On Monday, Converse announced that they have “partnered” with folks “connected to the LGBTQ+ community” to promote their new line of shoes known as the company’s “Pride Collection.” An 11-year-old child named Desmond Napoles, a so-called “drag kid” who goes by “Desmond is Amazing,” is one of the featured promoters.
“We’re happy to launch our Pride Collection, partnering with six individuals connected to the LGBTQ+ community who show the power of expressing one's true self,” Converse posted in a tweet on Monday.
The company’s site showcases a signature rainbow shoe for Desmond, who is labeled as “Drag Kid/LGBTQ+ Advocate.” Under a photo of the child posing in drag is a quote: “There is no normal."
"What started as a rebellious fight for equality has since grown into a loud, proud assertion of true self-expression,” reads the site’s Pride Collection page. “Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pride with a glitter-dipped collection of parade-worthy sneakers, including our first-ever trans flag design. Because equal rights are for everyone."
“Let's spread a message of love together and shout a little louder,” the page also reads.
It’s unclear if the Napoles family has been compensated for Desmond’s work with Converse. The family has long claimed they do not take money for Desmond’s “expression” as a drag kid.
In December 2018, young Desmond performed a dance number in full-drag at a New York City-based gay bar called 3 Dollar Bill. As the child stripped off his jacket and bounced around the stage, patrons — grown men — handed him dollar bills, as one might see in a strip club.
The child’s parents were investigated by government agencies in March over accusations of abuse, The Daily Wire previously reported. However, Wendy Napoles, Desmond’s mother, said the agencies cleared her and her husband of any abuse claims.
“We have been accused of child abuse, exploitation & maltreatment to the point that we have been backed into a corner trying to defend ourselves,” Wendy wrote in an Instagram post. “We have been under a microscope since early December. I never thought I would have to breach my own privacy & confidentiality to provide proof that has been demanded of us out of malice."
“ACS has investigated us thoroughly,” she continued. “Because of the number of reports they received, our case went all the way to the Governor's office. We had announced visits & unannounced visits to our home nearly daily & at all hours & Desmond's school. Our family was probed more intensely than any other case before. All allegations were ‘unfounded’. … On the plus side, ACS has been offering us many support services."
“In addition, we were investigated by the NYPD, the Child Advocacy Center, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Labor, and the District Attorney's office. No abuse or maltreatment was found. No regulations for child performers were broken. No illegal activity has occurred," added Wendy.
Desmond’s crossdressing has been promoted in the mainstream media on several occasions. For example, CNBC, which is owned by NBC Universal News Group, showcased the child as an "LGBTQ youth" advocate, last year.I'm not going revisit my entire turn from secular agnosticism to genuine faith here, but longtime LITD readers know I often refer to it in terms of the last remaining sticking points I had. (I was even going over those sticking points one last time the night I said yes to Jesus. I was sitting there alone in the dark, asking myself, isn't there some equally plausible explanation for reality?)
But I will mention that one such remaining sticking point was the notion of a Devil. I just couldn't see how that could possibly fit with what I knew from decades of empirical observation of this universe.
But then the acceleration of our civilizational rot commenced and I could see no other explanation.
This is how the Enemy prowls this earth, and he's finding no shortage of souls to devour.
No comments:
Post a Comment