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Far-right activists pressuring hospitals, libraries, businesses, zoos

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Illinois

Lurie Children’s Hospital has increased security and moved a transgender youth support group from in-person meetings to virtual ones after it became the latest children’s hospital to face criticism online over its gender development program.

An account called Libs of TikTok posted a number of tweets late last month criticizing Lurie’s program, which aims to support “the physical, mental and social health of patients and their families as youth progress through gender identity development,” according to Lurie’s website. Many of the program’s patients are gender-nonconforming children, gender-questioning youth and transgender and gender-fluid youth.

In recent months, Libs of TikTok has criticized a number of children’s hospitals across the country for their care of transgender youth. Hospitals criticized by the account have sometimes received threats.

Lurie spokeswoman Julianne Bardele said Lurie has not received any recent threats but is monitoring the situation. The youth group is now meeting virtually out of an abundance of caution in response to “all harassment including Libs of TikTok but not solely because of Libs of TikTok,” she said. […]

Previously, Libs of TikTok falsely accused Boston Children’s Hospital of performing gender-affirming hysterectomies on kids. A number of threats followed, including a hoax bomb threat against the hospital in late August. A Massachusetts woman was charged Thursday in connection with that threat, which led to a lockdown of the hospital and the use of a bomb squad, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

* Tribune…

Across Chicagoland, recent drag events advertised as family friendly have been targeted with threats of violence and vandalism, with one suburban library even canceling its Oct. 11 children’s drag queen bingo because of “numerous threats” and “aggressive emails.” The controversies have been sparked, in part, by social media campaigns from Awake Illinois, an organization rooted in the suburbs that was born from the anti-mask, anti-vaccine fervor of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been criticized for anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

Over the past weekend, both protesters and counterprotesters showed up in Lake in the Hills outside UpRising Bakery and Cafe to express opposition and support for drag programming, according to footage on social media and Lake in the Hills police. The bakery was vandalized in late July for a family-friendly “Starry Night Brunch Drag” show that had to be postponed because of the harassment. An Alsip man was later arrested for the vandalism. […]

Lincoln Park Zoo has also come under recent scrutiny for planning a drag story time slated for Oct. 2 as part of the Fall Fest programming, according to their social media posts.

In the latest controversy, groups are opposing drag story time and a drag show that will be held at Plainfield’s first Pride Fest in October, which Candi is helping organize.

* Awake Illinois targeted the Downers Grove Public Library’s drag queen bingo event, resulting in a cancellation due to threats Huff Post reported…

The library’s staff received aggressive emails and threats from conservative-leaning residents after announcing the drag queen event last month, the Chicago Tribune reported. One Facebook post urged people to “bring weapons” to the library, the Daily Herald reported, citing police reports. […]

The far-right organization Awake Illinois issued a “call of action” in response to the event. Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, who’s also the Republican congressional nominee in Illinois’ 6th District, helped spearhead criticism of the event, which he used as a campaign fundraiser on social media.

* Candidate Pekau admitted that he’d never seen a drag show but claimed to know enough to decide that it was inappropriate…

Q: Have you been to a drag show before?

Pekau: I have not. And it is a drag show. And it has no place for seventh grade through 12th grade. And we can agree to disagree, but that’s where my position is.

Q: You have a position on something you’ve never seen before, right?

Pekau: I’m very familiar with what a drag show is. I think we all are. So certainly adults are, but you know what I wasn’t familiar with what it was when I was in seventh grade, or eighth grade or ninth grade or 10th grade or 11th grade or 12th grade. It’s something that I was exposed to as an adult. That’s not something that was brought to me as a child that’s something for my parents, and to parents of children that they have to deal with, not something that the public should be getting into.

* Libs of Tik Tok and Awake Illinois routinely target LGBTQ+ events, sex education in schools.

View the full PDF of K-12 lesson plans published by @AdvocatesTweets here:https://t.co/FkmKRSaQtB https://t.co/qpseROf4EI

— Awake Illinois (@Awake_IL) September 8, 2022

* From the Shaw Local News Network…

Two months after Lake in the Hills’ UpRising Bakery and Cafe first became the subject of protests and even vandalism, the harassment, protests and counterprotests have continued and the owner said she fears for both her business and herself.

A number of protesters, both against and in support of the bakery, again gathered outside the shop on Saturday to voice their opinions on upcoming drag shows the bakery has planned this month.

