Just when you thought the holidays couldn't be any more politicized, the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will now feature a "Non-Binary and Transgender Extravaganza." I have to say, that one wasn't on my bingo card. HotAir's Karen Townsend brings us the news:
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is causing controversy this year with the inclusion of non-binary and transgender performers. The controversy caused the One Million Moms group to create an online petition voicing opposition to the move.
One Million Moms (OMM), a conservative advocacy group created by the American Family Association, has gathered about 20,000 signatures online to protest what they call a ‘non-binary and transgender extravaganza’ during the family-friendly annual parade. The group claims the LGBTQ agenda will be exposed to millions of viewers of the parade that traditionally ushers in the Christmas season.
The controversial performers come from Broadway shows. Broadway show performances have played a role in the parade for as long as I can remember. As with everything else in our culture today, sexual agendas are a part of entertainment and have been politicized. It seems that woke agendas find a way into family entertainment more and more. The OMM petition is meant to voice an objection to this trend and stop it before it continues to try to normalize the inclusion.
While I think this is just another example of holding down an old American tradition and taking a figurative whiz on it, honestly, this petition probably won't have much effect. This isn't the first time Macy's has had oddball participants; as long ago as 2013, members of the cast of the Broadway show "Kinky Boots" (yes, really) fully outfitted in their drag-queen outfits, marched in the parade after a similar controversy. Given that the "transgender" movement hasn't gone away in the intervening decade, it's unlikely that Macy's will be dissuaded in this year's event. Townsend appears to agree.
The petition calls for a boycott but I think that’s a heavy lift. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and is a part of the holiday tradition for many families. 20,000 signatures is a drop in the bucket compared to the millions of people who tune in. More than two million people are expected to attend the parade, which covers 2.5 miles of public viewing. Last year the parade drew 27.7 million viewers. It will air on NBC and Peacock.
Yeah, Macy's isn't going to be too concerned about a petition with 20,000 signatures. I'm not saying they shouldn't be, but the hard fact is that the organizers of the parade probably won't pay too much attention. It is, after all, New York.
There are some indicators that Americans are beginning to push the popular culture back to a less hysterical place. When even Saturday Night Live is lampooning the whole "men in women's sports" issue, you know you're gaining some sensible ground. We're seeing push-back in those sporting events, in fact; women are tired of being literally drubbed in women's sports, tired of losing scholarships to men in drag, and tired of having their spaces invaded.
But here's the thing: While One Million Moms are right to be concerned about this co-opting of an American tradition, entries in a parade aren't denying young women scholarships, resulting in them being beaten in a boxing ring, or having to share a locker room with a dude who "identifies" as a lesbian woman who is aroused at the idea of showering with girls. You have to pick your battles; while it's good to register one's disapproval of Macy's decision, one can best do that by refusing to watch, and indeed, it may be interesting to see what happens to the viewership numbers this year. But on this issue, there are many more important objectives to take.
