A small city in upstate New York sponsored a “family friendly” arts festival, then stood by while grown men stripped down and took cash tips a few feet from toddlers. Rather than issuing an apology, the Democratic mayor issued a lecture on free speech.
Footage from the September 19 City of the Hills Festival in Oneonta now circulating online shows one performer peeling off clothing, working the crowd for money, and dancing like a stripper in Muller Plaza, a public downtown space.
Local parents have started a petition. City Hall has treated their objection as the real problem.
The hour-long show was billed by organizers as “Draglesque to Downtown.” It was put on by the Community Arts Network of Oneonta and held on the plaza’s stage area during a festival that, according to a Daily Caller report, drew sponsorship from the City of Oneonta and the New York State Council on the Arts.
Advertisements did not warn that stripteases were part of the act. Videos and photos reviewed by the Caller show toddlers and young children seated just feet from the performers.
One performer, identified on Facebook as Teejae Dee, stripped down to a thong-style costume, did floorwork, climbed across picnic tables, and took money from the audience.
Dee promoted the slot in advance as a “Sickening Showcase,” with shows at 4 p.m. Asked whether the performance was appropriate for children, the organization did not answer.
A mother of three who spoke at Oneonta City Hall told WBNG the event was sold as family friendly, then the artist warned parents the act would be “PG-16.”
“Cano advertised their event as family friendly, however the artist stated a warning to the parents that it would be PG-16, which means these performers prepared an act not appropriate for children for a family festival in an open area in public space,” she said.
“They did this all while assuming positions on all fours, shaking their buttocks and genitalia, laying on tables in an overly suggestive and sexual manner while receiving tips from kids and adults. As a mother of three small children who are unaware that these are prosthetics, it made me wonder what message is teaching these kids.”
Kayla Ver, who was at the festival said “When did teaching small children it is good and normal for strange men to take clothes off near them become acceptable? When did parents and adults applauding vulgarity, revealing outfits, and taking one’s clothes off for money teaching kids it is a good thing to do become celebrated? When did the fear of offending an adult acting out fetishes around children become more important than protecting little children?”
On October 6, the fight moved into the Common Council. All Otsego reported there was atanding room only. Public comment on the show ran about an hour and a half, but the council took no action.
Sam Judd, who filmed the performance and has pushed the petition, told the council: “These acts in this given setting qualify as indecent exposure.”
He added: “We are saying that people, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, should not be giving sexual performances in public spaces, especially in front of children. We’re merely attempting to ensure that next year these performances are held in an appropriate lawful venue.”