James Gustafson, who said he resides in Arizona but had lived in Lake in the Hills for 30 years, said he made his way to UpRising Bakery both Friday and Saturday because he doesn’t agree kids should be invited to such events. […]

When asked about parents’ rights to take their children to a drag event, Gustafson said a line has to be drawn. He equated it to child abuse. […]

Gustafson said he plans to be at the bakery every day for the foreseeable future: “I already rented a tent for the winter with a heater. This is my new home.”

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:26 am

Comments

==because he doesn’t agree kids should be invited to such events==

So don’t go. Problem solved. But keep your nose out of other people’s business. You’re a hatemonger. Plain and simple.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:31 am
It’s leaking into plainfield now too.

The last park district public meeting had an older gentleman giving a public comment that ‘plainfield needs another tornado to wipe out all the gays.’

I’ll be attending the next board meeting, just in case the guy needs to be reminded the last time a tornado came through and wiped something out in plainfield - it was the largest church in the town… if he thinks tornadoes work that way.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:33 am
Imagine living your life as such a mean, petty and vindictive person as those in Libs of Tik Tok or Awake Illinois. Good lord.

Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:37 am
The religious right is gripped with fear and hatred, so unlike the one they claim to worship. Why is that, ILGOP?

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:40 am
“activists” is not the right word for these people. \

Comment by illinoyed Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:44 am
This is all pretty openly part of the ILGOP’s plan to gain political power. They can’t win elections, so they’re trying to make Democrats compromise under the threat of violence. That’s not hyperbole, it’s exactly what Durkin said during the Conroy episode. It’s the state position of their “moderates” that violence is caused by Democrats winning elections and the only way to ameliorate it is to turn governing power over to the Republicans who lost.

Comment by vern Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:44 am
“That’s not something that was brought to me as a child that’s something for my parents, and to parents of children that they have to deal with, not something that the public should be getting into.”

Pekau said while publicly spearheading a pressure group determined to prevent parents of children from making such a choice for their families.

It’s as if they wake up every morning determined to exhibit new depths of hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:45 am
I am a volunteer at a Chicago area children’s hospital and was in a room when they had an enhanced fire drill that resulted in a lockdown. You had no idea it was a drill at the time, seeing the look on the mom’s face during it. I also informed her I wasn’t leaving unless they were leaving (my wife and I have had a conversation about that, and she understands why I couldn’t ‘go to safety’ while others may not be able to).

It takes a special banned word person to mess with a children’s hospital.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:50 am
===moral bankruptcy===

I’m very hard pressed to be able to articulate the vileness that exists in the Trump GOP that can be as pithy and on point more than those two words.

They feel empowered and emboldened to show moral bankruptcy and stand by it by the means of intimidation.

I don’t identify with such sickness.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:51 am
=because he doesn’t agree kids should be invited to such events=

The freedom crowd always seems to have an opinion on just how much of it they’re willing to tolerate.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:54 am
By Republicans own logic, libraries should take books off the shelves that promote “heterosexual marriage”. Since half wind up in divorce that is not something that 9, 10, or 11 year olds should learn about.

Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:55 am
This is awful. The Red Cross tells you what hospital your blood gets sent to when you donate. I’ve had my blood donations sent to Lurie Children’s Hospital before. According to Libs of Tik Tok and her ilk, does that make me a groomer? /s

Comment by Hot Taeks Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:59 am
=== When asked about parents’ rights to take their children to a drag event, Gustafson said a line has to be drawn. ===

Rules for thee, but not for me.

This group and other MAGA folks want to impose their belief system on everyone. They have and will continue to resort to violence to get their way.

Support the educators, librarians, health workers and businesses being attacked by these groups.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:04 am
This has become more than just a free speech issue and a disagreement on policy.

Is there a reason why our law enforcement officials cannot begin arresting these individuals under our state’s harassment laws, especially when they are targeting businesses, schools, and hospitals?

From the statute, “Harass” or “harassing” means knowing conduct which is not necessary to accomplish a purpose that is reasonable under the circumstances, that would cause a reasonable person emotional distress and does cause emotional distress to another.”

Comment by Blue to the Bone Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:07 am
=And we can agree to disagree, but that’s where my position is.=

No, we cannot “agree to disagree.” Your position is evil and harmful and bigoted and authoritarian. Why would we “agree to disagree” with people who intend harm to others, and those who empower and tolerate harm to others?

