Drag queens who led schoolchildren in chanting “Free Palestine” have sparked outrage.
A video of a drag queen in Massachusetts circulated on social media after activists held a “Queer Storytime for Palestine” event.
The event, which was organised by the Valley Families for Palestine group in Amherst last week, went viral on Thursday.
The drag queen, known as “Lil Miss Hot Mess”, told children: “Today what we’re going to do is shout ‘Free Palestine.’ Can I hear that?”
Outrage as drag queen leads schoolkids in 'Free Palestine' chant during story time event
Instagram/valleyfamiliesforpalestine
She added: “If you’re a drag queen and you know it, and you really want to show it, if you’re a drag queen and you know it, shout ‘Free Palestine.'”
The children proceeded to mimick the drag queen, shouting: “Free Palestine.”
Critics were quick to label the event as hypocritical as the drag queen appeared to dismiss LGBT+ people in Gaza.
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Critics were quick to label the event as hypocritical as the drag queen appeared to dismiss LGBT+ people in Gaza
Instagram/valleyfamiliesforpalestine
Stop Antisemitism said: “The harsh reality? Members of the LGBTQ+ community are often murdered in Gaza and other Palestinian areas such as Ramallah.
“Often times members of the LGBTQ+ community seek refuge in Israel as their lives are endangered and their families excommunicate them. Were these children taught these points?”
GB News host Nigel Farage also weighed in on the debate, saying: “If people can’t see that drag queens teaching kids to chant ‘Free Palestine’ is wrong on every level, then they seriously are part of the problem.”
The children proceeded to mimick the drag queen
Instagram/valleyfamiliesforpalestine
Despite receiving critical comments, the event’s organisers had earlier shared a slew of photos on an Instagram account of the young children and their parents watching and smiling as the drag queen performed for them.
The group also boasted of the “important lessons” the kids learned during the storytime event.
“We came together today in joy and solidarity and learned some important lessons about being ourselves, using our voices to speak out against injustice, and being fabulous while we do it,” a caption on the post read.