Readers: Kids in drag are great!
A Park Slope theater class is
inviting youngsters to don genderbending
costumes and perform on
stage as characters of the opposite
sex on Nov. 7.
The event at Brooklyn Arts Exchange
on Fifth Avenue, dubbed
“Drag Performance Workshop,” is
designed as a fun, playful way to
introduce children to the complex
issues surrounding gender identity,
according to an organizer.
“We’re using theater and performance
as a vehicle to explore
important issues of identity,” said
Lucia Scheckner. “By participating
in this workshop, and by trying
on a notion of gender that is
more fl uid than the traditional
‘male and female’ — you start to
actually understand these issues
more.”
At the workshop, the kids will
learn the ins-and-outs of theaterbased
drag, including acting
classes, makeup tutorials, and
dance instructions to ensure they
look — and feel — like members
of the opposite sex, according to
Scheckner.
Readers had a lot to say online:
Male and female created He them;
and blessed them. Genesis 5:2. Period.
L from Brooklyn
Disgusting. This is all done on
purpose to destabilize our country. It
won’t work. People have woken up.
Norm
How valuable! The world is changing
and it looks like Brooklyn is
keeping up with the times. My condolences
to the people with minds too
small to see the big picture. Kudos to
this program - I can’t wait to sign my
kids up!
Shea from Bushwick
So lovely to see opportunities for
exploration, art and creativity for
young kids! I could’ve used this when
I was a kid, and I know some people
who may still be alive and thriving
if they had this kind of outlet. This
COURIER L 56 IFE, OCT. 11-17, 2019
work is so important and not just for
those kids who are questioning, but a
space like this will shape confi dent,
creative and compassionate allies for
generations to come. Bravo!
Nat from Bed Stuy
“Gender bending” means belittling
and bashing heterosexual
males.
Wilbur D. Horse from Sweet
Jane
This is brilliant. It’s important
and amazing for children to learn to
dissect gender roles and stereotypes
and get to explore gender in a healthy
way. SO much violence in our society
is caused by toxic men who grew up
forced to adhere to a rigid set of gender
rules that says they can’t show
feelings besides anger and aggression.
And don’t we want to teach
girls that they can be strong and do
anything and to not be intimidated
by male-dominated spaces? Also,
this helps kids be more accepting of
LGBTQ folks, or learn early to accept
and love themselves if they’re LGBTQ.
Don’t we all want a world that
is inclusive and loving toward all
types of people? What’s truly disgusting
is all you hateful people causing
these families to feel unsafe simply
for supporting their child in exploring
who they are. Playing dress up is
a NORMAL part of childhood. Guess
what, you all probably played dress
up in a different gender character
yourself when you were a kid. Get a
life rather than bully children. This
is the future. Get used to it.
Luca from Bed Stuy
This is such a beautiul experience
offered to children. I know one
of the instructors personally, and
they are one of the most intelligent,
talented and warm hearted people I
have ever met, and the best person
for this workshop. I think this is so
important. I have a lot of experience
working with children, and they are
so much more open and unphased
by how different so many people are
than adults are. Drag is a beautiful
performance art and it should absolutely
be introduced to people at a
younger age. What a fun and exciting
means of self expression through
music, fashion, dancing and more.
Let’s teach our future to celebrate
and not fear our differences.
Nola Bunny from NA
This is lovely! If my toddler were
a few years older, I would bring him
to this in an instant. I love how free
he currently is to explore masculine
and feminine associated toys and
clothing and I hope I can support
this freedom to explore as he gets
older and the world becomes eager
to constrain his self expression. This
workshop would certainly help with
that!
Elsey from Park Slope
Cuomo needs to chill!
Police released surveillance
footage of children vandalizing
a Williamsburg synagogue during
the Jewish New Year on Sept.
30, a misdemeanor violation that
“disgusted and enraged” Governor
Andrew Cuomo, who tasked
the state’s Hate Crime Task Force
with tracking down the youngsters.
The video shows two kids
throwing a plastic milk crate and
another object at the Throop Avenue
house of worship near Bartlett
Street on the second day of
Rosh Hashanah at 5:29 pm, before
scurrying off with a group of
other children.
After fl eeing, the kids returned
to throw some more stuff at the
synagogue, before hightailing it
for the second and fi nal time, footage
shows.
Readers made their voices
heard online:
Get real!!!!! They are only children.
What’s the big deal!?! Fine the
parents and make them do a little
community service. The tykes will
be caught for sure.
MyLow HiyZeh from
Bedford
So “krystal nach” was only a
misdemeanor? If someone deliberately
broke a window at a church it
wouldn’t be a hate crime? Of course
it should be vigorly investigated. I
dont care how young they were and
should have known better. I dont necessarily
blame the parents I want to
know more fi rst. We have 30000 police
in NYC. Crime is down. The city
can afford to investigate this. They
have pictures it wont take that much
time. The parents should turn them
in. Sid from Boerum Hill
Such a tiny event gets the attention
of Governor of NYS? Thats more
disturbing then kids acting out.
Francis from Lower East Side
I used to live in rural Ct. A car
had its rear window broken a gew
houses down. A couple of days later
a couple of state troopers came by to
ask if we seen or heard anything. I
think the governor hearing about
this and sending state troopers to investigate
is a good thing.
Sid from Boerum Hill
Big Tough Cuomo sics his burley
cops on Children not even in their
teens. What a waste and how truly
pathetic. Trump and Cuomo are like
two pees in a pot.
Henry Ranzenstein from Mill
Basin
This is not a hate crime. Children of
this age have no idea what a hate crime
is. A good spanking may be in order.
Sid Pollack from Bed
Stuy
Racism, bigotry and hatred are
taught early, by word and by example,
in many communities.
Fred from Sunset Park
If it was the other way around if
the jews threw a milk crate at the african
americans it would be considered
“a hate crime?” If they are “just
kids” then they should be under the
supervision of their parents at all
times. You cant eat from both sides
of the plate. No excuse for bad behavior.
Society is going down the tubes
because young children are taught
“they are entitled to do whatever they
want.” No respect for a house of worship.
D.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g. If they dont
respect a house of worship they for
sure will not respect anyone walking
down the street!!! Why should they?
No punishment!!!! Wake up!!!! Don’t
blame the politicians for these kids’
bad behavior and their parents lack
of supervision!!! Actually, it is a form
of child abuse that their parents are
not keeping an eye on them!!!!
Bonnie from Marine
Park
Just children acting badly. Certainly
not a hate crime epidemic. Administer
a good dose of corporal punishment
and forget about it. Parents
need community service too.
Francine from Franklin Avenue
I bet these teens don’t even have
$250 combined if caught to pay for
the repairs.
Okey-Dokey
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