>> O'Connell: I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION NAMED MONKEYPOX A GLOBAL EMERGENCY THIS WEEK-- THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT IT'S MADE SUCH A DECLARATION, AND I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER THE FIRST.

SO, WHAT'S THE REAL RISK WE'RE FACING NOW?

AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT JOINS ME.

PLUS, AFTER NEO-NAZIS TARGETED A DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR IN JAMAICA PLAIN, THE HOST OF THAT EVENT JOINS ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW THESE GROUPS USE HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA AS A RALLYING CRY, AND WHY SHE WON'T BE DETERRED.

>> O'Connell: THE U.S. IS OFFICIALLY LEADING THE WORLD MONKEYPOX RACE-- NOT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST IT, BUT IN NUMBER OF INFECTIONS SINCE THE GLOBAL OUTBREAK BEGAN.

MORE THAN 3,800 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C., INCLUDING MORE THAN 80 IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND INCREASINGLY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS UNDER PRESSURE TO DO MORE TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD.

RHODE ISLAND CONGRESSMAN DAVID CICILLINE HAS REQUESTED $100 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT A FEDERAL RESPONSE EFFORT TO THE VIRUS, AND BIDEN IS CONSIDERING DECLARING A NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY, FOLLOWING THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S DECLARATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ON SATURDAY.

THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

BUT CAN WE GET AHEAD OF THIS OUTBREAK BEFORE WE EXPERIENCE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?

I'M JOINED BY DR. PHYLLIS KANKI, A PROFESSOR OF IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT THE HARVARD T.H.

CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SAYING IT AND IT SEEMS LIKE DR. KANKI, WE ALL ARE HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH A NEW INFECTIOUS DISEASE OR AT LEAST NEW OUTBREAK.

SHOULD WE DO A DO-OVER HERE, SHOULD WE JUST SAY STARTING TODAY LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH MONKEYPOX THE RIGHT WAY?

>> I THINK WE'RE SLOWLY MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND I THINK THAT IT IS JUST THAT THIS VIRUS WHICH WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IS BEHAVING A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.

AND SO I THINK THAT HAS THROWN MANY OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS FOR A LOOPMENT BUT WE DO V THE EXPERIENCE FROM COVID SO THAT IS HELPING US MOVE I THINK QUICKLY WITH THE DIFFERENT POLICIES AND STOCKING UP OF VACCINES, ET CETERA.

>> WHEN YOU SAY BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY S IT BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SAY SPREADING FAST BUT SPREADING ON MORE CONTINENTS THAN IT HAS BEFORE OR IS THERE ACTUALLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE VIRUS?

>> OH, RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE VIRUS BASED ON THE SEQUENCE THAT THEY'VE MADE.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE EUROPE, IN EUROPE AND IN THE U.S., THAT IT DEFINITELY IS SPREADING MORE RAPIDLY THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.

AND IT IS SPREADING IN GROUPS THAT WE HADN'T SEEN BEFORE.

SO THOSE TWO LATTER BEHAVIORAL TRAITS MAKES IT UNUSUAL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CATCH MONKEYPOX.

A COUPLE FOLKS SAID TO ME I'M NOT THAT WORRIED ABOUT T YOU CAN'T DIE FROM IT.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS DEAL WAY PAINFUL RASH, I SHALL MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT THAT THAN COVID, I WOULD SAY YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT BOTH, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO GET MONKEYPOX AND HOW CONCERNED SHOULD YOU BE IF YOU HAVE IT.

>> I THINK IT IS PRETTY VARIABLE.

OVERALL IT IS CERTAINLY NOT ON THE SCALE OF COVID.

BUT THERE ARE CASES THAT THE LESIONS ARE EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

AND THEN THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE QUITE MILD.

SO OVERALL IT IS A MORE MILD DISEASE AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE AS WORRIED ABOUT IT AS THEY ARE WITH COVID.

COVID.

BUT I DO THINK THAT FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, IT WILL BE QUITE THE PAINFUL COURSE.

>> I HAD THE CHICKEN POX WHEN I WAS 22 AND THAT WAS IN THE A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.

