Tuesday, July 23, 2019 6:48:58 AM
Atlanta Mayor Hosts Drag Queen Story Hour at City Hall
Jul 22, 2019
The mayor of Atlanta, Georgia recently hosted a Drag Queen Story Hour at City Hall. “We want to thank our friends at the @ATLHawks, @AtlantaFalcons, @WholeFoods, @GABeverage and @atlantapride for partnering with us for Drag Queen Story Hour,” the City of Atlanta’s Department of LGBTQ Affairs posted to social media on July 1. According to a graphic shared with the post, the event was hosted by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and featured a drag queen who goes by the name Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker.
Lance Bottoms invited Sugarbaker, who is really Steven Igarashi-Ball, 40, in early April after an Alpharetta library branch pulled its support for an event to be held there. “Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker and all of our LGBTQ friends are always welcome at Atlanta City Hall.” she tweeted. “How about we host your next story hour? @CityofAtlanta — let’s make it happen!”
“Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker and all of our LGBTQ friends are always welcome at Atlanta City Hall.” she tweeted. “How about we host your next story hour? @CityofAtlanta — let’s make it happen!”
The event was held at the Alpharetta library after all, but informally.
“I can’t think of anything better to do to raise the next generation of young people,” Igarashi-Ball told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at that time.
He expressed displeasure that he had not been given a reason for the library’s initial cancellation, stating, “By not being provided an answer, it feels like discrimination and it feels like people are afraid of the event, which feels like homophobia.” Alpharetta Mayor Pro-Tem Donald Mitchell attended the event to demonstrate city support, NPR reports.
However, some residents expressed objection to Lance Bottoms offer for Igarashi-Ball to read to children at city hall. Igarashi-Ball describes his drag persona as a “modern Southern belle … [with] big hair, and … an aged-out pageant queen.”
“I usually have your back, mayor, but there’s no way I can get behind this mess. Kids have enough to be confused about without you adding this to their plate. #doingtoomuch,” one commenter wrote.
“I do not know which is worse: that a city office would host the mentally ill or that parents would subject their children to a man in a dress while pretending that it is a ‘brave thing,'” another wrote.
“Why keep promoting homosexuality when it goes against the morals of God? What is this world coming to?” a third asked.
But the show went on, being billed as an “all-ages event” to “celebrate diversity” and to “teach acceptance” to children. Video footage of the event shows a number of children gathered around Igarashi-Ball as he read a story. Face painting and snacks were also offered to those in attendance.
Fox 5 News reports that some stood against the event outside of city hall. The site Natural News also expressed objection to the fact that Whole Foods sponsored the Atlanta Drag Queen Story Hour.
Lance Bottoms stood by her decision to host the event, telling Fox 5, “When you see what’s happening and how our domestic policies are under attack in this country, I think it’s more important than ever that the City of Atlanta very publicly show that we are a welcoming and diverse city.”
https://christiannews.net/2019/07/22/atlanta-mayor-hosts-drag-queen-story-hour-at-city-hall/
Jul 22, 2019
The mayor of Atlanta, Georgia recently hosted a Drag Queen Story Hour at City Hall. “We want to thank our friends at the @ATLHawks, @AtlantaFalcons, @WholeFoods, @GABeverage and @atlantapride for partnering with us for Drag Queen Story Hour,” the City of Atlanta’s Department of LGBTQ Affairs posted to social media on July 1. According to a graphic shared with the post, the event was hosted by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and featured a drag queen who goes by the name Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker.
Lance Bottoms invited Sugarbaker, who is really Steven Igarashi-Ball, 40, in early April after an Alpharetta library branch pulled its support for an event to be held there. “Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker and all of our LGBTQ friends are always welcome at Atlanta City Hall.” she tweeted. “How about we host your next story hour? @CityofAtlanta — let’s make it happen!”
“Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker and all of our LGBTQ friends are always welcome at Atlanta City Hall.” she tweeted. “How about we host your next story hour? @CityofAtlanta — let’s make it happen!”
The event was held at the Alpharetta library after all, but informally.
“I can’t think of anything better to do to raise the next generation of young people,” Igarashi-Ball told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at that time.
He expressed displeasure that he had not been given a reason for the library’s initial cancellation, stating, “By not being provided an answer, it feels like discrimination and it feels like people are afraid of the event, which feels like homophobia.” Alpharetta Mayor Pro-Tem Donald Mitchell attended the event to demonstrate city support, NPR reports.
However, some residents expressed objection to Lance Bottoms offer for Igarashi-Ball to read to children at city hall. Igarashi-Ball describes his drag persona as a “modern Southern belle … [with] big hair, and … an aged-out pageant queen.”
“I usually have your back, mayor, but there’s no way I can get behind this mess. Kids have enough to be confused about without you adding this to their plate. #doingtoomuch,” one commenter wrote.
“I do not know which is worse: that a city office would host the mentally ill or that parents would subject their children to a man in a dress while pretending that it is a ‘brave thing,'” another wrote.
“Why keep promoting homosexuality when it goes against the morals of God? What is this world coming to?” a third asked.
But the show went on, being billed as an “all-ages event” to “celebrate diversity” and to “teach acceptance” to children. Video footage of the event shows a number of children gathered around Igarashi-Ball as he read a story. Face painting and snacks were also offered to those in attendance.
Fox 5 News reports that some stood against the event outside of city hall. The site Natural News also expressed objection to the fact that Whole Foods sponsored the Atlanta Drag Queen Story Hour.
Lance Bottoms stood by her decision to host the event, telling Fox 5, “When you see what’s happening and how our domestic policies are under attack in this country, I think it’s more important than ever that the City of Atlanta very publicly show that we are a welcoming and diverse city.”
https://christiannews.net/2019/07/22/atlanta-mayor-hosts-drag-queen-story-hour-at-city-hall/
Join the InvestorsHub Community
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