I am so done with Awake IL. Authoritarianism has no place in a democracy, nor in a constitutional republic. Evil is evil. End of story.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:08 am
Pressuring… threatening with violence… same thing.

Comment by oops Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:14 am
Nobody should be surprised at what comes out of Pekau’s mouth. Last year he referred to a gay employee of the Orland Park Village public works department as Village enemy number ONE. The young man questioned Pekau about his lax attitude towards masks. A week later the kid was beat up at work and the guy who hit him wasn’t punished but the gay kid got fired.
The young man filed a law suit and the case is in the courts. I don’t want to say the name of the young man but it’s factual.

Comment by Old time Independent Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:21 am
First they got folks to believe that Libs were eating kids.

Now, in an effort to sway anyone who didn’t believe the kid eating thing, they are getting people to believe the Libs are sexually abusing kids.

This is extremely dangerous as people will do anything to protect their kids. And Tucker is trumpeting this and encouraging parents to act violently to save their kids.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:38 am
“I believe in parental rights, but just for me.”

These people are disgusting.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:40 am
And when it comes to men wearing dresses and sexually abusing kids, shouldn’t they be looking at the Catholic Church instead of the hospitals and zoos?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:40 am
What next?…chastity belts?

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:42 am
Terrible awful people threatening and demeaning. Awful. I must say though that I’m kinda puzzled at the several drag show readings etc. I’m certainly not opposed, I’m just surprised they are happening. Transgender issues are a difficult topic on the left. When it comes to women and girls and sports, the third way has to be developed but that is not the way it is going in the US. Discussions about the topic in general in England have gotten really heated. when you read about lesbians and what some call trans extremists and you learn about the cotton ceiling it’s sad because the right wing just wants to discriminate against all and the far left is wasting energy seemingly on purity.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:42 am
The manly men of the far right bravely harass individuals, organizations and institutions, from the safety of the internet. Real men. In their minds.

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:42 am
This makes me sick to my stomach. How do these hate-filled people live with themselves?

I truly fear for the future of this country.

Comment by Because I said so.... Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:45 am
==Is there a reason why our law enforcement officials cannot begin arresting these individuals under our state’s harassment laws, especially when they are targeting businesses, schools, and hospitals?==

I have bad news about which side many of our local police officers and sheriffs take in regard to the ginned-up social issue fervor of the day.

Tucker Carlson called for “instant justice” against children’s hospitals last night, fresh off someone getting indicted for threatening to bomb a children’s hospital. 3 to 4 million people got that, and I guarantee at least one person got a message from it loud and clear. But that’s not Tucker’s problem; any lawsuits are years down the line, and he’s got an employer well-versed in acquiring settlements with airtight NDAs.

This is all going to get worse and there is legitimately no one to stop it.

Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:46 am
@Henry Francis - There is so much wrong with your question. First, you associate men wearing dresses with pedophilia. Whether you intend this or not, it is false and only serves to embolden those who would make such a claim intentionally. Second, you associate Catholicism with pedophilia, suggesting it serves as an institutional arena where pedophilia is common. It is not. In general, the problem with you statement is you try to suggest a rank-ordering of likelihoods of catching pedophiles, based on social categories - homosexuality v. Catholicism.

If you wish to condemn the actions of Awake IL and others, you should condemn them rather than casting aspersions elsewhere.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:47 am
“Everybody love everybody.” - Jackie Moon (Singer/Song Writer and Owner, Head Coach, Starting Power Forward, and Pre-Game Announcer of the Flint Tropics of the American Basketball Association.)

Comment by rtov Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:49 am
When these young people don’t have anywhere to turn and they end up making the decision to end their pain by ending their lives. The blame goes to Awake Illinois, Pekau, Gustafson, and all their followers. These book readings or bingo’s have nothing to do with sex and everything to do with open communication. It’s time these hate groups are stopped.

Comment by Club J Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:53 am
How long until the moral police go after public beaches, swimming pools and YMCAs as being locations of “indecency” for allowing revealing swimsuits?

This is a rhetorical question. I am making a mental leap from the harassment of the children’s hospital to people being harassed at a public recreation center.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:53 am
Mrs. Doubtfire would be disappointed.

Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:54 am
@H-W:

== First, you associate men wearing dresses with pedophilia.==

I sure as heck don’t. It’s the kooks in the stories above that do that.

