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Texas comptroller announces investigation into bar
that hosted drag show for children
By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
The Texas comptroller said the state has opened an investigation into a Dallas bar that held a drag show for children earlier this summer.
In a statement released Friday, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar identified himself as one of many Texas parents who found themselves “disturbed by the recent images showing children participating in a drag show in the Dallas area, including one of a child placing money in a performer’s undergarment.”
The drag show in question, which was dubbed as a “family-friendly pride experience” called “Drag the Kids to Pride,” took place at Mr. Misster bar in Dallas on June 4.
"Family-friendly pride experience”, what a monstrously, absurd statement!
“I know this is a concerning issue for many Texans, and the images circulating are certainly inconsistent with our Texas values,” he added. “Though my office does not typically comment on ongoing investigations, the recent public discussion surrounding this specific entity demands a response.”
Hegar assured concerned Texans that “my office had already begun the process of investigating this specific event, as well as working to determine if the establishment is liable for the Sexually Oriented Business Fee (SOBF) under Chapter 102 of the Business Code.”
Hegar’s announcement came one day after Republican state Rep. Bryan Slaton called on Hegar to treat Mr. Misster as a “sexually-oriented business.” As Slaton explained, “Sexually-oriented businesses are required to pay $5 per attendee present and they must also prevent children and sex offenders from attending or participating.”
Slaton emerged as an outspoken opponent of the idea of drag shows for kids when news of the “Drag the Kids to Pride” event at Mr. Misster first broke in early June. At the time, Slaton vowed to introduce legislation that would ban drag shows for minors as soon as the next session of the Texas legislature began. Two months later, the state lawmaker has described any action by Hegar as a temporary measure to “enforce existing law and protect Texas kids while I work with my colleagues in the Texas Legislature.”
Video footage from the event shows a performer dressed in red leather drag taking tips from small children as he suggestively danced under a sign that read, “It’s not going to lick itself.” A description of the June 4 drag show on Eventbrite promoted the availability of “Mr. Misster Mocktails” for guests under the age of 21 while highlighting “FIVE limited spots for young performers to take the stage solo, or with a queen of their choosing.”
Following Hegar’s public statement indicating his intention to investigate the drag show for kids, Slaton praised the state comptroller for his “strong leadership on this important issue.” The state lawmaker asserted that “when it comes to protecting children from grotesque content, Texans deserve lawmakers who will stand up for our children’s innocence.”
“Any business that allows kids to attend an event of a sexual nature should be held accountable, and I am proud of Glenn Hegar for taking steps in that direction,” he remarked. “Like many Texans, I am eagerly awaiting the results of his investigation. I will continue working toward passing legislation to ensure children are never again subjected to these events.”
In an earlier statement to The Christian Post, a spokesperson for Mr. Misster lamented that the attention the establishment received due to the outcry over the “Drag the Kids to Pride” event led to hundreds of “threatening emails, messages and phone calls” as well as protesters “yelling in kids’ faces, calling them a variety of homophobic slurs, throwing trash at them and trying to get in fights with parents.”
“We are sad to see that an event that was [supposed] to be a moment of pride for these LGBTQ+ families and their children is being interpreted as anything other than it was, a family-friendly event. … We are thankful that [the Dallas Police Department] stepped in to control the unruly protestors and we are saddened by the unjust actions that these protestors displayed.”
CP reached out to Mr. Misster for comment on Texas state officials’ attempts to probe whether or not to impose a “sexually-oriented business fee” on their establishment. A response was not received by press time.
The controversy surrounding the Drag Your Children to Pride Event comes as the prevalence of Drag Queen Story Hours targeted toward young children at some public libraries has raised concern among parents throughout the U.S. At the same time, public schools’ embrace of LGBT ideology, including many public schools’ participation in “Jazz & Friends” Reading Day, has also raised alarm among parental rights activists.
As part of the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings earlier this year, schools across the U.S. partnered with the LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign to read books about trans-identified children to students. In addition to I am Jazz, a semi-autobiographical tale about trans-identified activist Jazz Jennings, recommended reading for the day included CALVIN: Time to Be Me!
“Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind, but he hasn’t yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer,” a description for the book reads. A lesson plan for the day advises teachers to tell students that “gender is a spectrum, not a binary, and
that we all express ourselves in many different ways along that spectrum.”
that we all express ourselves in many different ways along that spectrum.”
Where is the science behind that absurd statement?
Singapore will end ban on gay sex: colonial-era law will be abolished
in move LGBT activists called 'a win for humanity'
By ELIZABETH HAIGH FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:51 EDT, 21 August 2022 |
Gay sex will be decriminalized in Singapore in a major leap forward for LGBT+ rights, the country's Prime Minister announced today.
PM Lee Hsien Loong made a national address this afternoon during which he said a colonial-era law that criminalizes gay sex will be repealed.
