The Idaho Capital Sun reported on the latest salvo fired by conservatives in their ‘social values’ war. The doughty warriors of the Idaho Family Policy Center have taken aim at the most pressing existential threat to America and the true-red citizens of the Gem State — drag queens.
A bill that would ban drag performances in all public venues will be introduced in the first days of the next session of the Idaho Legislature in January, Idaho Family Policy Center President Blaine Conzatti told the Idaho Capital Sun.
Conzatti and other conservative activists around Idaho and across the country have protested against events in public spaces that feature drag queens, including drag queen story hour events at public libraries. In September, Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon called for people to pressure corporate sponsors of Boise Pride to pull their names from sponsorship at the event over a scheduled “Drag Kids” performance for ages 11 to 18, which was ultimately postponed over safety concerns.
Dear God, why will not these people tackle things that actually hurt children? Why do they not combat such injurious sins as poverty, hunger, obesity, diabetes, lack of medical insurance, homelessness, special ed needs, and gun deaths? Do these Christian soldiers ever ask themselves why developed countries with the lowest rates of religious observance are more likely to have family sustaining universal healthcare and robust social programs?
Which would Jesus think was the country closest to his philosophy — Sweden or the US?
Whence the sadism in these sanctimonious gits? Is it a desire for power and control? Or a refusal to acknowledge their own hidden deviances from the bigender heterosexual norm they demand others observe? Maybe it is as simple as scratching a sadistic itch. Who knows? I doubt even they could give an honest answer.
Could Idaho even pass a law that would meet constitutional muster? What about the first amendment? Would the law have to ban women from wearing traditional menswear — pantsuits? Some metrosexuals wear eyeliner and foundation. Bald men wear wigs. How do you tailor a law that allows this appearance alteration in some men but not in others?
What about the clothes that the high muckety-mucks in the Catholic and Orthodox churches wear? They often look like dresses. And there is enough brocade and jewelry to set a drag queen's heart aflutter.
The defenders of these over-costumed men of God will say that it is their religious freedom. If that is the case, what is to stop female impersonators claiming their costume is part of their religious observance?
Further, are drag queens a threat to kids? Of course not. From the 1960s to the early 2000s, the Irish actor and comedian. Daniel Patrick Carroll, better known to his millions of fans as Danny La Rue, entertained British audiences, including their children (I was one) while wearing a dress. At one point, he was one of the UK’s highest-paid performers.
Australia’s Barry Humphries created the global phenomenon, Dame Edna Everage, who has entertained audiences on stage and screen since 1956. In the US, RuPaul Andre Charles, or RuPaul, has been a fixture on TV since the 1990s. And Mrs Doubtfire and Some Like It Hot are considered two classics of American cinema.
I guarantee not one child has ever been hurt by laughing at and with the female characters these men played.
I further warrant that children who listen to drag queens reading to them at a local library have universally thought it was a good time. Kids, seeing a guy in a dress, giggle, point fingers, and poke their friends to ensure they are in on the joke. Because they know it is just an act. I have seen all the James Bond movies. Never once, even as a small boy, did I think I was James Bond.
Finally, the statistics show religion has harmed more children than men in dresses. Beyond rampant sexual abuse, there are centuries of Christians committing cultural genocide, mistreating pregnant women, and beating the crap out of school kids.
Today, religion in America is still putting pregnant women at risk. And where once Europeans treated indigenous populations as second-class citizens with deficient cultures, religious straights treat the LGBTQ+ community as sinners.
Jesus weeps.
Note: Whenever I mention religion in a negative light, there are people of faith who think I am attacking them or their beliefs. I am not. There are millions of empathetic religious people who are tolerant of others and a boon to their community — who see their religion as solely a philosophy that guides their actions — not a dictate that others should be compelled to observe. More power to them.
I merely echo Jesus's opinions about religious leaders who fall short of the mark. As he said in Matthew 23:3-4
23: But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
He also disdained the emptiness in Church management.
Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”
And he was clear that you cannot be his follower if you scorn your fellow humans.
John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
I am not a Christian — but Jesus seems like a stand-up guy.
I truly think it is the control they want over people and their lives. Jesus would be constantly sick to his stomach, thank you Pitt