Your Turn: Is drag the best way to teach diversity?
As a librarian with 30 years of experience, I would like to respond to the article “Disney Drag Queens at the Library: Divine or Depraved.”
I would like to address diversity and the education of our children on these issues. It would be difficult to refute that one of the missions of the public library is to educate the public on topics such as diversity. Libraries are instrumental in influencing public opinion.
An article titled, “The importance of diversity in library programs and material collections for children,” by Jamie Campbell Naidoo, found on the American Library Association’s website, Association for Library Service to Children, states, “Including diversity in library programming and materials for children is important for all librarians meeting the informational and recreational needs of their local communities.” It goes on to include gender presentation, sexual orientation, race and ethnicities. As a librarian, it goes without saying that education in diversity is imperative as part of a public library’s mission.
The question being raised is appropriateness in terms of the children’s ages and the venue. Drag performance is exactly that — performance done in a venue attended mostly by adults in which the thespians create an “in your face” burlesque atmosphere. I raise the question whether it is the performance or the message of cultural diversity that gets communicated to the audience. The very nature of the clothing worn has a provocative and suggestive message, once again detracting from the lesson that is to be communicated to the children who attend a storytelling session.
I would like to suggest an alternative manner to educate children in this culturally complex world we live in. The goal is for children to understand the message that cultural diversity is a part of the fabric of life and that all of us need to grasp the need to respect diversity on all levels. I am not disputing this; rather, when done in a way that respects the age of the audience and the venue, cultural diversity instruction can be effective in getting across its message.
I propose utilizing books and digital media for instruction. The American Library Association page includes Newbery awards that provide lists of books that deal with bias toward transgender, same-sex relationships, racial and ethnic differences in a fashion that appeals to the sensibilities of a young audience and informs at the same time. Refer to The New York Times for selections on children’s literature by subject category.
I reiterate the importance of respect for all aspects of diversity by all ages; however, we need to consider whether the emphasis is on the message or the performance.
Deborah Spanfelner is a Binghamton resident.