== Second, you associate Catholicism with pedophilia, suggesting it serves as an institutional arena where pedophilia is common. ==

On this, you are correct. The Catholic Church institutionalized child sexual abuse for decades (if not centuries). Is this really in dispute?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 11:58 am
“the far left is wasting energy seemingly on purity.”

The “far left” is simply asking people to respect other people, and to treat people as they would want to be treated. Simply follow the golden rule. I don’t think it’s a waste of energy to try to protect some of society’s most vulnerable people from violent bigotry.

82% of trans individuals have contemplated suicide and 40% have attempted it.

Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:14 pm
=== the far left is wasting energy seemingly on purity.===

Huh?

So it’s folks who are advocating inclusion are the reason for the Right protests?

That’s… odd.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:23 pm
A guy from Arizona plans to live in a tent with a heater? Well at least he’s near a bakery. He can get a roll and some coffee in the morning.

Comment by Da big bad wolf Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:23 pm
I thought we resolved this drag racing g stuff in a post a few weeks ago.

Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:35 pm
@Amalia - part of the problem is conflating drag with transgenderism. The vast majority of drag performers are cisgender males, and the inclusion of transgender women as drag queens is an ongoing debate within the community. Drag in general is not about being transgender. In fact, if anything, it’s in many ways the opposite. It’s saying that a boy can put on a wig and a dress and makeup and six inch heels and he isn’t any less of a boy just because he’s performing as a woman. Or, when boiled down for a younger audience such as the ones most of these events are aimed at, it’s ok to be yourself even if being yourself means liking pink and glitter, or wanting to dress up as a princess instead of a knight.

The fact that so many on the right have a problem with that says everything it needs to.

Comment by /s Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:36 pm
This movement is legit like 50 mouthy losers and psychos involved in hate groups, but the strategy to target and incite via Libs of Tik Tok, Awake IL or Moms 4 Liberty and then let some lone wolf or mentally unstable people harass or commit acts of violence while these groups move on to the next target including pediatric hospitals is truly dangerous and sickening. They need to be deplatformed, shamed and held responsible. Same goes for the groups funding them.

Comment by P. Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:37 pm
my wasting energy on purity comment was in relation to the left of center debate on transgender issues in sports and currently in England especially regarding lesbians who don’t wish to have a romantic relationship with a trans woman.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:38 pm
===It’s saying that a boy can put on a wig and a dress and makeup and six inch heels and he isn’t any less of a boy just because he’s performing as a woman===

And grown men in 1951 on national television with an oil company sponsor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2NqUL3xJ9Y

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:40 pm
===Pekau: I have not. And it is a drag show. And it has no place for seventh grade through 12th grade. ===

Uh … wait until these guys find out how Shakespeare’s plays worked back in 1612.

Spoiler: ALL the female characters were played by men in drag.

If kids in 7th to 12th grade can’t be exposed to drag because it’s super-inappropriate, we gotta get Hamlet out of high schools, STAT.

Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:47 pm
Libsoftikitok, as odious as it may often be, did not “falsely accuse” Boston Children’s of anything. Instead, it posted a phone call of people at the hospital appearing to state that Boston Children’s did, in fact, provide hysterectomies as part of its gender-affirming care program.

Why does it matter? Because when dealing with bad-faith actors, one must be scrupulously correct on the facts, especially when it comes to words they use. I would’ve thought our experiences with the Orange Man would have taught us that in spades.

Comment by NotNotAStateEmployee Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:51 pm
There is a big difference between that 1951 clip and the current drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers. Would it be okay to have kids put dollar bills into g-strings of female strippers? Again, no.

Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:52 pm
=Gustafson said he plans to be at the bakery every day for the foreseeable future: “I already rented a tent for the winter with a heater. This is my new home.”=

This dude has way too much time on his hands. Maybe, like, look for ways to make a meaningful contribution to society?

Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:53 pm
=the current drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers.=

Seriously, how ignorant are you? Is this what Fox News tells you goes on at drag shows? You’re embarrassing yourself. Spend a millisecond learning some facts before opening your mouth.

Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:56 pm
=== drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers. Would it be okay to have kids put dollar bills into g-strings of female strippers?===

What “strip clubs” allow underage patrons?

What “strip clubs” allow underage performers for that matter?

