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Tag Archives: drag show

Manufactured outrage

31 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, social media

From right wingnuts.

Performative, if you prefer.

Yesterday:

The Heartland POD @TheHeartlandPOD
Google “Cases of church sex abuse 2023”

Now do: “Cases of drag show sex abuse 2023”

The results are a taaaaaad different
7:03 PM · May 30, 2023

Yep.

“Don’t Like Drag Queens? Ignore Them Like You Ignore The 130 Mass Shootings This Year”

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 4 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 5 (May 10, 2023)

Living in a self-imposed cultural vacuum (May 10, 2023)

A downward spiral…of pearl clutching (May 25, 2023)

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 3, 2023 – Returning to Family Friendly Format (May 26, 2023)

Thoughts and… (May 27, 2023)

Everyone is here for the ratio (May 28, 2023)

All means all (May 29, 2023)

Everyone is here for the ratio

28 Sunday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bigotry, drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, pearl clutcher, Pride Festival, social media, Warrensburg

A group is 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 and pop music tunes. This is nothing new. There were Pride Festivals in Warrensburg in 2021 and 2022. After security concerns about threats were addressed the Warrensburg Pride Festival is proceeding with its original format.

These right wingnut busybodies had organized on-line to speak to the Warrensburg City Council during the public comment portion of the City Council’s evening meetings on April 24th and May 8th, asking them 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 Warrensburg City Council listened.

Yesterday someone posted their upset on a Warrensburg community social media page:

[….]
It shocks me that the city of Warrensburg is ok with a
“family friendly” drag show. So disappointing!

There was much hilarity in over a thousand responses:

I’ve gone since they started 2 years ago!

If you don’t like it don’t go. But good on Warrensburg for being inclusive

Thanks for posting this! I didn’t know it was happening! [….] let’s go!

[….] exactly lol. I don’t think free advertisement was what they were going for but it’s what they got. [….]
I was disappointed when they canceled the family friendly. Nice to see we can take the family now.

you should be ashamed for still coming on Facebook just to take time out of your day to discriminate something you don’t even go to it’s childish grow up hun

Get a grip [….]. Imagine how much energy you’d have not being so full of hate.

Warrensburg is a very diversified community. Men dressing as women has been around for 100’s of years.

Thousands
It’s amazing on the last 2 that it’s become such a topic of ‘concern’.
And those so concerned haven’t got the brains to realize they didn’t care their whole lives until they were told it was bad by politics…and too blindsee they’ve been duped as pawns in an imaginary culture war.

Sounds like a fun time

[….] we are afraid of what we don’t know. I would say come and check it out, but I’d recommend therapy first!!

Imagine being a crotchety old woman and directing hate to something that has nothing to do with them. Go knit a blanket and watch fox and mind your own damn business for a change [….]

Saw RuPaul Drag Race guys at Hamburger Mary’s in Chicago a few years back, what a great show.

OMG

Worry about yourself [….]. I bet you’re a Christian who “only god can judge” too [….].

Imma just point that I’ve seen plenty of men dressed in drag around Warrensburg, year around too, and no one said a word. I’ve seen them at grocery stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants, literally everywhere. Lived there nearly 20yrs. Not a single issue. Now all of a sudden it is? Why? Just cause they don’t match your beliefs, lifestyles and micro-managed thought processes? Like my mama told me growing, life ain’t fair and you are just gonna have to learn to get along with it. Let them have this. It’s not like our country is trying to actively kill them at every legal turn. Oh wait. Yes, they are.

Girl just say you don’t know how to have fun

18+ at 6 p.m., drag show starts at 6 p.m….lazy propagandaing but ok.

An explanation:

[….] this was originally an all ages event until threats were made towards the staff, performers and the venue supposedly for having an all ages show. At the same time a group of people in this town were attending city council meetings and demanding an ordinance be passed to make drag only for 21+.
With that Nclusion decided to make it 18+.
People became upset and offered to assist. Now that security has been heavily increased and a police presence will be at the event off and on the threat has been mitigated. The event will be all ages with 2 all age shows. After 5 pm the event will be cleared to check that no minors are in the building before the 6 pm adults only show.
Also, that group at the city council now wants to pass an ordinance banning all drag. [….] is a proud member of the group.

[….] wow that’s super gross behavior on their part. It’s seriously just people dressing up and having a fun time. The shows that are meant to be for 18+ are always super strict about it being specifically 18+ too. It isn’t like they just allow small children in for that. It doesn’t suprise me about burg at all but I’m glad that there are so many people who are open and loving moving out this way, it hasn’t always been like that.

Back to the main thread:

[….] it all started going downhill when they took down the old Arby’s sign.

It’s fitting your name is [….] lol. Love is love, clearly you don’t understand that.

Another branch:

it’s weird not only how obsessed you are with something you claim to be so against, but also how fixated you are on the sexual aspect of drag queens. You a lil curious there, sweetie? Having some confusing feelings?

Main thread:

If ya don’t like it don’t go

Oooh I hadn’t seen this yet! Thanks for sharing!

Shows like this are why I’m so glad to live in this community. Anyone who doesn’t like it? Well, there are plenty of other communities that will accept you.

We see what you did there.

Just let people live their life. If you don’t like it, don’t take your family or kids, let people be happy and enjoy the life God blessed us with. Love thy neighbor.

Don’t worry, no one descended to hell last year, everyone but the seven people across the street who spent their day miserable had a really good time

[2022 file photo]

Oh where do I begin? Well, first, you should get out more. Warrensburg is diversified AND inclusive! You might try it. Second, why should ANYONE’S way of life be excluded? Third, people usually eschew that which they don’t understand. [….]

I’m sorry you feel the need to project the way you feel about yourself onto others. It’s not hard to be kind. Give it a try.

Thank you for sharing we wouldn’t have known with out your negativity/hate! Grow up ……[….]

You know you don’t have to go to it. I’m disappointed in you for not realizing that the world does not revolve around you

I feel like we’ve all already had this conversation with someone like you. It’s boring now. We get it. You’re stuck in your ways. Good for you. Just remember.. it’s 2023.. Your Era is up. Get used to it, boomer.