But he added his government will act to 'uphold' marriage as being between a man and a woman.
The law, section 377A of Singapore's penal code, means two men who have sex with one another can face up to two years in prison.
During the major policy speech, Mr Lee said attitudes towards gay people have shifted during the last 15 years.
It was 15 years ago in 2007 that the government ruled the law should remain, but decided it would not be actively enforced.
The Prime Minister said that the LGBT+ community is now better accepted in the country, particularly among young people.
'Private sexual behaviour between consenting adults does not raise any law and order issue. There is no justification to prosecute people for it nor to make it a crime,' Mr Lee said.
Gay rights campaigners have argued for years that Singapore's more modern and open culture means the archaic law is out of date.
'It is timely to ask ourselves again the fundamental question: Should sex between men in private be a criminal offence?' Lee said.
'The government will repeal section 377A and decriminalize sex between men. I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept.'
He added: 'This will bring the law into line with current social mores, and I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans.'
Mr Lee appears to have bowed to public opinion after two separate legal challenges were mounted in recent years by gay campaigners. Both were eventually dismissed; one in 2014 and one this February. Although both were unsuccessful, pressure has been mounting on the government to change the law.
However, the repeal of section 377A stops short of full marriage equality.
Lee said the government recognises 'most Singaporeans do not want the repeal to trigger a drastic shift in our societal norms across the board', including how marriage is defined and how it is taught in schools.
'Hence, even as we repeal section 377A, we will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage,' he said, adding: 'Only marriages between one man and one woman are recognised in Singapore'.
People from across Singapore attend the country's annual gay pride rally in 2017, known as the Pink Dot rally
This definition of marriage will even be written into the constitution in order to stop it being challenged in the courts.
The Singaporean PM said: 'We have to amend the Constitution to protect it. And we will do so. This will help us repeal Section 377A in a controlled and careful way.'
Gay rights campaigners are nevertheless happy to have won this victory and expressed relief in the aftermath of his speech. Local LGBT+ groups released a statement which described the move as a 'first step on a long road towards full equality for LGBTQ+ people in Singapore'.
But they strongly criticised the government's plans to define marriage as between a man and a woman in the constitution, telling AFP: 'Any move by the government to introduce further legislation or constitutional amendments that signal LGBTQ+ people as unequal citizens is disappointing.'
'Such a decision will undermine the secular character of our Constitution, codify further discrimination into supreme law, and tie the hands of future Parliaments.'
Changes to the law had been expected prior to today's speech, with an alliance of Singapore Protestant churches warning this week against removing the law, which it described as a 'marker for many social and moral considerations'.
The alliance claimed changing the law will 'facilitate the progress of a brand of intolerant and aggressive LGBT activism which seeks to impose its ideology upon Singapore society.'
But 'the true impact of repeal will be determined by how the people of Singapore respond to it, and treat each other, in the days and months to come', they said in joint statement signed by more than 20 groups.
Section 377A of the Penal Code was introduced under British colonial rule in the 1930s.
This rule ended in 1963 when Singapore became a state of Malaysia. It became independent two years later but retained the Penal Code, which made sex between men punishable by up to two years in jail.
Gay men have long said the law hangs over their heads and discriminates against them. Thousands of activists annually stage a rally in the city-state known as the 'Pink Dot' in support of the LGBTQ community.
Mr Lee said he hopes the government's move will help reconcile and accommodate both the concerns of conservative religious groups and the desires of gay Singaporeans to be respected and accepted.
'All groups should exercise restraint, because that is the only way we can move forward as a nation together,' he said. 'I hope the new balance will enable Singapore to remain a tolerant and inclusive society for many years to come.'
As the world progresses more and more to resemble Sodom and Gomorrah, the day of the return of Jesus Christ draws ever closer. He will return to rule the earth with a rod of iron with which He will smash the wicked like broken pottery.
Notoriously woke Virginia school district kept pedophile school counselor
on staff a year AFTER bosses were told he'd been arrested
for soliciting child prostitute
Darren Lamar Thornton, 50, remained employed by Glasgow Middle School in Lincolnia, Virginia, even after he'd been convicted of a sex crime
Superintendent Michelle C. Reid confirmed he'd been terminated and the county was petitioning the state to revoke Thornton's license
Thornton was arrested for offering a minor money for sex in November of 2020 in Chesterfield County
Thornton was convicted and sentenced to five years but had his sentence suspended for good behavior
Police said the school district was notified when he was arrested both in November and again this June after his arrest in another sting
Fairfax County is notorious for scrapping admission to its prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School on the basis of exam grades
It deployed other means of determining admission to boost 'equity,' but was sued, with the lawsuit to end the practice ongoing
By STEPHEN M. LEPORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 00:16 EDT, 21 August 2022 | UPDATED: 01:36 EDT, 21 August 2022
Get the full story at the Daily Mail.
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