A few days ago the Gay Pride Parade took place in Queens.
Foto:
Michael Appleton / NYC Mayoral Office
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New York City political leaders met the councilwoman Vickie Paladinoafter in full LGBTQ pride monththe local legislator made offensive comments against “drag queen” events in schools and libraries in the Big Apple, qualifying them as acts of “degeneration”.
Republican politics, who represents in the Municipal Council the Queens District 19which includes neighborhoods such as Whitestone, College Point, Bayside, Little Neck and Douglaston, also singled out progressive lawmakers for allegedly allowing “harassment and sexualization of children,” for supporting free expression events with “drag queens” among the children, including storytelling and book discussions.
“Progressives may not have a problem with the harassment and sexualization of children, but I do,” the politician commented in several social media messages shared this week against the nonprofit group. “Drag Queen Story Hour NYC”, which the City promoted. “This will not happen on my watch. Children deserve a quality education free from political manipulation and sexual content.”
The alcalde Eric Adams He defended these presentations as an act of education that favors equality and respect for differences.
“At a time when our LGBTQ+ communities are under increased attack across the country, we must use our education system to educate. The goal is not only for our children to be academically smart, but emotionally smart as well,” the president said. “Drag storytellers, and the libraries and schools that support them, are promoting a love of diversity, self-expression and literacy that is central to what our city embraces.”
After the strong accusations, the NYC Department of Education defended the program that it promotes with the group “Drag Queen Story Hour NYC”highlighting that it is part of initiatives to end the stigma against LGBTQ people that even continues to generate attacks and murders in the Big Apple and the rest of the country.
“Last year, 50 transgender or gender nonconforming people were killed in the United States because of their identity, and we believe our schools play a critical role in helping young people learn about and respect people who may be different. to them. This is life-saving work,” said DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer. “We support our youth and are committed to providing safe, nurturing and inclusive environments for all students and staff.”
The president of the Municipal Council, Adrienne E. Adamsalso spoke out about Paladino’s transphobic comments and made it clear that New York City will not stop defending the LGBTQ community on all fronts.
“I stand with all my colleagues on the Council, the LGBTQ+ communities, and New Yorkers in unequivocally denouncing Councilwoman Paladino’s revolting views and statements against specific members of the Council and the trans community. A New Yorker’s choice of dress, gender expression or identity must not only be protected legally, but also against vile and hateful attacks,” said the head of the legislative body.
“New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ movement and the Stonewall Rebellion. We are a bastion of diversity, acceptance and inclusion, and we take pride in it. Our city must remain a welcoming place that upholds justice and equality for all,” she added. “An attack against one New Yorker is an attack against all of us,” added the President of the Council, warning that there could be actions against Paladino. “On the Council, we pride ourselves on our mutual respect as colleagues, even in the face of disagreement. But a disagreement that arises from a place of hate and bigotry is where we draw the line. Any form of hate, including transphobia, has no place in this city, let alone this Council.”
The LGBTQIA+ Caucus of the New York City Council and its co-chairs Crystal Hudson and Tiffany Cabán called Paladino’s comments “unacceptable”, “full of hate, intolerance and ignorance”, even more so in the case of an elected official and demanded that she be withdrawal of functions.
“As co-chairs of the City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus, we condemn and denounce Councilmember Paladino’s bigoted comments and call for her to be removed from her committee assignments and formally censured,” they said in the letter. “Drag Story Hour NYC is a wonderful, wholesome, vital show that invites our kids to explore who they really are, to see themselves as unique individuals entitled to be who they are in the world. It shows queer youth and their peers alike that each of our existences is valid, that we all belong.
Finally they added: “We know what keeps our cities safe: investing in shows like Drag Story Hour NYC that get to the root causes of hate and reduce the likelihood of future violence. Drag Story Hour NYC isn’t just a great educational show, it’s an important piece of public safety infrastructure. We urge the Council to take immediate action by censuring this member and removing her from her duties on the committee. This is not a question of ideological differences, but of our collective belief in the right of all New Yorkers to an existence free from discrimination.”
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