We all have.

Wow!!! Who do you think you are right now?!?! I don’t insert myself into the crap on this page very often but that was to disrespectful!

So much better than the beauty pagents for children!!! If I’m able, I’ll make sure to make it a family event [….]

Grow up. Like seriously

Show me on the doll where the drag queen hurt you when you were a kid.
Oh that’s right, they didn’t nor will they ever. Stop hating on something you clearly don’t understand.

Look at all the free publicity you got for the show! What a boost for the community you have been, love. I have no doubt they appreciate you! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Sounds like fun

So don’t go. How fucking hard is that?

It’s shocking that you feel like everyone should have to follow YOUR beliefs. Don’t like it? Don’t friggin go.

[….] This post didn’t go the way she thought it would.

[….]: I hate this thing
Also [….]: posts flyer so even more people know about the event! [….] The organizers thank you…because of YOU, more people will attend. Oopsies! [….]

There’s that.

I hope you’re ready to have your feelings hurt. If you’re not interested don’t go, nobody is forcing you. But I’m am so glad to have diversity close to my home. People are allowed to express theirselves just like you have in this post. I’m going to go off on a limb and guess you’re Christian.. what a shame if so. God wants us to love everybody or so I’ve been told. Much love to you and yours [….]

Thank you [….] had no idea this was happening here! Looks like it’s gonna be really fun! [….]

What is disappoint, is all of the so called adults that have decided this is a threat.
Grow up people

it’s 2023. get with the program.

Your whole profile is…yikes…

Don’t go, problem solved

Thanks for bringing awareness to this event! A lot of people didn’t know about this until you posted it so thanks so much because of your contributions more people will attend the event [….]

Some of ya’ll need to touch some grass. Get out an explore the world. That small town mindset. Yikes. [….]

someone should tell them their bathroom in their home is *gasp* gender neutral

Can’t wait !!!!

Waaa waaa waaa

Offs…..this is not the first year we’ve had drag shows here…..chill….you’re not required to go [….]

Actual license plate.

Heh.

It means go if your family is friendly. And if yours isn’t, stay home.

Fuck all the way off. Although, thanks for letting me know about Pridefest.

Just because you may not like it doesn’t mean anybody else will..people need to be more accepting..let people be happy! Shit it isn’t hard.
Stay home if you don’t like it. [….]
I am personally glad that we are having something like this here!
I just don’t understand what you benefit for being ugly?

I’ll buy your ticket to both shows and have you up front and center! What time should I pick you up?

Omg no we must save the children from….. Awesomeness!!!! How dare we allow children to see these amazing performers!!!

[2021 file photo]

Omg I had no idea this was happening! Thank you so much for spreading awareness. I’m so excited to go! I just got some awesome pride merch

Oh no a show that you can choose whether or not to go to….. good grief

Honestly, I’m dumbfounded as to why anyone would even comment on a post simply announcing a public function here in Warrensburg. If it’s not your thing, don’t attend. If it’s something of interest to you, by all means, go see it. Fairly simple.

Hi yeah go if you want to, don’t if you don’t. Everyone go outside, have a nice evening

Imagine being such a snowflake you think clothing has an assigned gender.

let’s not even address that historically heels and makeup were originally considered masculine

In early theatre, women were not allowed to perform so men “gasp” dressed as women!! Dang that Shakespeare for damaging family values by writing women into his plays.

Oh no, people in costumes scare you… don’t go, that simple

This is year 3 of this show here in Warrensburg and I attended the first 2 as well. It is an absolute blast! Regina La-rae is the host and an absolute queen. The booths are fun and the atmosphere can’t be beat. I highly recommend.

I bet Halloween pisses you off huh?

I love RuPauls Drag Show. I didn’t know they were going to be guests! Now I have to go!!

It doesn’t affect you so what does it matter

Ew. Another Karen

Some of ya’ll preaching all this hate sure are acting like the Pharisees and not the Jesus you claim to love

It makes me sad Warrensburg has so many bigots… disgusting

Jesus said the old laws have passed away and he gave us one command… To LOVE one and other as he loved us. The bible says God is LOVE. To the hate spewing “Christians”, LOVE brings more people to Christ than your hate ever will. All of you have family or friends that are gay, your hate terrifies them.

Just how is it being “shoved on you? ” Yoy certainly don’t have to go to this event. Stay home. Keep scrolling and even ignore this post entirely.

I must say I’m proud of Warrensburg right now, standing up for this event. And for that, I thank you.

It amazes me how judgemental people are. Same folks are “entertained” by movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, Tootsie, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar and more. It is entertainment! If you don’t think you will like it, don’t go! These Entertainers put on a great show and certainly do not need your negativity!! [….]

also Bugs Bunny, The Carol Burnett Show…

Don’t be a bigot.

Here’s a thought… if you don’t like it, don’t go. [….]

I thought most religion teaches to NOT JUDGE OTHERS. So much bigotry happening here.

DRAG QUEENS ARE JUST PERFORMERS!! THAT IS A L L. no different than a normal concert. no different than a band performance. or a circus. all of these things have the option to be ‘18+’ but can also be family friendly!! and most ARE family friendly!!
you all would rather die on a grave of bigotry, misinformation, and hate then recognize that there are actual problems and actual threats to our children going on.
You guys are the ones who want our children to be safe, but you’re the only ones imagining children in a gross context!!!

I can’t wait until all these haters find out that Shakespearean performances were technically drag performers. Men playing females. Men playing Juliet, having a sex scene portraying a woman.
Drag is nothing new. Y’all just got too damn soft and hide your hatred toward the lgbt community by bashing drag performers. [….]

Can you post the whole ad please. I would really like to go, with my kids!!!

If you don’t like it don’t go just stay away from it and don’t come onto Facebook and complain about something that doesn’t even involve you and drag performers are very family friendly around children especially at Warrensburgs pride show

If you don’t like it. Don’t go. Stop telling others what they can do because you are a homophobe

If you don’t like it. Scroll on by. Don’t be a Karen.

