By Conor Barker and Daniel G. Seguin
Recent news reports have described the public controversy involving topics of sexual orientation and gender identity, and how these are presented to children, especially in schools and libraries. Protests at [American and Canadian] libraries (in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick) and public centres have targeted Drag Queen Story Time events.
These are educational events where drag performers read books to children. The aim is to present the diversity of gender expression and identity, build acceptance and develop creativity in personal expression.
Recently, however, these events have been met with backlash. School leaders have prevented children from attending events that discuss sexual and gender identity. In New Brunswick, where the provincial government is reviewing gender identity policy in schools due to public pressure, Premier Blaine Higgs put the question plainly: “Should [there] be drag story time for young kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2?”
Through our research and clinical practice working with children, parents and schools, we believe parents and kids deserve a better understanding of what events like drag story times are about.
Contrary to misconceptions, exposing children to diverse gender identities and expressions supports their natural development. Further, it fosters inclusive and accepting communities and school environments, which is fundamental for developing well-adjusted adults.
Parents play a critical role in providing nurturing environments for their children. This can be best accomplished when parents are well-informed on topics that dominate mainstream media.
What is drag?
Drag is an art form that has been around for centuries, including during the First World War. Drag has evolved within gay culture, can be performed by all genders and is generally an exaggeration of gender expression.
A drag performance combines elements of fashion, makeup, dance, lip-syncing, music and comedy. It is important to remember that, like other forms of art, it is available on a wide spectrum: from mature themes at a night club, to child-friendly performances that would be appropriate for schools, libraries and community centres.
What happens at a Drag Queen Story Time?
Drag Queen Story Time began in San Francisco in 2015. The events generally occur in public spaces like libraries, schools or community centres, with a drag queen host. Children most often attend with their families, parents and teachers. While the host adheres to the flamboyant art form in terms of colours and fashion, it is not a mature performance with sexualized overtones. Neither is it an opportunity for the host to groom children.
The host will read a story book to the children, often one promoting themes of acceptance, diversity and self-expression, presenting characters and families from diverse backgrounds. The host will also often interact with the participants, answering questions the children may have, playing games, making crafts or posing for photographs with the children. The overall aim of the event is to provide a positive message to children about the diversity of gender expression.
How do children develop their gender identities?
The development of gender identities in children is a complex process. It is influenced by a combination of factors, including biological, social, cognitive, environment and personal exploration. Children eventually develop a relative clarity of their gender and feel a sense of harmony between the complex factors that contribute to gender identity development.
In some children, these factors may conflict, most commonly when children do not conform to societal expectations of their assigned sex at birth. This can result in negative emotions and lead to behavioural or mental health issues. These issues are often remediated when gender-affirming care is provided.
Introducing children to diverse gender expressions does not encourage gender dysphoria or confusion. On the contrary, diverse experiences throughout life have been shown to foster self and collective understandings of gender and gender differences. Furthermore, it’s important for a child’s development that parents, schools and communities support children in their exploration and expression of gender identity in a safe and affirming environment.
The importance of positive role models
Children and youth who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ usually have little-to-no access to positive role models that can relate to their own experiences. Having access to positive role models and having positive experiences with people who have diverse gender identities can foster a better sense of belonging and promote self-acceptance.
People who are successful and positive role models are characterized as being competent and easily relatable. Such role models provide context for children to gain a better understanding of themselves and others. Further, adolescents whose gender or sexual identity is accepted by their parents experience fewer psychological problems compared to those whose parents are less accepting.
How can parents engage with Drag Queen Story Time?
Engaging with drag performers is an opportunity for parents to show their children that diversity is beautiful and worthy of celebration. Parents can foster engagement through communication and understanding of their own emotions and their child’s emotions. Being in tune with these emotional components helps ensure children are in an environment that supports positive development and growth.
Attending family-friendly drag events with children creates opportunities for discussion and reflection. Parents can think about and reflect on their own development of gender identity and expression, what influenced the choices they’ve made, and how this may impact the choices that their children may make. After Drag Queen Story Time, parents are sure to have important conversations with their children that will not only increase their understanding of self-identity, but of identities of others as well.
Conor Barker is Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology & Faculty of Education at Mount Saint Vincent University. Daniel G. Seguin is Full Professor at the Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University.
The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
Steve Vanne says
God I’m so happy my kids aren’t in school any more to deal with this nonsense! Our world going to crap.
Laurel says
Steve: Your kids will have to deal with it, most likely without your support. I wish them luck.
Eileen Curran-Bennett says
MOST of these events are NOT in schools, they are in public places where PARENTS come with their own children. Its not ” being FORCED DOWN ANYONE”S THROAT.” ( Seems to be the popular phrase) Ive taught in many schools and it was never offered. Public Libraries yes, public schools no.
