Bay Area Drag Queen Speaks Out Against Far-Right Extremists

[Nevilledog]

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molly taft
@mollytaft
this @teenvogue interview w the queen whose pride storytime was interrupted by proud boys is absolutely fucking terrifying https://teenvogue.com/story/drag-brunch-story-time-kyle-chu…



6:45 AM · Jun 14, 2022

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/drag-brunch-story-time-kyle-chu

We’re on track to see a record-breakingly bad year for anti-LGBTQ+ bills. This Pride month, one of the biggest targets for Republicans appears to be drag performers. Just in the past week, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R–FL.) announced he’s considering investigating parents who bring their children to drag shows; a Texas state legislator said he’s planning to file a bill that bans minors from attending drag shows. Over the weekend, thirty-one members of Patriot Front, a group out of Texas identified by the Anti-Defamation League as white supremacist, were arrested in Idaho and charged with conspiracy to riot for their alleged plans to riot at a local Pride event.

And in the Bay Area, a children’s story time event hosted by Kyle Chu, whose drag name is Panda Dulce, was interrupted by a group of eight to 10 people believed to be from the reactionary extreme right-wing Proud Boys.

Teen Vogue caught up with Kyle, 33, to hear what happened and what she hopes people understand about drag. This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

Teen Vogue: Do you want to share what happened in your own words?

KC: I was sitting with the two librarians, singing a welcome song, when eight to ten Proud Boys marched in with their cameras outstretched. They took seats in the second row behind children and parents. One man had an AK-47 shirt that said “kill your local pedophile” on it. We stopped the song and the Proud Boys yelled “who brought the tranny” and started hurling insults, calling me a pedophile and a groomer. The librarian asked them politely to leave, and security came in. I realized that I wasn’t helping the situation by still being present so I was taken to a safe room and the sheriff was called. They continued to terrorize the librarians and flashed white power hand gestures.

*snip*

[MineralMan]

1. Sad state of affairs!

[leftieNanner]

2. My husband grew up in San Lorenzo

It used to be a nice blue collar community.

I guess this toxic crap is everywhere now.

[haele]

3. The right really likes to pick soft target, don't they?

Attacking events with other's children present or other peaceful, open to the public events because they know they're less likely to be quickly swarmed and beat down than they would going into a queer bar or drag caberet.

Cowards and bullies, all.

Haele

[Initech]

4. I had to deal with an anti-trans bigot at a wedding I was at this weekend.

One of the guests who was a friend of the bride and her sister was a trans woman, and there was one guest at the after party who would not leave her alone the entire night. Thankfully there were people like my brother at the wedding who knew how to deal with idiots like that. But it wasn’t fun at all. There always has to be that one guy who attempts to ruin the party. Ugh.

[tenderfoot]

7. Another target they like is women.

I've yet to see one of those schmucks is get in the face of other men.

[crickets]

5. The kids just wanted a fun story hour, and Kyle Chu was helping to encourage reading.

What's the big problem? It's a shame Proud Boys tried to ruin it, likely frightening children in the process. Good on Kyle for coming back to continue the story after they were kicked out. Hope the kids will be OK.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

6. This Proud Incel isn't in jail right now WHY?

Since when is harassment, disturbing the peace and making terrorist threats acceptable under the law?

Harassment today. Violence tomorrow. To the QOP, it's a feature, not a bug.

And to you fucking snowflake punk-ass Proud Incels... If you're so fucking tough and proud, then live your lives and leave us the fuck alone. But of course you're not. You're soft, shapeless sacks of flesh living in mommy's basement, wanking off to Fux because you can't get a girlfriend, and thinking Hitler and Drumpf are your gods. Get a goddamned life (or just end yours already) and stay the fuck out of ours.

[Oneironaut]

8. Fucking morons. Most drag queens aren't even trans.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but, the person in the story wasn't right?

They're too ignorant to understand the difference. Dopes all around.