Johnson County GOP chair alleges she was assaulted at drag storytime

[cigaretteman]

Amid high tensions over the Iowa Legislature's moves to limit LGBTQ+ rights, the chair of the Johnson County Republican Party is claiming she was assaulted as she and other conservative activists protested a drag story time event at the Iowa City Public Library.

About 400 people, mainly parents with children, attended the Drag Family Storytime on Tuesday in a library meeting room. Teresa Horton Bumgarner, the party chair, was there with several other people, some of whom carried signs condemning the library and drag performers as "groomers," a term that implies manipulation of children for detrimental purposes.

As Bumgarner sat in the middle of a group of parents and children, livestreaming the event, she was confronted repeatedly by both parents and counter protestors. At one point she was grabbed, held and insulted by a person while recording and later was pushed by a parent who said she was trying to prevent her from livestreaming video of children posing for photos with the drag performers.

Bumgarner claimed during the livestream that she also had been struck by at least one of the people confronting her, and spoke with Iowa City police Sgt. Kevin Bailey, who was present. She had him escort her from the event after it was over.

She told the Press-Citizen she was filing a complaint with police, providing the livestream as evidence. The people who confronted Bumgarner were not identified.

GOP leader says she was assaulted while protesting Iowa City children's drag story time

A livestream shows repeated confrontations between Johnson County GOP chair Teresa Horton Bumgarner and parents at the Iowa City library event

www.press-citizen.com

 

[hawkdave007]

GOP leader says she was assaulted while protesting Iowa City children's drag story time

A livestream shows repeated confrontations between Johnson County GOP chair Teresa Horton Bumgarner and parents at the Iowa City library event

www.press-citizen.com

This is officially becoming the stupidest decade to live through.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Good.

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

I think I’m going to start going to different churches and stand at the altar with a “Religion kills, stop grooming our kids to kill” sign.(not serious)
I wonder if I would be assaulted for that? Seriously, WTF is wrong with people?

 

[HawCory]

Why is drag queen story time a thing? I don't get the attraction.

Don't get me wrong; if parents want to take their children to a drag queen story time then that is their choice. I just don't understand the concept. Why is it important that the people reading stories to their children are dressed in drag?

Do they have other story hours where the people reading books are dressed in different ways or is drag queen story hour the only choice if you want your children to attend story hour?

 

[HawkeyeHitman]

We have story time in Clayton County where you dress as a normal person.

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

This is officially becoming the stupidest decade to live through.

Agree. Drag story time seems like an unnecessary event at a public library.

Drag shows have been around for a long time. When did it become necessary to host them in public schools, libraries, etc? This all seems recent, or the controversy over them is recent.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Agree. Drag story time seems like an unnecessary event at a public library.

Drag shows have been around for a long time. When did it become necessary to host them in public schools, libraries, etc? This all seems recent, or the controversy over them is recent.

It's to outrage cons...only reasonable explanation

 

[gohawks50]

One of my former colleagues took her children to this event. She posted on FB yesterday that her kids loved the show, but were frightened by a man filming the event. She said she wasn't upset that the protestors were there, but the fact that they were filming children upset her. She thought that the parents expressing their concerns might make the social media rounds.

Also as a side note, why is a grown man standing in the middle of a bunch of children blocking their view to protest?

I found this clip of the event on Twitter.

 

[unipanther1999]

Why is drag queen story time a thing? I don't get the attraction.

Don't get me wrong; if parents want to take their children to a drag queen story time then that is their choice. I just don't understand the concept. Why is it important that the people reading stories to their children are dressed in drag?

Do they have other story hours where the people reading books are dressed in different ways or is drag queen story hour the only choice if you want your children to attend story hour?

A quick search of the ICPL event calendar shows all kinds of different storytime and other learning opportunities for kids and families.

This may or may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's obviously optional. And it seems very big-government to try to legislate this out of existence, like some in the GOP tried to do this year.

 

[ICHawk-I]

✅ Achievement unlocked: Attend an event which you disagree with. Claim you were assaulted; use the media to spread your claim and put a negative light on the otherwise harmless event.

 

[Chishawk1425]

Amid high tensions over the Iowa Legislature's moves to limit LGBTQ+ rights, the chair of the Johnson County Republican Party is claiming she was assaulted as she and other conservative activists protested a drag story time event at the Iowa City Public Library.

About 400 people, mainly parents with children, attended the Drag Family Storytime on Tuesday in a library meeting room. Teresa Horton Bumgarner, the party chair, was there with several other people, some of whom carried signs condemning the library and drag performers as "groomers," a term that implies manipulation of children for detrimental purposes.

As Bumgarner sat in the middle of a group of parents and children, livestreaming the event, she was confronted repeatedly by both parents and counter protestors. At one point she was grabbed, held and insulted by a person while recording and later was pushed by a parent who said she was trying to prevent her from livestreaming video of children posing for photos with the drag performers.