Parents have always had the power to choose what events kids go to. They need a ride don’t they?
Cody Weston says
I have a good idea; let’s get back to teaching kids reading, writing, and arithmetic and cut this crap out!!
Laurel says
Cody: Just two classes, reading is out. Short school day.
Flagler Live: Okay, so I already forgot the previous article I just commented on! I told you it was hard.
Doug says
There’s nothing fundamentally educational about a drag-queen reading hour in our schools. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Pierre Tristam says
So reading has nothing to do with reading?
Hayride says
not with a man in a dress, are you crazy
Pierre Tristam says
I don’t think garments of one sort or another have ever been known to impede literacy, but in this program they have been known to heighten interest in reading, which is the aim. I don’t know how different it is from Big Bird teaching a couple of generations of children, you among them probably, their letters.
Laurel says
Hayride: How about a man in a red, velvet suit and hat, with white fur trim and a fake belly and beard? You let your kid sit on his lap. What about a man in a kilt? What about a man in oversized pajamas and a red bulb for a nose? You let your kid eat his burgers. What about a monk? How about the Pope? Oh, I could go on…
Leila says
Your comment is ridiculous.
What you do with your children and drag queens is your decision. The fact is that grades nationwide are declining because the basics are no longer being taught in our schools. That is the primary reason why parents are irate. Social issues do not belong in the primary grades. But you cannot accept that. Now parents will have choices about where they send their children to school.
That’s all parents are asking, “keep your views to yourself and allow my children to receive an education of my choosing.”
Pierre Tristam says
You must not have read it carefully, anymore than you did the article above. The whole point of this–which only rarely takes place in schools and usually takes place in libraries and community centers–is to allow those who wish to participate in a fun way to get excited about reading. The fixation on drag only gets in the way of dour Victorians with frustrated imaginations.
Nancy N. says
But these social issues ARE in primary schools. It’s unavoidable. Girls can get their period as young as age 9, or 3rd grade. Kids start “dating” in later primary school grades, and have “crushes” in earlier ones. They know who they are, whether it is straight or LGBTQ – by those ages. Many also have older family, friends, and community members who are LGBTQ. You can’t make that disappear by forcing schools to pretend it doesn’t exist. And interestingly the same people complaining that parents should be responsible for educating young children on these “social” issues are the same ones who have no problem with things like “One Nation Under God” being required to be posted in schools or politicized versions of historical events being taught. Which makes it patently obvious that it’s not “social issues” in schools they object to…it’s just *particular* social issues, the ones that they don’t like.
Laurel says
Leila: Now parents will have choices where to send their kids to school. Yeah, on my dime, your kids will go to private industry, that does not have to meet the standards that public schools must, and I, the taxpayer, will have no choice about it.
By the way, I’ve said it many times. My granddaughter did very well in Florida public schools. She was always at the top of her classes, took advanced classes, got college credit in high school and did extraordinarily well on her SATs.
I’ve seen no real proof of these allegations of declining public schools, but will see them as our tax dollars are drained away. Just a part of the hostile takeover of Florida by our self promoting governor. That’s what is “ridiculous.”
Nancy N. says
I wonder then what you think of the educational value of George W. Bush reading a story to school children, as he was doing when informed about the 9/11 attacks. Is being read to only educational for children when certain people do it?
Hayride says
“Attending family-friendly drag events with children creates opportunities for discussion and reflection. Parents can think about and reflect on their own development of gender identity and expression, what influenced the choices they’ve made, and how this may impact the choices that their children may make. After Drag Queen Story Time, parents are sure to have important conversations with their children that will not only increase their understanding of self-identity, but of identities of others as well.”
Nothing in this paragraph is correct, all your doing is indoctrinating them
just like the same-sex and bi-racial commercials, we see now on TV twenty years from now, our children will think this perversion is OK because they have it their whole on TV
come people wake up
Laurel says
Hayride:
You stated “…bi-racial commercials…our children will think this perversion is ok…”
Whoop, there it is! Whoop, there it is! The “we’re not prejudice” far right. Dog whistles not needed any more.
Ah, yeah, “indoctrination.” You know, like civil rights. How’s that pointy, little white hat fit these days?
Thank you DeSantis, you’re helping them show their true colors.
JimBob says
Yeah, DeSantis and them need to bring back those anti-miscegenation laws from the “good old days”!
YankeeExPat says
yet these same offended parents, (grandparents ) will blow a grand a day so that their little brats and btatises can see a six foot five rat and a similar sized duck with no pants.
But a dude in a chiffon dress is the problem !
HayRide says
not the same thing mot even close
Laurel says
Roman soldiers, Jesus and the apostles, male children before the 19th century, Egyptians, Arabs…