You have their addresses? I’d notify the state police.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 12:58 pm
How did society survive this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guve7Y856kY

Comment by someonehastosayit Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:00 pm
Transgender treatment is a health care issue. I am so tired of the “righteous minority” taking over and limiting health care options for others. They have a right to their beliefs but don’t let those beliefs preempt others rights. They need to also take a moment to understand that gender identity is very different from sexual orientation. Unfortunately these people and politicians who support them do not want to learn, as we can tell from their desire to control education as well as what is available in our libraries.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:02 pm
Stochastic terrorism and violence and is a merited in all these instances because “a child was encouraged to put a dollar into the g-string of a performer”? Everyone would agree that is distasteful and inappropriate and people involved should be checked but that’s not what’s happening here. You can be against that and not align with the Proud Boys. The g-string line is an example these groups’ gateway drug to get normal people to support what are essentially hate group type activities.

Comment by P. Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:03 pm
==and the current drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers.==

You really don’t have the slightest idea of what you are talking about do you? Your comment just shows the level of ignorance that is out there.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:03 pm
okay, time to ban Shakespeare. I can’t count the number of the comedies that have men dressed as women and vice versa. 12th Night, Midsummer’s Night’s Dream As You Like it.

Comment by Banish Misfortune Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:04 pm
===drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers. Would it be okay to have kids put dollar bills into g-strings of female strippers?===

Have you been to both strip clubs and drag shows?

Is this what you found, attending both?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:15 pm
@ Henry Francis - As to the first point, you wrote, “when it comes to men wearing dresses and sexually abusing kids.” My point what about word choice. You did not dismiss that claim, but simply used a false claim to make your point. In this context, I would suggest word choice matters. You should directly refute the claim of men who dress in drag assaulting children.

As to the latter, I personally would not interject Catholicism into this debate about cross-dressing. It introduces a different debate, but more important, it attacks the religious beliefs of many Christians (Catholics) who are (a) not pedophiles, and (b) are frustrated with the problem as is relates to their church. It is a sort of “whataboutism” argument that does not address the issue before us - radical conservative assertions that men in drag are dangerous.

No offenses intended here.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:48 pm
“current drag shows where children are being encouraged to put dollar bills into the g-strings of the performers.”

How far out into cuckoo-bananas land must one be to believe that anything remotely like this could possibly transpire at a suburban library’s BINGO game?

But that’s the thing about dehumanizing people: it lets you believe any self-evidently bonkers assertion about someone — as long as it’s bad.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 1:49 pm
@Quipper, Could be I’m a bad internet searcher, but the flyer referencing the g-string doesn’t exist on the Joliet Pride Network Facebook page and the “Joliet Pride Network” Twitter account the post seems to refer to doesn’t even exist. If you like to feel outrage, perhaps you could direct it at those wh o lie to you and not at whose whom they lie about.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:00 pm
===

Libsoftikitok, as odious as it may often be, did not “falsely accuse” Boston Children’s of anything. Instead, it posted a phone call of people at the hospital appearing to state that Boston Children’s did, in fact, provide hysterectomies as part of its gender-affirming care program.

That’s a weird interpretation of the phone call. It was to an receptionist who was trying to direct the call and likely had no idea what the hospital provided.All the person did at the hospital was to try and direct the call.

The tell is that they didn’t get a medical professional discussing what they provided.

It’s a toxic web site that is also dishonest.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:01 pm
===“a child was encouraged to put a dollar into the g-string of a performer”?

Where did this happen? Please be specific–last I checked this does not happen at Bingo.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:03 pm
===last I checked this does not happen at Bingo.===

The comparing to a strip club can only occur with that knowledge too, no?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:04 pm
Banish Misfortune, you must have been reading my mind. Just discussing this topic with husband. Also told him I learned of this in a HS English class in the late 60’s. In Shakespeare’s time women were not allowed on stage so the women’s roles were played by men. Many of the jokes in his comedies were double entendres that referenced this gender bending that audience was in on, making the joke funnier.

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:12 pm
@ArchPundit

No disagreement with you in principle, but the bigger problem with these kinds of posts from LibsofTikTok is that they say things not technically untrue but designed to be misleading or decontextualized, and then let the even-less-scrupulous tell the bigger lie for them.

It is definitely part of the extreme-right playbook, but that’s why it’s important to be careful if you want to discredit them. Better to say, “No, Boston Children’s doesn’t do that, and the LibsofTikTok post is misleading for X, Y, and Z reasons,” than to say “LibsofTikTok lied.” It’s more than a little bit of a silly two-step, but again, correcting the false (or at least falsely-generated) outrage without precision just plays into their playbook.

