.
…So I guess we’re quoting the bible. But, I don’t know if we’re paying attention to them ten commandments where it tells you not to bear false witness. Lady stood up here, at least she didn’t call me pedophile this time, that said that there was stripping going on. None of the performers took off any clothes. I understand you, you folks in the audience, look at those pictures and say, oh that’s terrible, I don’t want that for my child. I would again tell you, not your child, I think it should be legal.
But it doesn’t matter because we had some people with guns make threats. People talking about building bombs, blowing up the Elks. So we have decided to make it, what the folks here said was gonna be okay with them, just a pride event, a drag show with no kids, eighteen and over. But yet we’re still here talking about it.
Thank you very much.
.
…I thought I wouldn’t be here today because I thought that the goal from last time was to have an adults only drag show. And because of concerns about the safety of performers and attendees that’s what’s happening now.
Um, I’ve heard a lot about biblical reasons not to have drag shows. Um, the legal reasons I’m a little iffier on. [….]
One of my biggest concerns about the bible being used is, um, as a legal argument, is a phrase that was recently used about the issue, that says, I don’t think we have the command to kill anyone. I hope that nobody thinks that the bible has told them that they need to kill people who are supporting our LGBTQ people. Um, and I’d hope that we’d move on to something that is actually harmful to kids.[….]
What bothers me more than anything else in this is that LBGTQ young people are four times more likely to attempt suicide. And these are the children who deserve to be proud of who they are. Because I was raised to believe that god made me who I am. And I cannot imagine that same god wants me to kill myself because people in my community can’t accept who I am. Thank you.
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY IN ALLEN, TEXAS
– – – – – – –
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 6, 2023, in Allen, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 11, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Today in west central Missouri:
Also, in west central Missouri, continuous thoughts and prayers:
Mark Alford @RepMarkAlford
I’m going to say it until I’m blue in the face — America CANNOT afford another 4 years of Joe Biden. 2:08 PM · May 7, 2023
Some of the responses:
Your frustration that this new career isn’t the ‘cake walk’ as your former is noted. When it happens, can we have a photo, please?
Blue is a really nice color- maybe you should just embrace it.
… [….] Considering that we could have lost our democracy with the last [….], Joe’s not so bad.
Name the last republican to lower the deficit?
Because the unemployment is the lowest it’s been since the 60’s??
Hold your breathe, too, please.
And Trump is any better????
TERM LIMITS
Uh. Somebody should tell them.
The REPUBLIGUN party
Nice platform losers
What happened to you?!?!
He’s always been this way, you just weren’t paying attention.
I agree. Too many people working. Covid under control.
Sarcasm you think?
I will say it till I am blue in the blue in the face. There is no way our democracy will survive if MAGA gains control
Too late.
You are such an embarrassment. You really think tweeting will fix it for you.
Problem is you and the rest of the party don’t have a single thing to offer an average American. That’s why it’s all culture war all the time.
But mass shootings are fine, right?
True, Ive been tweeting that republicans had a dismal turn out, last midterm, so democrats took this as there que to socialism. We need to vote, in force, all of us, in Nov 24 and vote out every democrat out of state and federal office. Anything short, we’re doomed.
Literacy in 21st Century America.
Then the only solution is to purge the government of the uniparty 3 letter agency leadership, uniparty elected politicians & make the federal employees privatized. Teacher unions leadership/college administrators/school boards are responsible for breeding animals out of our kids!
Well, Mark, we sure as hell can’t afford another 4 years of trump. We also can’t afford 4 years of any MAGA Republican in the White House!
America CANNOT afford another Trump presidency considering he’s a criminal! [….]
…In two separate copyright infringement cases concerning the publishing conglomerate Penguin Random House, the high court declined to take up the appeals, with the court saying in 2013 that it wouldn’t hear the first case, and the second case being turned away from the court in 2019 and again in 2020. In both cases, the publisher won at the lower court level, and those decisions stood.
Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who joined the court in 2009 and has been paid millions of dollars from the publisher over the years, declined to recuse herself in all three instances.
Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who joined the court in 2017 and also has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in book deals with the publisher, declined to disqualify himself from the more recent case when it came before the court for consideration…
…the federal law concerning recusal has long been interpreted as applying to stock ownership on the part of the justice or a close family member…
…Breyer, who retired in 2022, likely recused himself from the cases because he owns stock in a company that for a time had a large stake in Penguin…
Roth, whose group has for years kept track of instances in which justices should have recused themselves from a case, said he could not point to other examples where a justice should have disqualified him or herself from a case concerning their book publisher.
Roth noted that Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson also have books in the works….
Too easy.
As always, we don’t allow ignorant comments out of moderation to be linked with the original post, but we will present some of them in subsequent posts for the purpose of public derision and mockery. As we see fit.
