The city showcased its Myrtle Beach Gay Pride Festival today with food trucks, drinks, vendors, artisans, community services, Live Music featuring The Palace, Live Entertainment, Drag Performers, Street Performers, a Kids Zone, an Amateur Drag Contest, and Festival Merchandise. This inclusive event was open to all ages and featured areas designed especially for pre school and elementary school age children.
Several hundred residents and scores of young children were in attendance.
The Myrtle Beach Gay Pride Festival was not pleasant for local gay resident, Carmine Thompson, however.
Said Thompson, “I came down to go into the pride in the park festival and while I was walking toward it, I saw people with signs that said don’t drag kids into this. Meaning, they want to protect children, which I totally agree with.“
Added Thompson, “By the time I finished signing the petition and go over to the entry, I am told I can’t come in. I asked, well why can’t I come in. [I was told] Because you’re part of the protest. I said “what protest?” [I was told] You signed the thing for those people. I said yes, I signed the petition, it’s something I agree with, which is, protect children.”
Said Thompson, “I don’t believe in manipulating children and taking away their body parts when they are too young to get a tattoo, yet alone be decapitated in certain body areas.”
Thompson continued, “I have been denied as a gay man to go into a gay event because I signed something I totally agree with, and I think most people in the gay community agree with.“
Myrtle Beach Gay Pride Festival Event Security called Myrtle Beach Police who informed Thompson he could not enter the event.
S.C. Representative Thomas Beach joined a group of Market Common residents echoing their concerns. Beach has sponsored legislation in the S.C House called the Defense of Children’s Innocence Act. Bill H3616 reads: TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS by enacting THE “DEFENSE OF CHILDREN’S INNOCENCE ACT” BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-200 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY BUSINESS/EVENT WHERE DRAG SHOWS ARE HELD IS DEEMED TO BE A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS FOR ALL LOCAL ORDINANCES RELATING TO A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS.
Under this new legislation, the children videoed in the bounce house just behind Representative Beach (next to the cross dressing male), would not be allowed to attend events like todays that feature drag performers and Amateur Drag Contests.
Said Market Common resident Ashely Muer, “This bill will stop any drag queen shows from performing in front of our children.“
Said Beach, “My bill is designed to prevent children from being sexually groomed. The bill is important because there are three parts. The first part are the drag shows. The second part are the lewd, explicit activities that are associated with drag queen shows, but what makes those things illegal is when you involve children with the activity.“
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune champions transgendering small children if those children believe they were born into the wrong gendered body. As can be heard in the video’s end above, says Mayor Brenda Bethune, “It’s about having empathy and respect for others. That’s how we get diversity, equity and inclusion. And it’s not just about race. It’s about sexual preferences. It’s about if a child decides if they want to be a male or a female. It’s about loving everyone.“