I mean, hats off to Warrensburg for being so inclusive, tolerant, progressive and 2023 century!! Way to go!! [….]

Because simply choosing not to go is so hard. [….]

Well if you don’t like it, stay home and keep your hatred to yourself, the world doesn’t need people like you spreading your ignorance and hate

Well now that you’ve announced it I hope the whole town shows up.

Oh my god get a life

Drag is not inherently sexual. And your perception of that is a you problem. [….]

So don’t go.

How embarrassing for your family that you actually posted this lol

What shocks me is there’s still people who discriminate against others who arent hurting a soul.

Thanks for posting this. I totally forgot!

And it shocks me we have people as ignorant and regressive as you. Face the facts homeslice, it’s 2023. They don’t expose themselves, the worst thing they do is swear like a sailor and hell I’m guilty of that! Drag is art. It’s expression. It’s BEAUTIFUL. And your attitude is not.

I’m glad Warrensburg is able to support diversity and groups that have been persecuted by people like the one who made this post. It’s unfortunate that today they are still having to worry about their freedoms being stripped away by fearful/hateful people. Grow up and learn some tolerance.

June 3rd? Perfect. Thanks for the advertising, this will be a great outing for my daughter and I!

If you don’t want your family going, don’t take your family. What other people do with their families is none of your business.

The world will progress without you, don’t worry

Thanks for posting! I had no idea this was happening! Drag shows are so much fun. Can’t wait!

Can I just say I love the support for this event. I can’t wait to take my kiddoes and go. This is ganna be amazing. Also looking for more LGBTQIA+ Friends. Especially parent friends.

Thanks for the advertisement! Seems like it’ll be a lot of fun, I’ll make sure to let all the kids know that the drag queens are statistically near 100% safer than the priest at church

it shocks me that people like you still exist, pls do the research before you post things like this on a public platform. obviously you don’t understand the severity of your hate, nor do you understand the reality of your words and their consequences. you hate it because you don’t understand it, that doesn’t mean that everyone around you isn’t allowed to enjoy queer spaces.

Is this the same Burg where there was publicly a post shaming Asian people and majority of the racists came out of their snake holes to spew a bunch of hate-filled crap? That Burg?? Or the one where these people would cry over a mask being put over their face for a brief moment in a store?? That Burg?
Then are we really that surprised these people don’t have a grasp on what drag is? Like, are we CERTAIN we’re that surprised?? [….] These people are the personification of “yeehaw” and we are that surprised… like…. I’m not surprised in the slightest. These people don’t know what they’re talking about. Drag isn’t even in a certain age group, it varies depending on the performer. It’s like saying Taylor Swift is in the same type of age demographic she caters to, as Cardi B. Come on, now… I know you guys aren’t that dependent on assumptions and grouping people up.
But thank you for this post as it reminds me that I can in fact attend ! I’ll keep it in mind.

What’s shocks me is that it’s really that big of a problem to some people. Seriously it’s not like they are doing this with a captive audience with no choice in what they are watching. If you dont want to see it then don’t go, its a Super simple solution to a super simple perceived problem
It really doesn’t matter where you stand in your personal beliefs, as long as nobody is forcing anyone to do anything then mind your own business

You’d think.

Sounds like a fun evening my nieces and I [….] Thanks for the reminder

This isn’t going how you thought it would, huh [….]

You don’t want to go or don’t want your family to go, then simply don’t go. It’s simple as that.

It’s a beautiful thing watching bigots trip over each other trying to out-bigot the other.

My earnest hope and desire is that this post has, and will continue to, open the eyes of the community of Warrensburg to the extreme danger that activities like the drag show presents to the children. This thread has been filled with hateful, ungodly, rhetoric that is scary, to say the least. This invasion is not going to go away on it’s own. YOU, good people of Warrensburg, MO, and surrounding areas, are going to have to fight against it! Don’t hide in your comfort zone; don’t be afraid that somebody is going to talk mean to you with lies and unfounded insults. Get up and fight against the menace that wants to infiltrate and steal your children from the good and hopeful life you are trying to create for them. If you don’t, you will regret it.

Imagine being this stupid, and thinking “I’m not stupid”

Dunning-Kruger Effect.

Thanks for advertising this! Looks like a fun event!

Get over it, crybaby

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 4 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 5 (May 10, 2023)

Living in a self-imposed cultural vacuum (May 10, 2023)

A downward spiral…of pearl clutching (May 25, 2023)

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 3, 2023 – Returning to Family Friendly Format (May 26, 2023)

Thoughts and… (May 27, 2023)

Living in a self-imposed cultural vacuum

10 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

drag, drag show, meta, missouri, popular culture, troll, trolling

The problem is in trying to impose it on everyone else.

It’s always too easy.

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.

We see fit.

An attempted trolling comment submitted in response to Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023):

Keep these shows out of Missouri

And, evidently, this, too (a small sample):

Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon Some Like it Hot (1959) [film]

Dustin Hoffman Tootsie (1982) [film]

Julie Andrews Victor/Victoria (1982) [film]

Robin Williams Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) [film]

Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) [film]

Nathan Lane The Birdcage (1996) [film]

Eddie Murphy The Nutty Professor (1996) [film]

Chiwetel Ejiofor Kinky Boots (2005) [film]

Tyler Perry Madea… (2002-2020) [film]

Flip Wilson The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974) [television]

Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari Bosum Buddies (1980-1982) [television]

Martin Lawrence Martin (1992–1997) [television]

Bugs Bunny The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (1942) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny A Corny Concerto (1943) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny Mississippi Hare (1948) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny Long-Haired Hare (1949) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny Rabbit Seasoning (1952) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny Napoleon Bunny-part (1956) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny What’s Opera Doc? (1957) [cartoon]

Bugs Bunny The Unmentionables (1963) [cartoon]

Ignoranimus.

By the way, the IP address and email address of all comments are attached to the original comment in our blog operating system.

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 5

10 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bigotry, bigots, City Council, drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, Pride Festival, Warrensburg

“…either everyone is welcome in Warrensburg, or no one is…”

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 Monday 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.