Bumgarner claimed during the livestream that she also had been struck by at least one of the people confronting her, and spoke with Iowa City police Sgt. Kevin Bailey, who was present. She had him escort her from the event after it was over.

She told the Press-Citizen she was filing a complaint with police, providing the livestream as evidence. The people who confronted Bumgarner were not identified.

GOP leader says she was assaulted while protesting Iowa City children's drag story time

A livestream shows repeated confrontations between Johnson County GOP chair Teresa Horton Bumgarner and parents at the Iowa City library event

www.press-citizen.com

😆

 

[Chishawk1425]

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

Agree. Drag story time seems like an unnecessary event at a public library.

Drag shows have been around for a long time. When did it become necessary to host them in public schools, libraries, etc? This all seems recent, or the controversy over them is recent.

And people wonder why funding for public libraries is presently a contentious issue.

 

[Chishawk1425]

And people wonder why funding for public libraries is presently a contentious issue.

Because of Clowns like the Johnson County GOP and the Moms 4 Liberty domestic terrorists.

 

[unipanther1999]

Agree. Drag story time seems like an unnecessary event at a public library.

Drag shows have been around for a long time. When did it become necessary to host them in public schools, libraries, etc? This all seems recent, or the controversy over them is recent.

It's an optional event in a side room at the library. You have to choose to see it. You could be in the other parts of the library and not know it's even happening.

Are there mandatory drag events at public schools? I don't remember hearing about any. But even if there are, now with vouchers attending public school can be considered an optional choice I suppose.

I'm not a fan of drag, but I don't mind that it exists or that some people like it and expose their children to it. I basically feel the same way about soccer.

 

[cigaretteman]

Agree. Drag story time seems like an unnecessary event at a public library.

Drag shows have been around for a long time. When did it become necessary to host them in public schools, libraries, etc? This all seems recent, or the controversy over them is recent.

The library's been having them since 2018. It was never a problem until Republicans made up a controversy over them and their "sinister" agenda.

 

[torbee]

Only a total POS sociopath would protest storytime at the public library.

So it makes sense it's an Iowa GOP leader.

 

[Huey Grey]

What kind of douche shows up at a children's reading and says, "You know I think now would be a good time to protest."

 

[torbee]

Why is drag queen story time a thing? I don't get the attraction.

Don't get me wrong; if parents want to take their children to a drag queen story time then that is their choice. I just don't understand the concept. Why is it important that the people reading stories to their children are dressed in drag?

Do they have other story hours where the people reading books are dressed in different ways or is drag queen story hour the only choice if you want your children to attend story hour?

Kids like to play dress up.

It's really as simple as that.

Only creepy Republicans want to tie it to something sexual.

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

The library's been having them since 2018. It was never a problem until Republicans made up a controversy over them and their "sinister" agenda.

So not really very long ago. 4-5 years. I would call that a recent thing that is happening. Wasn’t happening 10, 20, 30 years ago.

I will admit, having a Drag Queen story time seems odd to me. I will add that it even seems more odd at public libraries and schools. Have them at a private business all you want. When it come to venues that are funded with tax dollars, these types of events will draw protests. No different than those that protest nativity scenes or the Ten Commandments on the courthouse lawn. I have no problem with those being protested and removed.

 

[Huey Grey]

So not really very long ago. 4-5 years. I would call that a recent thing that is happening. Wasn’t happening 10, 20, 30 years ago.

I will admit, having a Drag Queen story time seems odd to me. I will add that it even seems more odd at public libraries and schools. Have them at a private business all you want. When it come to venues that are funded with tax dollars, these types of events will draw protests. No different than those that protest nativity scenes or the Ten Commandments on the courthouse lawn. I have no problem with those being protested and removed.

It's a public room that anyone can reserve not just the people who make you uncomfortable.

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

It's a public room that anyone can reserve not just the people who make you uncomfortable.

Who is “you”? have no problem with drag queens. I am supporting the right to protest an event held at a public venue funded by tax dollars.

Just because I think it’s odd that a public library is the choice of this event location, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t support drag queen story time at a private book store.

 

[torbee]

Who is “you”? have no problem with drag queens. I am supporting the right to protest an event held at a public venue funded by tax dollars.

Just because I think it’s odd that a public library is the choice of this event location, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t support drag queen story time at a private book store.

You don't think that any organization should have the right to reserve a room at the public library for its programming?

As far as I'm concerned, as long as the organization is not promoting something unlawful, it should be allowed.

If it's an anti-abortion group - they should be allowed. If it's a pro-2nd Amendment group - they should be allowed. If it's an anti-nuclear group - they should be allowed. If it's Ugly Right Wing Patriot Moms Who Are Anti-Everything - they should be allowed. And if it's a drag troupe that wants to read books to kids - THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

This is how "public" venues are supposed to work.

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

You don't think that any organization should have the right to reserve a room at the public library for its programming?

As far as I'm concerned, as long as the organization is not promoting something unlawful, it should be allowed.

