Taxpayer funded drag queen camp for 13-year-olds in Winnipeg

[CdnFox]

https://tnc.news/2023/06/12/drag-queen-camp-kids-winnipeg/

A youth theater that receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding from taxpayers is hosting a “drag camp” for kids as young as 13.

According to the camp description, kids will be able to become “Drag Things” by being instructed in make up, wigs and drag performances. The camp costs $350 for registration. 

“Do you love the idea of being a Drag King, Drag Queen, or Drag Thing but don’t know where to start? Explore the fun of drag through this week-long introduction to the art form,”  

In 2022, the theatre received $241,993 in funding from Canadian taxpayers and the year prior, MTYP received $587,044.

 

Can open - worms everywhere......

So this upsets people from a number of points of view. Many will look at this as a 'grooming camp'. Why are you taking 13 year olds and teaching them how to be 'drag "things"' . But - even those who say as long as the parents choose to allow it i guess it's ok for them to do so may be very unhappy about spending 3/4 of a million dollars to support it out of their own money. Supporting theatre is one thing but supporting 'drag thing training' is something very different.

At a time when we've got children stomping on pride flags in the streets i question spending that kind of public money to produce trained 'drag things'

[Zeitgeist]

It seems like our own leaders are actively trying to violate people’s consciences and taboos in order to dehumanize, weaken, and control them. I can’t think of any other sensible explanation.

[CdnFox]

32 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

It seems like our own leaders are actively trying to violate people’s consciences and taboos in order to dehumanize, weaken, and control them. I can’t think of any other sensible explanation.

Probably more along the lines of vote buying in what they perceive as their 'target market' if you will  - but this kind of thing really spreads divisions instead of helping.

[Legato]

[Michael Hardner]

Trying to understand what the problem is here.  It's a Theatre Camp - isn't "drag" theatre ?

Full on panic in effect, pretty ridiculous....

[Zeitgeist]

9 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Trying to understand what the problem is here.  It's a Theatre Camp - isn't "drag" theatre ?

Full on panic in effect, pretty ridiculous....

We should be panicking about this.  Stop downplaying.  

[CdnFox]

10 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Trying to understand what the problem is here.  It's a Theatre Camp - isn't "drag" theatre ?

No, it isn't. with the exception of 'kinky boots'.  Great show.

 

[Michael Hardner]

4 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

We should be panicking about this.  Stop downplaying.  

We absolutely should not.  Stop upplaying.

[Zeitgeist]

15 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

We absolutely should not.  Stop upplaying.

You should care more.  

[OftenWrong]

2 hours ago, Zeitgeist said:

I can’t think of any other sensible explanation.

It's a little old thing called voluntary population control, ipso fucto.

[Michael Hardner]

58 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

You should care more.  

About what?  Kids in theatre camp?

 

I care as much as I want it fully subsidized and more opportunities for kids to participate.

[Zeitgeist]

Just now, Michael Hardner said:

About what?  Kids in theatre camp?

 

I care as much as I want it fully subsidized and more opportunities for kids to participate.

So you want kids in drag too.  

[Michael Hardner]

1 minute ago, Zeitgeist said:

So you want kids in drag too.  

If someone's taking a theater course, yeah they're going to pretend to be a lot of things. They might do a scene from Lord of the rings it doesn't mean they're going to be a Golem when they grow up.

Can you just stop panicking for 5 seconds? Next thing we know you're going to be canceling the Arts.

[Zeitgeist]

9 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

If someone's taking a theater course, yeah they're going to pretend to be a lot of things. They might do a scene from Lord of the rings it doesn't mean they're going to be a Golem when they grow up.

Can you just stop panicking for 5 seconds? Next thing we know you're going to be canceling the Arts.

I don’t think public dollars should pay for child drag camps.

[I am Groot]

This seems a good place to repost this to show that the supposed 'innocence' about drag queens and children is nothing of the sort. You'll never get the Hardners of the world to pay attention, of course, but ordinary people should be able to see this for what it is. It didn't just explode out of nowhere as a 'fun thing' but is organized and has a purpose.

 

[Michael Hardner]

5 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

I don’t think public dollars should pay for child drag camps.

Public dollars subsidize theater, at arm's length. They don't review everything that a theater does, but you can believe that if they did something objectionable they would have their funding yanked.

 Theaters have theater camps, which are paid by the parents of the students, as well as subscribers to the theater, ticket sales, any other provincial subsidies, local subsidies, donations.