And surprise, surprise now we see Sotomeyer has received millions from Random House and refused to recuse herself in their cases! I say so what these Justices haven’t changed the way they would vote on any of these cases! Now if she suddenly voted conservative I would be like wow!
You left out Neil Gorsuch (r). How convenient.
Book contracts and royalties, reported on disclosure forms, or unreported vacations, travel, school tuition, to name just a few, provided by a billionaire. If you’ve got a concern with the former, you should definitely have a serious problem with the latter.
“…Now if she suddenly voted conservative I would be like wow!” As opposed to making a decision based on the law and the merits of the case.
As always, we don’t allow ignorant comments out of moderation to be linked with the original post, but we will present some of them in subsequent posts for the purpose of public derision and mockery. As we see fit.
You’ve got to be kidding! All of you. Sorry to tell you this but corruption permeates our government at all levels. Democrat, Republican, all skunks – the bassist opportunist to say they’re out to help us but enrich themselves. Go into elected public service and you will come out a millionaire just like Clinton, Obama, and Biden.
Jared got a $2,000.000.000.00 investment deal. Curiously, you didn’t mention that. So much for non-partisan, eh?
If “corruption permeates our government at all levels” as you assert, the subject of the post alone definitely indicates we’re not kidding.
All of who?
Millionaires? Name them. All of them.
By the way, the IP address and email address of all comments are attached to the original comment in our blog operating system.
This is going to become Eric Schmitt’s (r) favorite whine:
Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
The most recent Democrat campaign against Justice Thomas is about trying to intimidate him and the Supreme Court’s originalist majority, not ethics. 1:15 PM · May 5, 2023
Some of the responses:
Okay so why is the complaints being raised about ethics then?
This is a parody account, right?
Same difference.
Why is it that the lower courts follow and abide by ethical standards but our highest does not? How can we trust him to interpret the constitution when he has been filling out forms incorrectly for years? Why aren’t you pushing for ethical standards?
Yesterday, Josh Hawley (r) continuing to throw shit against the wall to see if any of it sticks:
[Image cropped]
Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
If there’s nothing to hide about Joe Biden’s business dealings – then make it all public. Let the American people see the truth
[….] 7:56 PM · May 3, 2023
Some of the responses:
I assume you were on record about this issue during the Trump administration as well?
Didn’t think so…
He has already released them. Check off tax returns And who do you want to release them. All of it is public record. All of it.
I don’t remember you asking to see all of trump’s business dealings when he was refusing to release his taxes
Fake news from Josh the insurrectionist.
[….]
What actual factual evidence is there other than the allegations of a possibly fabricated whistleblower? You all keep running the same plays from the tired old playbook. We seen this movie already man. We’ve had enough. Share the absolute evidence backed FACTS or keep walking.
Actually, Josh Hawley (r) is better known for running.
Remember when you said that about Trump’s tax returns. Oh..
And your primary residence is in which state? I mean, if you have nothing to hide.
Run, Josh, run.
Biden has published his tax returns for heaven knows how long … 20 years +? I don’t think he’s hiding anything. Come on, show some evidence.
Since you neglected to do that with Trump and family, what makes you think you have the right to call for it now?
IOKIYAR*
Joshy Hawley I really want to know what you said on those multiple phone calls to the White House prior to the January 6th, if there is nothing to hide, then why do you refuse to talk about them, I am just asking the question
Will you say the same about Traitor 45 and Kushner?
No. This has been another edition of Short Answers to Simple Questions.
Yes Plse show the evidence Fistpump McRunpants.
The old guilty until proven innocent from the fascist right. Unbelievable.
Let’s see your text messages/calls from November 2020 to Jan 6!
Now do trump.
You are awful, shameless and dishonest. Your strategy of self promotion is laughable. Wear it.
Yes, let’s see all of Trump’s business dealings, Clarence Thomas’ finances, etc. Put it all out there.
Tell Americans where you really live.
Like Trump did with his tax returns? That’s right – you were demanding he show those, right? Why don’t you actually accuse Biden of a crime, then prove he did it, instead of asking him to prove himself innocent of something he hasn’t been accused of? What a joke you are.
Now do Jared and the Saudis.
Imagine thinking you have any credibility.
And you said WHAT about Trump being the first major party presidential candidate in 45 years not to release his tax returns?
I’m struggling to remember.
Love to say more but I have to run…
[….]
An amazing quote coming from a guy that tried to end democracy as we know it for a guy that has insanely murky business dealings.
If there’s nothing to hide about All SCOTUS Justices business dealings – then make it all public. Let the American people see the truth
He made his tax returns public……what was Trump hiding?
Oh, the irony…
It is public! Unlike Trump, Biden’s released all his tax returns.
Like Clarence Thomas’ business dealings? Or Trump’s?
Josh Hawley murders puppies. We have no proof, but he has to prove he’s innocent. Show us you don’t murder cute adorable little puppies, you monster.
