Anti-LGBTQ+ hysteria comes to my town. ☹😖😬

[ShazzieB]

An event promoting the same kind of anti-LGBTQ+ and book banning hysteria that's been going on in many parts of the US has taken place in my backyard (figuratively speaking), and I am really upset about it.

I knew this kind of insanity has been happening in lots of places, especially in red states. We all know it; you can't spend 5 minutes at DU these days without being smacked in the face with stories about places where this stuff is going on. But I somehow (naively, I guess) was NOT expecting anything like this so close to home.

I guess I should have known better. This is not a red state, but my county is purple, rather than solid blue, and some parts are redder than others. What really has me kicking myself was that I didn't find about it in time to take part in protesting this event that was organized by a conservative pac for what appears to be the purpose of getting parents riled up about children supposedly being "sexualized" by the presence of books on LGBTQ+ issues in schools.

At least I think that's what the main thrust of the event was, reading between the lines of dog whistle verbiage like “rescuing children from government-run schools that are ruining America’s future." The article was rather poorly written and very confusing, imo. I did my best to snip out parts that made things relatively clear.

[https://www.shawlocal.com/northwest-herald/2023/02/25/charlie-kirk-event-in-crystal-lake-sparks-protest-shouting-match/

Charlie Kirk event in Crystal Lake sparks protest, shouting match
Both those in favor and against the event Saturday said children and schols are the priority

Crystal Lake resident Joyce Sheridan said she’s worried about her grandchildren. It was a sentiment shared by both protesters and attendees of an event Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake, featuring prominent conservative activist and radio host Charlie Kirk.

*snip*

Kirk’s address was organized by the McHenry County GOPac, a local conservative political action commitee. The event was titled “EXPOSING Radicals’ War on Kids” and was advertised as a summit aimed at “rescuing children from government-run schools that are ruining America’s future.”

*snip*

Ahead of Kirk’s event on Saturday morning, a protest took place on the outskirts of the Holiday Inn parking lot. It drew about 30 people and featured chants calling for Kirk to go away and for the community to protect transgender children.

*snip*

Lisa Arvanites with the McHenry County National Organization for Women, helped organize the protest. After attempts to get the hotel to cancel the event, she said she hoped the protest would show the hotel that community did not support it. She said she felt the event was promoting “an undeniably hateful message” and was censoring teachers.

X-posted to GD

[hildegaard28]

1. I think

We need to start having counter-events that promote freedom and oppose radical right wing infringements on 1st amendment rights. We could appeal to Republicans who still believe in the first amendment and small government.

[3catwoman3]

2. I am right down the road from you in Algonquin, which was...

…described, by one of the Herald publications, as a Republican stronghold (or words to that effect), early in the TFG administration.

Back during the Kerry-Edwards campaign, someone stole/removed my yard signs. So much for the “values” party - trespassed, stole my property, and thereby interfered with my freedom of speech.

[ShazzieB]

4. I did not know that about Algonquin, but I knew at least part of it was Trumpy.

I was an election judge for years, mostly in a precinct in Alqonquin. I worked the 2016 election and remember that Trump won in that precinct. (UGH)

I went home that night still hoping to hear good news about Hillary, but we all know how THAT turned out!

[3catwoman3]

6. I just noticed your "I dissent" image. Do you know about the Dissent Pins site?

They have that image available in key chains, earrings, necklaces, pins, magnets,etc.

They have lots of other merch as well, all depicting progressive, enlightened, pro-science, inclusive ideas. They donate 50% of their profits to progressive causes. I’ve ordered several items from them.

[ShazzieB]

7. Yes, I know and love that site. 😁

I am the proud owner of a pair of their RBG dissent collar earrings, and one of the images in my signature line is a photo of their "Science is Real" pin.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. How infuriating.

My family used to rent a cottage in Crystal Lake for a couple weeks in the summer for our vacation. I have many fond memories of the town, though I know it's a purple area.

[ShazzieB]

5. Yeah, it's purple all right.

But it's actually much better than when Mr. B and I moved here in the 90s. The whole county was blindingly bright red then.