Proud Boys demonstrators pose for a picture on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Holi-Drag event scheduled to be hosted by the Red Oak Community School and held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus. The event was cancelled.
Proud Boys demonstrators pose for a picture on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Holi-Drag event scheduled to be hosted by the Red Oak Community School and held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus. The event was cancelled.
Editor’s Note: Views expressed in opinion pieces and letters to the editor are those of the contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of The Ohio Press Network.
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Our society is embroiled in a battle over parental rights. On one side we have parents who say their rights are being ignored when it comes to directing the mental/physical health and education of their children. “No one has the right to tell us how to raise our children!” And this side is blaming the LGBTQ+ community for infringing on their rights by “indoctrinating” their children.
Saturday in Clintonville, Ohio, the Red Oak Community School, part of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, was scheduled to have a Drag Story Time with local drag queens. The Holi Drag Show was billed as a family-friendly holiday event. They were set to read stories and then perform a few numbers. Drag Story Time has existed since 2015. It was created by author Michelle Tea to have more LGBTQ+ family-inclusive activities.
Upon announcement of the Holi-Drag show the outrage on social media was on display. A protest was scheduled with the intent of getting the event cancelled. It worked. The Proud Boys announced they would be there to protest, and ANTIFA countered saying they would be there as well.
Supporters of Drag Story Time claim there is nothing wrong with a person dressed in drag reading a story to children. The opposition claims it is indoctrination, and parents shouldn’t be allowed to take their children to these events.
How can we as believers in the U.S. Constitution, believers in parental rights, tell another group of parents they do not have the right to raise their children as they see fit? Barring of course there is no actual harm done to the child. We are doing to them what we are claiming they are doing to us.
Don’t LGBTQ+ parents also have the same right to raise their children the way they want? What right did anyone have to shut down the Holi-Drag show? There was no proof of any improper sexual behavior about to happen. Had the event occurred and there was evidence of improper sexual conduct then, yes, one can argue it should not have happened as children were harmed. Outside of that, what right does anyone have to say that this event was wrong?
Lisa Breedlove Chaffee
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Lisa Breedlove Chaffee is Executive Vice President, Ohio Republican Council of Clubs; President, Hilliard Area Republican Club; and Director, Ohio Parents Rights In Education.
The event wasn't "shut down." It was cancelled due to infighting within the event coordinators. The performers felt unsafe without more police presence, and the private security team that was hired felt unsafe with a police presence. While I don't agree with the Proud Boys, they ultimately weren't the problem or reason why the event was cancelled. Parents have a right to raise their kids in the manner they see fit, so long as there isn't abuse or neglect. I'm of the opinion that taking an impressionable child to an event like this is both abuse and neglect. But it's just that, my opinion. A parent that would take their child to an event like this doesn't care about my opinion, and vice versa.
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The event wasn't "shut down." It was cancelled due to infighting within the event coordinators. The performers felt unsafe without more police presence, and the private security team that was hired felt unsafe with a police presence. While I don't agree with the Proud Boys, they ultimately weren't the problem or reason why the event was cancelled. Parents have a right to raise their kids in the manner they see fit, so long as there isn't abuse or neglect. I'm of the opinion that taking an impressionable child to an event like this is both abuse and neglect. But it's just that, my opinion. A parent that would take their child to an event like this doesn't care about my opinion, and vice versa.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.