More of the public comments:

…Again, thank you for allowing me to speak today. I’ll try to keep it short this time, I wrote this stuff down. Um, we’ve heard a lot of talk about safety and protecting children. But, I, I have to ask, does that include my kids? Are you gonna protect my kids when they get harassed for being gay, walking down the street. Because that does happen.

I want to make a point that making it 18+ is not an admittance that it was wrong or something inappropriate was happening. This means that the people who put it on took into account the threats they were receiving and decided to make it a, a decision basically out of safety.

Um, I would encourage the council to reach out to those businesses, publicize a point of contact to those businesses to contact you to know how they were being harassed, how they were being threatened.

Um, basically in my opinion a ban is a solution in search of a problem. We don’t have an epidemic of drag shows happening in this town. And so, I don’t know why a ban would be really necessary.

We even considered, uh, organizing an LGBTQ family event, just for families, not including any drag performers. And even when we were considering that we thought, what about the safety of the families attending. I think that says something when we are concerned about families just getting together being threatened.

Um, last I would say, either everyone is welcome in Warrensburg, or no one is.

Thank you.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker15.mp3
.

…Everyone here today is talking about the children. And, you know, as the person who is my dad just spoke, I am, actually, one of these children. I used to be. Three years ago I was in Warrensburg High School. This place, I have never felt, less safe.

I grew up here, born and raised here.

When I found out that I went to UCM I almost cried because of the safety that I didn’t ever really feel in this community.

In high school people said heinous phrases to insult me just for being LGBTQ. People would shout ‘faggot’ towards me. People would shout slurs in my direction. I even had people tell me that they hope I got raped by my dad.

I have never felt more suicidal than homophobic people speaking against the rights of me and my siblings. The only places I have ever felt safe in Warrensburg, from even just walking down the street, has been the Pride events in Warrensburg.

These pride events are really important for children to experience because in high school they are not safe. They do not feel safe. LGBTQ kids feel like they have no community. And Pride is that sense of community.

I know people have said they’ve been worried about the drag shows and have showed images. I, trust me, you can see worse images if you go to a public pool. These public pools, we’re not showing ordinances against those. And this is because it’s not an LGBTQ event.

They’re not attacking us because it is not a sexually exploitive experience, it is because they are LGBTQ.

People talk about the agenda, people in the audience have said this, this is just because it’s LGBTQ people.

There are kids, including my siblings, who are the positions that I was in, who cannot access Pride anymore. And LGBTQ kids, just like me, are afraid to speak up.

The only thing this proposed ordinance would protect children from is their own self-expression. Please, if you care about people like me, do not pass this ordinance.

Thank you.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker16.mp3
.

…back in the day I was a tour director. And I took conventions, conferences, and tours to places like Miami, New York City, Chicago, uh, Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas. A few years after that I taught on post at a military base. And I have seen all of the clubs that are on the outside gates of the military base.

I can pretty much, with assurance, state that what we had last year at Pride was none of the above. It was very family friendly and we should be very comfortable with NClusion Plus. They took great care of the kids that came to see them.

In the state of Missouri it is legal for a parent to give permission for a child under the age of 16 to marry. In the state of Missouri it is legal to force a child who has been raped to bear a child.

Think about that.

I am extremely concerned that because the words perversion, yad, yada, yada, etcetera, whatever, are getting thrown around we are mistaking human sexuality for an imaginary problem.

Grooming happens within a trust relationship. Those trust relationships are mostly really close to home. It’s the pastor, it’s the athletic coach, it’s the caretaker, it’s the babysitter.

It doesn’t happen in a one-hour or two-hour show.

We have had somewhere around six hundred years of common reading available. And in that time we have managed to read the bible, all manner of western civilization literature and it has not gotten rid of gayness.

They’re not going away.

Two hours at a kid friendly drag show, make those, outlaw those? That’s Robin Williams. That’s Bob Hope. [laughter] Yeah.

We just had a proclamation in this chamber a couple of months ago supporting the LGBTQIA community. In the city of Warrensburg we declared ourselves a welcoming community.

I don’t care how you raise your children. You do not have the right to tell anyone else how to raise theirs.

And the city of Warrensburg has followed their processes, yes ma’am….

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker17.mp3
.

…I’ve been a member of the Warrensburg community for thirty years. And I stand firm when I say that I stand to protect children. Allowing those children, 18 an under, to attend any type of adult entertainment, including a drag show is unacceptable. It doesn’t matter if they are the children or family of the performers or participants.

State laws that prohibit this are there to protect the children in our community.

In this community there seems to be some question whether the state laws in place should be enforced locally.

I would like a municipal ordinance put in place to codify that no one under 18 be allowed to drag shows or any other adult entertainment within city limits.

Thank you.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker18.mp3
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“…State laws that prohibit this are there…”

“…there seems to be some question whether the state laws in place should be enforced locally…”

Rick Brattin (r) and Denny Hoskins (r) are the pre-eminent legal scholars and final arbiters of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.

…Um, we’ve talked a lot about rights. And what I realize, I think, anyway, what I realize is there was no vote taken about having a drag queen show in the Warrensburg area. It just appeared. So anybody who didn’t particularly want it really never even got to have a vote about that.

So now, belatedly, we’re coming forward and saying we don’t want that for children. We simply don’t want it for children.

[….]

The bottom line is that drag queen exposure for kids just helps confuse them. And it’s a mean trick. It obvious, it, I mean, it is. If somebody had thrown that in my face when I was a kid I probably would have run out screaming. And that’s the truth. I would have started crying and run away.

Um, it’s, it’s not fair. It is just not a fair thing to do to children. It mixes them up, it confuses them.

So, I do also request that the city do, uh, a municipal ordinance to ban drag queen shows for children, for children. Let’s not mix them up anymore. Life’s hard enough. Thanks.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker19.mp3
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“…what I realize is there was no vote taken about having a drag queen show in the Warrensburg area….”