That's how it works, and it works pretty well. If you don't like theater, or theater classes then don't go and don't send your kids.

You don't have a say in everything that the government pays for. Neither do I, or I may not have given my approval of that 1 billion pipeline for example.

But also sports, tourism, lots of other things are paid for out of the same pool.  I think theater funding comes partially from heritage Canada which also funds sports.

 

Edited June 13, 2023 by Michael Hardner

[Zeitgeist]

3 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Public dollars subsidize theater, at arm's length. They don't review everything that a theater does, but you can believe that if they did something objectionable they would have their funding yanked.

 Theaters have theater camps, which are paid by the parents of the students, as well as subscribers to the theater, ticket sales, any other provincial subsidies, local subsidies, donations.

That's how it works, and it works pretty well. If you don't like theater, or theater classes then don't go and don't send your kids.

You don't have a say in everything that the government pays for. Neither do I, or I may not have given my approval of that 1 billion pipeline for example.

But also sports, tourism, lots of other things are paid for out of the same pool.  I think theater funding comes partially from heritage Canada which also funds sports.

 

I’m aware of the various subsidies.  I don’t think public dollars should support dubious programming.   

[CdnFox]

5 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Public dollars subsidize theater, at arm's length. They don't review everything that a theater does, but you can believe that if they did something objectionable they would have their funding yanked. 

 

so what you're saying is the gov't doesnt' object to using tax dollars for drag thing training.

That was kind of my point but sure.

Quote

Theaters have theater camps, which are paid by the parents of the students, as well as subscribers to the theater, ticket sales, any other provincial subsidies, local subsidies, donations.

Lets not pretend money isn't fungible. No matter how you slice it, lthe taxpayer is funding this as well.  The groups acknowledge that gov't funding is a large part of their funding.

And that creates a problem.  If it were a genuinely independent group then people might not like the camp but hey - none of your business.

But asking people to pay for things they don't approve of is an issue - and it's currently a growing issue that's dividing more and more people. As  i noted we've now got parents keeping kids home or worse - dancing on pride flags over this.

So is it a wise choice to be allowing public money to go towards this kind of thing? Or will that just make the divisions worse right now

 

[Michael Hardner]

16 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

I’m aware of the various subsidies.  I don’t think public dollars should support dubious programming.   

You don't get to veto what I like nor do I get to veto what you like. Any further questions?

 

Edited June 13, 2023 by Michael Hardner

[OftenWrong]

23 minutes ago, I am Groot said:

This seems a good place to repost this to show that the supposed 'innocence' about drag queens and children is nothing of the sort. You'll never get the Hardners of the world to pay attention, of course, but ordinary people should be able to see this for what it is. It didn't just explode out of nowhere as a 'fun thing' but is organized and has a purpose.

 

That's essentially what I have said about it, only you know, much more suckcinctly...

 

[Michael Hardner]

Am I dealing with another conservative, yet another so-called conservative, who hates free expression and wants to impose their opinion on it? Man what happened to this country?

[I am Groot]

8 minutes ago, OftenWrong said:

That's essentially what I have said about it, only you know, much more suckcinctly...

 

But this is by a learned person who researched the proper information. 

8 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

Am I dealing with another conservative, yet another so-called conservative, who hates free expression and wants to impose their opinion on it? Man what happened to this country?

Maybe you just don't recognize what conservatives are and believe in since you continue to operate under the ridiculous belief you are one.

[I am Groot]

10 minutes ago, Michael Hardner said:

You don't get to veto what I like nor do I get to veto what you like. Any further questions?

 

It's not a matter of vetiong the drag queens you like. It's a matter of not wanting the government to fund them. A conservative ought to know that.

[TreeBeard]

3 hours ago, Zeitgeist said:

It seems like our own leaders are actively trying to violate people’s consciences and taboos in order to dehumanize, weaken, and control them. I can’t think of any other sensible explanation.

Isn’t it voluntary?

2 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

Trying to understand what the problem is here.  It's a Theatre Camp - isn't "drag" theatre ?

Full on panic in effect, pretty ridiculous....

Japanese Kabuki theatre was, and still is,  all men playing women’s roles. 

Edited June 13, 2023 by TreeBeard

[impartialobserver]

I would not support an endeavor such as what is in the OP. I am not anti-drag or anti-trans, so just to cut you off. It is a matter of public funds versus private. If the funds were private and therefore the participants were paying their own money then I have no issue.