If it's an anti-abortion group - they should be allowed. If it's a pro-2nd Amendment group - they should be allowed. If it's an anti-nuclear group - they should be allowed. If it's Ugly Right Wing Patriot Moms Who Are Anti-Everything - they should be allowed. And if it's a drag troupe that wants to read books to kids - THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

This is how "public" venues are supposed to work.

I didn’t say they shouldn’t be allowed. I never said this group shouldn’t have the right to reserve a room at a public library. So, no, I don’t think that.

I find it the location an odd choice.

I also believe that the group protesting has every right to protest.

 

[torbee]

I didn’t say they shouldn’t be allowed. I never said this group shouldn’t have the right to reserve a room at a public library. So, no, I don’t think that.

I find it the location an odd choice.

I also believe that the group protesting has every right to protest.

They should be allowed to protest OUTSIDE (many cities have designated areas for public demonstrations)

I don't think they should be allowed to interrupt an event inside the room the organization being protested booked.

And yes, I would apply that rule to all protest groups, regardless of political persuasion.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

.....well....narrow mindness... is now officially a right to infringe on other people's right to the pursuit of happiness

 

[JMNSHO]

Keep on fighting over this stuff, dumbasses, your masters love it.

 

[Fijimn]

I didn’t say they shouldn’t be allowed. I never said this group shouldn’t have the right to reserve a room at a public library. So, no, I don’t think that.

I find it the location an odd choice.

I also believe that the group protesting has every right to protest.

You find reading to children in a library odd…interesting

 

[FlickShagwell]

What kind of douche shows up at a children's reading and says, "You know I think now would be a good time to protest."

Where else but a room full of toddlers to throw a temper tantrum?

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Ms. Bumgarner appears to live in Tipton and work in West Branch. Just exactly how is she chair of Johnson County Republicans when she lives and works in Cedar County? Furthermore how miserable is your existence that you feel compelled to drive to Johnson County from Cedar and Scott county to protest a kid’s story time because you’ve been brainwashed to believe a pile of lies that drag queens are grooming children? Get a life, creepers.

Bunch of busybody shit disturbers.

 

[Colonoscopy]

About 400 people, mainly parents with children, attended the Drag Family Storytime

Apparently the lefties in Iowa City aren't immune to this nutty fixation. 400 people for that? They're losing it.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Why is drag queen story time a thing? I don't get the attraction.

Don't get me wrong; if parents want to take their children to a drag queen story time then that is their choice. I just don't understand the concept. Why is it important that the people reading stories to their children are dressed in drag?

Do they have other story hours where the people reading books are dressed in different ways or is drag queen story hour the only choice if you want your children to attend story hour?

Because the right hates it. It gets out on social media, the lefties defend, the righties hate it... which draws interest and builds popularity. You want to be a good progressive lefty... you attend something like this. That is what it has become. More political nuttiness.

Take away all that and it's not a thing. (or barely a thing) Our political climate at the moment.

 

[Colonoscopy]

One of my former colleagues took her children to this event. She posted on FB yesterday that her kids loved the show, but where frightened by a man filming the event. She said she wasn't upset that the protestors were there, but the fact that they were filming children upset her. She thought that the parents expressing their concerns might make the social media rounds.

Also as a side note, why is a grown man standing in the middle of a bunch of children blocking their view to protest?

I found this clip of the event on Twitter.

View embedded media

Activists acting like chodes. More at 10.

 

[Huey Grey]

I didn’t say they shouldn’t be allowed. I never said this group shouldn’t have the right to reserve a room at a public library. So, no, I don’t think that.

I find it the location an odd choice.

I also believe that the group protesting has every right to protest.

You think it's odd to book a room at a library for a reading?

 

[Huey Grey]

You find reading to children in a library odd…interesting

Damn beat me to the punch.

 

[NoleATL]

Do they have other story hours where the people reading books are dressed in different ways or is drag queen story hour the only choice if you want your children to attend story hour?

There was a meme going around asking "Why not Fire Fighter reading hour? Police Office Reading Hour? Etc..." to which I asked if they were criticizing those folks for NOT doing it?

 

[Colonoscopy]

Damn beat me to the punch.

Obviously the odd part is the "DRAG QUEEN" part in the story hour. That's point. Drag queens are the point. They want you to show up an notice the drag queen -- otherwise it would be any other story hour. This is obvious.

I'm sure it started off as some way to expose kids to "gender diverse" people... and gender diverse stories. But unfortunately there was some twerking, sexualization -- at some of these events -- and confusion over what exactly a drag queen was.

The curious thing to me is that drag queens caught on, of all things, for the purpose of exposing kids such. Why pick something in which is often sexualized?

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Apparently the lefties in Iowa City aren't immune to this nutty fixation. 400 people for that? They're losing it.

Oh look, another busybody shit disturber. Perhaps find a purpose in your life?

 

[Colonoscopy]

Oh look, another busybody shit disturber. Perhaps find a purpose in your life?

I would let them be nutty in peace. You're an idiot. Get lost.