There were no votes taken about which pizza toppings to order…in the Warrensburg area. There were no votes taken about what day we can wax our cars…in the Warrensburg area. There were no votes taken about which doctor’s office we can visit…in the Warrensburg area.

“…It just appeared….” Immaculately.

“…So anybody who didn’t particularly want it really never even got to have a vote about that…”

And no one really never even got to have a vote about which movies appear at the local theater. Fancy that.

Bugs Bunny?

…I, too, have been a resident of this town for fifty years. Quite some time. [….] However, I also have worked for the city of Warrensburg, as a dispatcher, a law enforcement officer, and in Johnson County as a law enforcement officer investigating child abuse and personal crimes.

During that point in time I never, in my investigation of child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, child emotional abuse, ever spoke to a drag queen. I spoke to pastors, I spoke to friends, I spoke to family. I spoke to two little girls whose father committed suicide because it was disclosed that he had been sexually abusing the older daughter. Never a drag queen.

We’ve heard talk of grooming [….] and I believe this was brought to your attention just a few minutes ago as well, that there are several steps to grooming a child to the point that they can be sexually abused. It includes gaining trust and access, playing a role in the child’s life, isolating the child, creating secrecy around this relationship, initiating sexual contact, and controlling this relationship. It does not happen, again, as been mentioned, in a one hour drag show.

It doesn’t happen.

If people want to talk to others about protecting children maybe this needs to be taken to the schools, maybe this needs to be taken to the churches, maybe this needs to be a community project with parents and caregivers in the city of Warrensburg.

I’m not a religious person, but I will finish with this. Matthew 7-1, the new living translation, do not judge others and you will not be judged. Verse 2, you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

I’d also like to say [turning to gallery], so many times I cannot hear the words of love that you are professing, because your actions are too loud.

Thank you.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker20.mp3
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Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 4 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 4

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Bigotry, bigots, City Council, drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, Pride Festival, Warrensburg

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.

So, I am a registered nurse, I graduated UCM and then, um, I have a medical degree from Japan. I’m a psychiatrist. And as a psychiatrist my concern is LGBTQ youth suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of youth. In 2019 19% of youth considered to attempt suicide. And 77% of them are LGBTQIA+ community. [….] In 2020, nationwide, 73% of LGBTQIA+ youth experienced discrimination, based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. And 45% considered suicide and 14% attempted suicide. In Missouri, its numbers are about the same.

So, it was noticed by U.S. government, long time ago, twenty years ago, the U.S. government had this program, plan, to reduce LGBTQIA+ youth suicide with, you know, decrease the number of people committing suicide. So, many researchers are done research and they found a risk factor is stigmatizing, stigmatizing is for who they are. And the youth feel isolation, feeling of being a burden to people, and negative school, like bullying. And they also find there’s a positive protective factor which is support from school, family, community.

So, I’m a scientist. I know we like to divide things in groups. But humans […] inside, outside, doesn’t match, that don’t match. [,,,] They are born to be that way.

I have been to the Pride Festival, twice, two years, two years ago and last year. And the significant thing I, touched my heart, there was many young people wrapping themselves with the pride flag, holding their hands, they, their face were peaceful. Then I, I realized this is what they need. They need to feel they’re okay to exist. Most of this, I’ve been there, most of the performer, they’ve been through discrimination. They are not professionals, they have their day job, they do this part time. They’re trying to tell young people it’s okay to be who they are.

So, as we talk about the safety of children as a community we have to provide safe environment for the children to keep them. Thank you.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker9.mp3
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…We have, uh, gone to the drag shows, as she said. I didn’t see anything that would, uh, indicate a violation of any of the laws that were mentioned. We thought it was a friendly, uh, and, uh, supportive event, as my wife said. We’ve raised five kids. We feel that we can make decisions about what events our children should attend. Input from other people is not needed, and frankly, not welcome.

Last time I was here I mentioned that I thought there was an economic issue, with the economic health of Warrensburg. That if we discourage people from holding a variety of events that, uh, has a negative impact on Warrensburg. And since that time we’ve seen that the, uh, Pride Fest that was planned is now limited to adults. Guess what that means? That means there are people who would have been in Warrensburg, frequenting businesses, spending money that, that day, who will not be. If the sort of ordinance that’s being supported were to be passed that would mean, uh, in the future, uh, there will be people who otherwise might have come to Warrensburg who will not.

Not just for that particular event, but because they see Warrensburg as a place that is not welcoming to them.

So, my thought is, let’s be careful about the decisions we make where we try to legislate morality for other people because those decisions may well come back to bite us economically. Thank you for your attention.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker10.mp3
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When we moved here, almost two years ago, I thought I lived in Warrensburg [….] We are kind of here, hearing a lot of opinions about a lot of stuff, but I think the thing that strikes me most is that there are laws in this country for a reason to protect children. Children don’t process things well as youth. They have to grow and mature. And, until in this nation have been identified as roughly eighteen years of age, some twenty-one, depends on what it is, they are not allowed to make or partake in situations which you’ve heard about here tonight [….]

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker11.mp3
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Except you’ll make the parenting decisions for someone else’s kids. Because?

Explain the differences among the 1st Amendment, the 2nd Amendment, and the 14th amendment. We’ll wait.

So, I work here in Warrensburg. I’m the mother of six and I’m very concerned about having kids in our community attend drag shows. It’s never appropriate for kids to attend these type of events. I understand the event in June is now an adults only event, but my continued concern is for next year. We will need the city council to stand up and make it clear where they stand. Protect our children. A munici, a municipal ordinance would accomplish this. I want to thank Missouri senator Rick Brattin [r]…

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker12.mp3
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“…It’s never appropriate for kids to attend these type of events…” You attended? If not, how would you know? But you still get to decide for everyone else? Because?

Rick Brattin (r) is the pre-eminent legal scholar and final arbiter of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.

The NClusion drag queen venue is sexually explicit adult entertainment. I think we’d all agree about that. Adult entertainment should be for mature audiences only. Drag queens are female impersonators who’s venue can sexually exploit children with their indoctrination about adult sexuality and sexual orientation.

