State Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Madison) shocked the Alabama political world last year by defeating Republican State House hopeful Teddy Powell by a landslide in a special election to fill a seat vacated by David Cole, who was forced to resign his seat after being sentenced for election fraud.
Well, the outcome was not a shock, just the margin of victory.
At the time, Democrats throughout the country celebrated the March 2024 election outcome that was heavy on abortion and light on state policy as if it were bellwether for the national election later that year.
How'd that work out?
Nearly a year later, we got a glimpse of Lands' views on drag queens, particularly as the topic relates to drag queen-centric situations involving underage children.
During an Alabama House State Government Committee meeting earlier this week, House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) and Lands had a courteous exchange over the need for a state law prohibiting drag performances in schools and libraries in the presence of a minor.
Exchange as follows:
LANDS: I'm trying to understand what's behind this bill. I mean, I know what happens in my libraries, and I feel like there must have been some impetus for this to be introduced. Can you give us more specifics?
STADTHAGEN: Absolutely. So for the past two years — do you read 1819, Yellowhammer News?
LANDS: Sometimes.
STADTHAGEN: So, they carried several articles about men dressed as women in front of kids.
LANDS: I believe that was a man dressed as Mother Goose.
STADTHAGEN: Men dressed as women in front of kids.
LANDS: Mother Goose.
STADTHAGEN: Whatever you want to call it. But I am going to tell you right now, that is not appropriate for a child to see.
LANDS: Do you know where it happened?
STADTHAGEN: It happened all over the state. Mobile was one.
LANDS: I don't think it happened that many places, and it was a man dressed up as Mother Goose.
(CROSSTALK)
LANDS: I just feel like so much of what we're doing here is overreach and a reaction, a very reactive measure when there really ins't a problem there.
STADTHAGEN: So, you would agree it is appropriate for a man to be dressed as a woman in front of a child?
LANDS: It doesn't say anything about a sexual --
STADTHAGEN: It is just a question to you, though. Would you agree to that or not?
LANDS: Not in a sexual manner, but that's not part of this bill.
STADTHAGEN: If a man is dressed as a woman in front of kids, pretending to be a woman, would you think that's appropriate?
LANDS: If it is part of a theater or performance, absolutely. It happens all the time.
STADTHAGEN: In terms of kids, you would say that is appropriate?
LANDS: Mother Goose reads to the kids.
STADTHAGEN: You and I would disagree on that topic.
Even if you accept Lands' premise that this is not an issue that should be commandeering the limited precious time of lawmakers, how do you feel about a man dressed as Mother Goose performing in front of your young children?
"This week at the Tallapoosa County Library: Charlie, whose full-time job is welding, will be dressed as Mother Goose performing 'Little Miss Muffet' and 'Pitter-Patter, Pitter-Pat.' Bring your little ones because you won't want to miss it!"
(I completely made that scenario up for the sake of this editorial.)
Is that acceptable for a public setting? (Not to be confused with a private setting, like a coffee shop, brewery or wherever parents that so choose to take their children for such an event.)
I will go out on a limb and say most parents in Alabama would take a hard pass, be it in a private or public setting. Most people in Alabama would also take exception to what is offered at their public library.
It has happened in the past. In 2018, Mobile's Ben May Public Library hosted the so-called "Drag Queen Story Hour." Despite drawing objections from conservative groups, the event went on as was hailed by the media because, as a 2018 Associated Press story described it, it was aimed at providing "positive and unabashedly queer role models."
Was it appropriate to use the public's trust in Mobile to provide "positive and unabashedly queer role models?"
Did anyone ask what we think?
No, unfortunately, like many of the governmental entities in Alabama, it just sort of happened.
Granted, it was six years ago, but it still happened.
Who is to say something like that won't happen again?
Time after time, we have seen librarians react arrogantly, condescendingly and indifferently to objectionable content within the walls of the library—be it hypersexual content on the shelves of the children's and young adult sections or displays celebrating Pride Month in the main lobby of the public library.
An act of the Alabama Legislature may seem extreme, but that is where we are.
Unfortunately, in our for, of and by the people system, we cannot trust some government employees of Alabama public libraries to do the right thing — including limiting perfomances of men dressed as Mother Goose in front of children.
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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