Comment by NotNotAStateEmployee Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:14 pm
–In Shakespeare’s time–

This is all just much ado about nothing.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 2:24 pm
Zoos? Hang around certain enclosures at any zoo long enough and you’re bound to see some not so “family friendly” activity. Are we gonna ban animal procreation now?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 3:10 pm
So does anyone else but me find it hypocritical that Pekau is going all out nuclear about a drag Queen show but went all in for Cook County Chairman and Commissioner Sean Morrison? Morrison as Mark Brown wrote and confirmed had a accused Pedophile working for him and refused to fire the guy. 18 months after being charged and still working for Morrison the guy struck again. He was arrested in Colorado working for Morrison. He served three years in prison after being convicted.
So I guess Pekau finds Drag Queen plays repulsive but keeping accused Pedophiles working is OK.

Comment by Old time Independent Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 3:14 pm
-This is all just much ado about nothing.- But remember alls well that ends well

Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 3:19 pm
== How far out into cuckoo-bananas land must one be to believe that anything remotely like this could possibly transpire at a suburban library’s BINGO game? ==

Okay, here’s an example from a Miami CBS station. This isn’t a BINGO game, but it is a restaurant where children are welcome:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qdy6VBW0JY
In particular at the 0:34 mark.

Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 3:49 pm
=== Miami===

You select to go all the way to Miami to make a point about something you seemingly know nothing about that is happening in Chicago?

Maybe your beef is with Miami.

I also suggest never go to New Orleans, especially during Mardi Gras, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 3:52 pm
=Pekau said while publicly spearheading a pressure group determined to prevent parents of children from making such a choice for their families.

It’s as if they wake up every morning determined to exhibit new depths of hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy.

– MrJM=

This is why, for my money, you are the best commenter here. Consistent excellence in highlighting the actual insanity and hypocrisy of people.

I wonder if these nuts hated Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon too?

Awake Illinois et al are elbowing “big brother” out of the way to tell us all how to live.

But freedoms amiright?

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 4:00 pm
–Okay, here’s an example–

Of not a bingo game, and not a library.

I’m not sure you are up to speed on the correct definition of ‘example’.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 4:01 pm
== You select to go all the way to Miami to make a point about something you seemingly know nothing about that is happening in Chicago? ==

OW, have you, or anyone on this thread actually been to the event in question in Chicago to know that it’s different from the example video? I didn’t think so. Yet there are a lot of very strong opinions on here saying it’s perfectly fine and anyone who doesn’t like it must be on the “far right” or a transphobe. For me, it’s not the trans element, but the suggestive sexual dancing involved. There’s a reason we having a rating system for movies and TV.

Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 4:51 pm
–Okay, here’s an example–

This is where the thing called Parental Discretion comes in. If we can do it with TV and Movies, we can do it with live performances.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 4:51 pm
== I’m not sure you are up to speed on the correct definition of ‘example’. ==

It’s a public location where children are welcome. Does it matter if it’s a restaurant versus a library if there is a drag show going on? Are the drag shows at libraries more tasteful with more body body parts covered? I said it was an example, not video evidence admissible in court.

Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 4:55 pm
==There’s a reason we have a rating system for movies and TV.==

And the Kit Kat Lounge has been around for almost 20 years. In both cases, it’s your choice to watch.

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 5:07 pm
===didn’t think so.===

I’ve been to a drag show

Anything else?

Next time don’t speculate.

===but the suggestive sexual dancing involved.===

You just said you’ve never gone.

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 5:13 pm
= For me, it’s not the trans element, but the suggestive sexual dancing involved.=

I have been to a couple, never seen “suggestive sexual dancing”. It isn’t a strip show or even burlesque. Maybe take a breather.

Why do you care if a parent takes their kids to a drag brunch or whatever. Isn’t that their choice. Parental rights and all.

Those kids you are trying to protect have cell phones, you should see what they can access on those new fangled things.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 8:50 pm
- Yet there are a lot of very strong opinions on here saying it’s perfectly fine and anyone who doesn’t like it must be on the “far right” or a transphobe. For me, it’s not the trans element, but the suggestive sexual dancing involved. -

So don’t take your kids if you think that’s what’s going on. Get between me and mine and we’ll have problems.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Sep 20, 22 @ 10:18 pm

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