[….]

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker13.mp3
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“…I think we’d all agree about that…” Uh, no. You might have noticed other speakers two weeks ago and at this city council meeting, right?

Because they’re so credible?:

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

…I want to start off by reminding everyone here that our children are our future. They are our heritage. God states in his words that every child is a gift and every child is a reward.

We live in a society where our children are constantly being told they have to believe a particular way, otherwise they are wrong or perhaps they are a bad person or even a hater.

Some would argue that we here today, we might be haters, fearmongers, or the dreaded homophobics because we don’t bow down and agree to the senseless immoral, perverted, corrupt garbage that is being thrown around and forced on us.

We, in fact, we embrace the right to choose. We’re speaking on behalf of the children. We also embrace reality. Normal moral and ethical living. Living is right, living right is not rocket science, it’s common sense. And like the most of us in this room I think we’re strong in that part. [….]

We are here as a group of citizens. We are committed to standing for the voiceless, our children, the ones who don’t have a voice in these days.

We aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, no matter what names, titles, or ridiculous ideologies others may speak against us or throw our direction. We are fully aware who we are through god who created us.

We are looking for solutions and so that’s where you all come in. We want safeguards put in place. We want accountability where there should be accountability. We want our children protected against EXPLOTATION.

We don’t come with a lot of feel good stories about our experiences with last year’s drag queen show. However, we did come with evidence that they are being exploited.

Photos of minor children at last year’s event were handed to you last, at the last meeting as well.

We want our children protected from an agenda that is hell bent on grooming our children. We want our children’s minds and their lives protected in these very vulnerable years.

[….]

We are committed to standing strong until this battle is won, until we see action from you on behalf our minors. We want to see an ordinance. We’re not going away, guys.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShowSpeaker14.mp3
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“…We live in a society where our children are constantly being told they have to believe a particular way, otherwise they are wrong or perhaps they are a bad person or even a hater…” Wait, isn’t that an argument against organized religion?

“…Some would argue that we here today, we might be haters…” Okay. If the shoe fits…

“…the dreaded homophobics…” Weren’t they a punk band in the 80s Waukesha music scene? Maybe not.

“..the senseless immoral, perverted, corrupt garbage that is being thrown around and forced on us…” That’s a whole lot to unpack there.

“…we embrace the right to choose…” Irony challenged. Definitely.

“…However, we did come with evidence that they are being exploited…” Evidently not.

You can feel all the love.

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Senate

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Bigotry, bigots, Denny Hoskins, drag show, Fascist pigs, Missouri Senate, pearl clutchers, Rick Brattin, right wingnuts, Warrensburg, WTF?

Rick Brattin (r) and Denny Hoskins (r) are the pre-eminent legal scholars and final arbiters of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 file photo].

Denny Hoskins (r) [2017 file photo].

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.

At last night’s meeting several of the busybodies made reference to a letter from Rick Brattin (r) addressed to the Warrensburg Police Department dated April 21, 2023. At the end of the meeting we requested a copy of the letter from the city. Denny Hoskins (r) also signed the letter.

…It has recently come to my attention that the “Warrensburg Pride Festival” program is scheduled for Saturday, June 3…in Warrensburg, Missouri. This is troubling for several reasons. First, the show is advertised as “family-friendly” and for guests “of all ages.” The event promotion includes no warning for “adult content” whatsoever for these drag shows that event organizers deem “family friendly.” A simple internet [sic] of similar shows reveals the content of such events is, at best, inappropriate for all ages and, at worst, highly sexualized and wholly unsuitable for children.

In fact, reports of these shows are so obscene and indecent that listing them in this letter would be unsuitable as it may be read minors. There can be no reasonable doubt that the good people of Warrensburg would be appalled by the behavior on display at these types of events, especially considering this behavior is being actively marketed to their children in apparent hopes they would become desensitized to such tasteless activities, and as a result, become sexualized at a young age. Not only are these shows immoral, but they are also illegal under Missouri State statute…

…It is abundantly clear that drag shows violate the existing Missouri State Statute, and it is time for them to be dealt accordingly. When I became a Marine, I swore an oath to the Constitution, and that oath never expires. Our Federal and State Constitutions share a common thread: all of us, whether elected officials or law enforcement officers, have a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Our most precious resource, our children, is under attack, and it is time that we engage with those who harm them by destroying their hearts and minds.

I call on my fellow patriots with the Warrensburg Police Department to put a stop to this behavior and enforce Missouri’s existing laws. These types of events must be stopped, and the businesses that facilitate these events must be punished. We must also deal with these “drag queens” who are just men with perverted intentions, in accordance with exiting state law. I know these battles are not easy, but I want Chief Munsterman, and every member of the Warrensburg Police Department to know that I will…

…have your back. Not only will I have your back, but I am willing to stand alongside you as you protect our community.

I want to close out this letter by thanking the Warrensburg Police Department for all that you do. You deal with the madness of society so the rest of us can go home each night and enjoy our families in peace. Thank you, and God bless you.

Respectfully,
s/
Rick Brattin
[….]

s/
Denny Hoskins
[….]

Letter from Rick Brattin (r) and Denny Hoskins (r) to the Warrensburg Police

The only thing that’s actually obscene in this entire episode is this letter.

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Bruce Uhler, City Council, drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, Warrensburg

Bruce Uhler, Warrensburg, Missouri City Council

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.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WbgCityCouncilDragShow050823BruceUhlerStatement.mp3

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Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Bigotry, bigots, City Council, drag show, LGBTQIA+, missouri, pearl clutching, Pride Festival, Warrensburg

A group billing themselves as Johnson County Citizens for the Protection of Children is 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 organized on-line to present a petition to the Warrensburg City Council during the public comment portion of last night’s meeting 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.

Standing room only.

Signing in.

Over 100 people crowded into the gallery of the city council chambers by the scheduled 7:00 p.m. start of the meeting. We asked a city council meeting regular if they recalled any other meetings with this large of a crowd. “No.”

