LGBTQ event at church features a drag show for youth as young as 12

Free meals and “a drag show from some of our local drag queens” is on offer at a church in Naples, Florida this weekend – for 12 to 18 year olds. 

The all-day event, called The Youth Pride Conference, is hosted at Naples United Church of Christ and put on by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network – Collier County Chapter (GLSEN Collier).

Topics for discussion at the event include “forbidden queer literature,” “inclusive sex education,” “intersectionality and prejudices within the community” and “political action and advocacy.”

Attendees must fill out a form that requires them to list their pronouns, as well as acknowledge the event is not sponsored by the church or Collier County Public Schools.

Event organizers had allegedly planned to use CCPS Middle School parking lots as transit points for children to get to the event until Florida’s Voice alerted the district, which said no.

The school district made clear it wanted no part in the event, saying in a statement to Florida’s Voice: “The District was never informed nor contacted about this event. It is not a sponsor of the event, which is being held at a private facility. CCPS also neither authorized nor approved the transportation of CCPS students to and from district school sites by the event organizers. Any inference to the contrary is fully rejected by CCPS.”

Though the district distanced itself from the event, the concerning push for “drag shows” for kids is growing nationwide.

Just last month, Hempfield School District in Pennsylvania issued an apology after their after-school Gay Sexuality Alliance Club hosted a drag show where drag queens danced erotically, encouraged by the teacher in charge. Parents had no idea.