For a while it seemed that everything was on the up for LGBT+ people in the UK. It would be naïve to say that things haven't improved across the board, especially in Wales. But the thing is, this is only true if you're a heteronormative kind of gay. You're gay, but you don't 'look' gay? Perfect!
The reason why I'm saying is this is quite simple. Anything other than heteronormative LGBT+ behaviour can create a massive negative reaction, even if it's positive and promoting acceptance. If you're lucky enough to be on social media, especially Twitter, you've probably come across Drag Queen Story Hour UK. In short, the service you get is exactly what it says on the tin. Run by the colourful Aida H Dee, she travels around the UK promoting reading for children. Dressed in a pantomime-like costume, she reads children's books to children and has even created books of her own that promote inclusion. One was about some goats who fought off the big white wolf instead of a black wolf, a subtle reference that evil in fairy tales doesn't have to be dark to be wicked. More information about the book can be found here.
As Aida heads out on tour with her reading sessions, chaos has ensued. Demonstrators have come out to protest story-telling in frankly weird ways. A video online shows grown women storming a session full of infant children and their parents shouting: "This is child grooming. All parents in here should be ashamed of themselves." The woman addresses the crowd of crying infants and parents and asks "who knows what paedophile is?" Clearly, she doesn't have a clue herself.
Even more unusual, the activist used a child as some sort of Trojan horse to enter the library to hurl abuse. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, they're not entitled to misleading ones that misrepresent the LGBT+ community across the country. 'Grooming' may just be a word, but it's pretty hard hitting if you understand its context fully. The word has frequently been used by extremists who accuse LGBT+ people of targeting children for abuse. So essentially, what they are hinting at is that any LGBT+ person reading to children and interacting with them, is some sort of paedophile. Even if a reasonably thinking person understands this is not the case, the traction it is receiving online and the response it is receiving is a cause for concern. A cause for concern for all LGBT+ people everywhere.
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More worryingly about all this commotion is how physical and personal it's getting. After being screamed at by a woman wielding a child in a buggy, Aida had to have a police escort home after the ordeal. A mob formed outside and they were chanting "paedophile protectors" to the police who escorted Aida out of the venue to avoid being assaulted. One thing that irked the most was seeing a flyer that pulled the heart strings of culture and religion. Now, I'm not religious, but I sure can talk about it. I come from that world. My dad is a Muslim my mum is a Protestant and I'm gay. A flyer handed out in response to Drag Race Story Hour coming to Barry read: "For most parents of whichever religious or cultural background the one wish they have for their children, is to preserve the innocence of their children....Anything that is sexualised is a threat and direct danger to that preservation." OK, I'll try to understand if you answer some of these questions; where was this commotion and response when children as young as 12 were rolling condoms on fake penises in sex education? Where was this response when a TV was rolled out to learn about how people have sex? As a child I was given a graphic book showing a split view of a penis entering a vagina- how on earth was this blindsided?
I think I know the answer. The reason people care about this, have tried to sexualise and demonize story time, is because it's LGBT+ joy and acceptance in plain sight. Because we aren't up to your heteronormative standards and mould, we are now the enemy of the people in this society to these people. It's like some sick and twisted tantrum that has gone too far. Homophobes have clawed something so innocent and positive into a narrative that makes me sick to my stomach. The obsession with children and sex seems to be coming from their camp, not ours, which begs the question - who is the real enemy? As winter approaches and we head into the realm of pantomime and middle-aged men in drag, look around and witness the families enjoying the show as they probably have done for years. Something which is for adult entertainment specifically seems to have a get out of jail free card. Something which is designed for children has been scrutinised beyond belief. As an LGBT+ person, the answer is pretty obvious. As a society, we're beginning to incorporate different cultures, sexualities and identities to make these islands accepting places. A few people have decided this is something they aren't so keen on getting on board with and are now pulling at every possible straw to try and get back to a time where LGBT+ people and other minorities were left in the dark as second class citizens. It doesn't take a genius or historian to understand what linking grooming and sexualising children to LGBT+ people means - it's discrimination and fear mongering in plain sight.
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