After the city council convened and worked through the beginning of the agenda the portion of the meeting for public comment was prefaced by an explanation of the ground rules. The city council was there to listen, but would not comment nor respond to questions. Individuals who signed up for public comment were allotted three minutes, with a city official acting as the timer. This worked well, with one glaring exception. Speakers were asked to state their name and address.

…I’m the one that invited the folks to come to our community and have a Pride event. I tried to get one started in 2020, didn’t work out. 2021, we had our first one, I thought it went very well. We also had one last year, and evidently some folks not real happy about having that event. I’m not sure what to say.

I was thinking Carrie might be here, but I guess I don’t see her right now. I know she used to live right close here. But, I thought when we got rid of the Nineteenth and adopted the Twenty-First that we might have been a little closer to understanding that we should let people have their freedoms and do things. And if we don’t like it, don’t go. That would be the point of this Pride deal, is that if don’t want to go, you don’t have to go. If other people want to go to do a legal activity in a enclosed environment, they should be able to do that.

Now, I’ve heard about those other people in Columbia, those fearful people from a big city. But, again, they were invited to come to our community. Many speakers here today will tell you that they want to have that activity occur.

The other thing I guess I was hearing is that there was abuse last year. I’m a father, a grandfather, I served twenty-one years in the Army, I was a required reporter for child abuse for more than twenty years in Missouri. Used to inspect day cares and home care providers. If I saw abuse I would have reported or stopped it. There was no abuse.

If you look on social media you’ll see some pictures. That’s not anything filmed in Johnson County. I don’t recognize any of those performers. They didn’t come to our town to perform. I don’t know where that was filmed at, but that didn’t happen here. Nor, would we allow that type of performance.

So, let’s be a little clear, you know [….]. Anyway, I guess I don’t see Carrie, but I think her spirit is here. If you want to know Carrie’s last name, it’s Nation. She’s the one with the Tomahawk. [“Time”] [laughter] Thank you.

…the advertisement for the Burg Pride Fest. And the thing that caught me on the invitation was there are seven and a half hours specifically allotted for children and/or their parents or their supervisor. And there’s one and a half hours allotted for adults. So that gives a message to me. It’s like why is there this inordinate desire for these people to be in front of kids? So, that was my first thought…

Never been to a movie theatre? Never watched television?

“Inordinate desire”? Don’t think of an elephant.

“These people”?

… [501(c)3 or 501(c)4] …I was super curious about the organization that brought this petition up, or will be bringing the petition up….I looked on our Secretary of State’s site and found that this organization, We the People of Missouri, was registered as a 501(c)4 which says they are non-partisan and educational…

…that in order to be considered educational it must present a sufficiently full and fair exposition of pertinent facts, to permit a formation of an independent opinion or conclusion.

Now, I do believe there will be items raised on both sides of this concern tonight, I do not believe they will be brought by the same people…

…I come before you tonight as one of many citizens standing up to protect our children from exposure to inappropriate performances that are commonplace at drag shows…

…Like many of my neighbors and friends I’m very concerned about what children see and learn. For instance, there’s an organization here tonight and I think it’s awful that kids learn hate and Fascism and things like that. So, what I’m gonna do about it is, I’m not gonna take my kids. And what I’m not gonna do about it is come to this, this, government and ask you to infringe on their First Amendment rights…

…Our LGBTQ community are not nuisances. They’re not. So, if you don’t like Pride, don’t go. And the last thing I have to say is, you know, don’t be, don’t be the council that signs on to Fascism…

I attended last year’s event. There was no abuse anywhere. There were a lot of adults there. There were a lot of kids there. It was publicized, no one was caught off guard, and it was a voluntary event. People could choose to attend or not attend.

I have a problem with the characterization of performers as being evil, or predatory, or whatever they want to call it. There is no evidence of that. And that is not a way that we address human beings. Out of such language come things like mass shootings. And we don’t need to do that.

This is a group within our community. It is not the entire community. There are other groups in the community that hold different views on how to raise their children. I do not tell them how to raise their children, and I respectfully ask that they not tell me how to raise mine. I will choose the events that they go to, I will choose the books that they read, and I expect that others will grant me the same respect.

This is not a necessary petition.

It was on private property. It was closed. The children did not get there by nefarious means, they did not magically transport there. Their parents brought them there.

And their parents have the right to emphasize the values that they consider important. You may not like that…but it is still their right to raise their children according to their values. Just as it is to raise your children according to your values.

So, I would suggest that we understand within a much larger community of other groups and that they do not speak for all of us. And they do not speak for me. Thank you.

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

What gives you the mistaken impression that we give a fuck about what you think? Part the infinity… (November 21, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bigots, drag show, missouri, pearl clutching, Pride Festival, right winguts, Warrensburg

Warrensburg, Missouri.

Some Like it Hot (1959) – Academy Award for Best Costume Design. “…In 1989, the Library of Congress selected it as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’…”

Tootsie (1982) – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. “…In 1998, the Library of Congress deemed the film ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’ and selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry…”

Victor/Victoria (1982) – Academy Award for Best Original score.

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 26, 2021 [file photo].

A group billing themselves as Johnson County Citizens for the Protection of Children [and the Lone Defenders of the One True Faith and Local PTA] is 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.

From their big government, self-righteous manifesto:

[….] The last two years, “Drag Shows for Children” were held right here in Johnson County, and on June 3rd, a group plans to hold another at the Elks Lodge/Meadows Rental Venue in Warrensburg. Our community was caught off guard before, but after seeing 40+ children exposed to this abuse last year, we, as concerned citizens, have organized to demand that this year’s event be restricted to adults 18 and older or canceled. [….]

Says who?

Pearl clutching moroons.

There’s a Warrensburg City Council meeting on Monday, April 24, 2023. They plan on asking the city council to subscribe to their bigotry, or something. There’s even a petition:

For the purposes of the health and safety of our children. NClusionPlus plans on holding a Drag Queen Event hosted by the Elks Lodge/Meadows Rental Venue. We must stop this! We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens urging our elected officials to support the protection of our children. STOP this event!

