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“The idea that there would be a festival based solely on sexual identity and replete with sexual themes aimed at youth is in and of itself very troubling. To think that organizers would explicitly forbid parental involvement is simply untenable.”
–INDIANA STATE REP. JAKE TESHKA
An LGBT youth organization is holding a carnival for young people ages 12-20 where they can meet drag queens, but specifically bans parents and legal guardians because of “safety concerns.”
The Indiana Youth Group (IYG) made a post on Instagram regarding its youth event that read: “Planning is underway for the IYG x @indypride Youth Carnival! This fun and exciting event is Wednesday, June 7, from 1-6 pm at the IYG Activity Center.”
The free event requires registration but is strictly limited to 200 youth “to ensure comfort and safety for all.” The group noted that the Youth Carnival is only for those ages 12 to 20, who must provide a valid ID.
However, parents and guardians of attending youth are not allowed to attend. The Instagram post notes that parents “will be invited to participate in other activities offsite or encouraged to explore the city.”
Tony Kinnett, an investigative journalist for the Daily Signal, exposed the post. He later spoke with the group’s director of engagement Zoe O’Haillin-Berne, who stated that parents are not allowed due to safety concerns, citing the sociopolitical climate that is “inhospitable and hostile” to LGBT youth and could “cause psychological and physical harm to queer youth.”
O’Haillin-Berne told Kinnett the activities at the event were a DJ, youth talent show, and standard carnival activities like facepainting, games, and crafts. She notably omitted one activity featured on the registration form: meeting drag queens.
One of the sponsors of the event is the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA). When asked if the IAA had any concerns about parents being banned from the event, officials responded, “The Indianapolis Airport Authority is not a host of this event; rather we are one of many Indy Pride Inc. sponsors. As part of the Indianapolis Airport Authority’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, we sponsor several organizations, like Indy Pride Inc.”
State Rep. Jake Teshka, R, lamented,
“The idea that there would be a festival based solely on sexual identity and replete with sexual themes aimed at youth is in and of itself very troubling. To think that organizers would explicitly forbid parental involvement is simply untenable. In the legislature I have fought for the recognition of parents’ right to direct the upbringing of their children. It’s disheartening to know that an organization supported in part by the state would further try to separate parents from kids.”
Let’s be clear, there is never a situation where a group hosting a carnival for children but bans their parents is healthy. Holding an LGBT carnival with drag queens that bans parents goes from unsafe to looking like a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate children and hide the perverseness of the event from parents.
Why does IYG think the presence of parents would cause harm to LGBT youth? Could it be that parents will see the highly sexual nature of the activities, as well as adults trying to get children to question their sex and introduce them to sexual themes and activities? IYG knows parents will want to protect their children from what they will be exposed to and knows that children are easier to sway without their parents around. This is yet another instance of pro-LGBT organizations trying to portray all parents as unloving and even violent towards their children.
The examples of schools hiding children’s gender transitions from their parents are so numerous that states have begun passing laws requiring schools to inform parents if their child asks to use pronouns differing from their biology. People who seek to separate parents from their children have devious motives, particularly LGBT advocates who have continuously tried to claim that parents who do not support their child’s LGBT lifestyle or gender identity are hostile and abusive.
Proverbs 23:24 says,
“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.”
It is a parent’s duty to teach their children the ways of the Lord and to warn them of the path of evil. Doing so will fill their heart with joy. Failure to do so will bring them sadness. Parents cannot afford to be naïve when it comes to the well-being of their children. The best protectors of children’s hearts, minds, and bodies are vigilant parents. They must open their eyes to what is happening, recognize that there are people out there who are now trying to co-opt children and harm them — and then refuse to let anyone use deception, guilt, fear, or intimidation to get between you and your child.
Ready to dive deeper into the intersection of faith and policy? Head over to our Theology of Politics series page where we’ve published several long-form pieces that will help Christians navigate where their faith should direct them on political issues.