%%Your Signature%%

Concern Citizen for the protection of our children

They have a countdown clock. Seriously. Drama queens.

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri [2022 file photo].

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2023)

Mike Parson (r) clutches his pearls…again

22 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bigot, Columbia, drag show, gaslighting, governor, Mike Parson, missouri, right wingnut, social media

Mike Parson (r) [2022 file photo}.

Friday afternoon:

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
We are deeply concerned about reports that Columbia middle school students were subjected to adult performers during what is historically a MLK Day celebration. This is unacceptable.
3:48 PM · Jan 20, 2023

It was a drag show, asshole. You know, individuals in fancy costumes lip-synching show tunes.

He continued:

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Parents weren’t clearly informed of the contents of the program, and adult performances are not diversity. Columbia Public Schools should focus on educational experiences that prioritize math, reading, writing, science, and history, which parents expect and demand for their kids.
3:48 PM · Jan 20, 2023

Some of the responses:

Let the locally elected SCHOOL BOARD deal with it! You have bigger issues to deal with. I was subjected to Bob Hope & Danny Kaye in drag as a child. It didn’t change my sexual orientation & I expect you saw them too. This hysteria you are stoking is wrong.

It wasn’t that long ago that DJT was motor boating Rudy Giuliani in drag.
[….]

Why are you doing this? You are spreading a lie for political gain.

Remember when Milton Berle, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Flip Wilson, Harvey Korman, Tom Hanks, Dana Carvey, Robin Williams, Jamie Farr all dressed as women and it didn’t make you want to be a transgender woman?

We are deeply concerned that the GOP pass laws forcing girls to give birth to babies, grant her rapists rights over the child, keep or make child marriage legal, refuse to prosecute or sentence rapists or test rape kits. Groomers are family, priests, coaches not drag performers.

Sure, just lie and gaslight

Did you ask what they were from the school or are you only listen to people who saw nothing.

I know that you’re a politician and used to lying but come on.

“Columbia Public Schools invited students to attend the event, according to parents posting on social media sites such as Facebook. Parents were required to fill out a permission slip.”

Absolutely every single bit of this is a lie and you know it

They were informed. The event was listed on the permission slip. The event website had all the details. Parent’s responsibility to confirm everything about the events they are GIVING PERMISSION that their kids can attend.

I really want to dissect what exactly made this an “adult performance”. There was dancing and lip syncing to family friendly songs, so what exactly makes this adult content?

You’re losing it, Chief.

You and the @MissouriGOP are the embarrassment #MAGAMorons

What was adult or offensive about the performance? There are plenty of videos. Show us what you object to specifically. Parents signed off on their kids attending the event and anyone who looked at the public information for the event knew there would be family-friendly drag.

What do you mean by “adult performers”? Are the performers supposed to be only children?

Or is it that they were drag, and you’re trying to use a euphemism to hide your bigotry?

That’s right wingnut framing for you.

Wow, this was really confusing. I thought you meant that the performers should be children/students and instead adults performed. Goodness gracious, learn to explain things. And there is no problem with this in any way!!!

This is a local control issue, not a state issue. The correct process is for parents who believe there was an issue to contact their school board directors. Parents have more influence and control at the local level when we let these systems work.

They had to sign permission slips, also what about 3 drag performers *dressed modestly* is “adult entertainment”?

You will just use this gaslighting to further your agenda of dismantling public education anyway.

So was it Ms Doubtfire?

are these adult performers in the room with us now?

Busy day? I know Missouri public schools are short of funds. Maybe you should focus on that.

When I think you’ve finally hit Rock bottom you manage to scratch and crawl your way deeper. You are gaslighting for your repulsive base. You have no legacy remaining other than a liar.

I am more concerned that Missouri continues to be a national embarrassment.

So I have done family friendly improv performances for decades. Many in Public schools. We played women characters regularly, even wearing wigs and dresses. We were applauded regularly for our “clean” humor. Is that now unacceptable?

Why don’t you just think of it as a skit with the characters in costume?
Now don’t you feel better?

Bingo!

Lol, ok dude.

“… reports that …” is pretty vague. Does that mean you posted this before investigating said reports and therefore cannot comment on specifics?

3 fully clothed drag queens. Nothing inappropriate unless you are a hateful bigot.

Imagine being an adult and taking everything your Grandma claims happened on Facebook or forwards you in an email seriously and at face value.

Now imagine you are also in the Governor’s office in a State of 6 million people.

Terrifying.

Transphobic Governor clutches pearls.

You know what’s unacceptable Governor Hee Haw?? That I have fewer rights than I did when you took office. That the MO House argued over what women wear. That you rednecks are terrorizing children over their pronouns. That MO is FORTY NINTH in school funding. Those are REAL issues

No you aren’t.

You’re happy to be presented some distraction politics.

Bingo!

Spare us your ludicrous outrage.

Calm down. Good grief.

Don’t you have anything better to do than try to stir up trouble with lies?

It was probably ANTIFA! Right governor?

Probably sarcasm Right?

Read a book, get a life.

Well, more than one.

I am deeply concerned that you are the exact opposite of what MLK lived and died for. Don’t use his name to spread your hatred.

It wasnt adult entertainment. It was just men dressed as women, singing songs.

Your hyperbole is showing your hate. [….]

“Adult performers”… So, like, actors?

Children see more half-naked adults during football games, my Guy. Ban cheerleaders & shirtless Midwestern drunks covered in red and gold paint, & then we can talk about what performances you consider too “adult” for children to see.

In 2023, this passes for what the Governor of the State of Missouri attends to.

Squirrel!

Are you deeply concerned when school football players dress up like cheerleaders for funny skits at their school events? Or the girls dress up like the boys football team? If not, why not?

Because, football.

Who is the “we” you reference? I think most Missourians are worried about actual problems. The Columbia BOE can handle any concerns their parents have.

We are deeply concerned that Missouri children are forced to give birth to their rapist’s baby.
We are deeply concerned about children being gunned down at school.

You are deeply concerned about costumes.
Thoughts and prayers, girl.

[2022 file photo]

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