SO ANYTHING WITH POX IN IT I'M GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MESSAGING.

YOU ELUDED TO A LITTLE BIT.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT SEEMS THAT EXPERTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY DON'T TARGET CERTAIN GROUPS.

I KNOW IN THE NEWS MEDIA WE WERE KERPED ABOUT WHAT IMAGES WE WERE SHOWING EARLY ON.

AND SOME OF THE ORIGINAL INFECTIONS WERE NOT IN AFRICA AND WE WERE SHOWING MANY IMAGES OF PEOPLE IN AFRICA BECAUSE THAT IS THE IMAGES WE HAD FOR STOCK PHOTOS SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME AWARENESS AROUND THAT.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A FEW MISSTEPS IN TRYING TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY ESPECIALLY TO THE GAY COMMUNITIES.

MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN INFECTED.

NOT NECESSARILY THROUGH SEX BUT MAYBE JUST BODY TO BODY CONTACT.

THIS IS A DISEASE THAT YOU CAN CATCH FROM SOMEONE'S CLOTHES.

YOU CAN CATCH FROM TOUCHING SOMEONE'S SKIN.

IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO COMMUNICATE TO RISK GROUPS RIGHT NOW AROUND MONKEYPOX.

>> I THINK THAT'S STILL CHALLENGING.

BASE I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE VIRUS IS MOVING IN NETWORKS THAT HAPPEN TO BE MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.

IT MAY NOT BE ALWAYS TRANGS pMITTED BY SEX BUT MORE THE CLOSE CONTACT AND WE KNOW THAT THIS VIRUS IS PRETTY EASILY SPREAD THROUGH LOTS OF MECHANISMS.

I MEAN EVEN IN CLOTHING AND EVEN IN PROLONGED CONTACT INTO RESPIRATORY IS HE CREATIONS.

SO I DON'T THINK-- SECRETARY RES, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO TARP GET PARTICULAR GROUPS BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN POPULATIONS AT THE MOMENT WHO ARE TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE MAJORITY OF THE CASES.

>> O'Connell: ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE SEEM TO BE REPEATING AS WE DID WITH COVID IS THE ACCESS TO VACCINES AND THE ACCESS TO TESTING.

I KNOW HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS A NUMBER OF SITES HAVE OPENED UP FOR VACCINES THAT ARE, AND THERE HAS BEEN OUTREACH DONE TO COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET IT.

DO WE NEED TO DO MORE ON THAT FRONT?

DO WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE VACCINES AND TESTING VAIBLG AS WE DO THE MESSAGING?

>> I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING QUICKLY ON THIS, EVEN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

BECAUSE EARLY ON WHEN THE VACCINE CLINICS OPENED UP IN SOME OF THE HIGH END AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THEY RAN OUT QUICKLY.

SO THEY ARE BEGINNING TO STOWNG AND I THINK AT VA AND MANY OF THE OTHER AGENCIES ARE MOVING QUICKLY TO MAKE SURE WE MANUFACTURE THE STOCK FILE-- STOCK PILES OF VACCINE THAT WE NEED.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE WITH COVID.

WE HAVE VACCINES THAT WORK AND THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS EVEN AFTER THEY'RE INFECTED.

>> YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS ITS PAWSES IN TRAVEL AND THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS THAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID PANDEMIC MADE US FORGET HOW CLOSE WE ALL ARE WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL.

THAT YOU CAN GO TO A PARTY IN EUROPE AND THEN COME HOME AND JUST WITH AN ENCOUNTER OR INTERACTION WITH A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE CAN SPREAD A DISEASE WORLDWIDE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW EASILY WORLDWIDE OUTBREAKS CAN BECOME OR DO YOU THINK THIS IS JUST AN ANOMALY.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ANOMALY, WE HAVE COVID AND NOW WE HAVE MONKEYPOX RIGHT AFTER THAT.

AND WE'RE SEEING BOTH OF THOSE AGENTS MOVE WITH UNBELIEVABLE SPEED.

SO I DO THINK IT GIVES US SOME PAUSE TO THINK ABOUT THE PERSPECTIVE OF HOW CLOSELY WE LIVE WITH OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS.

AND HOW NEW PATH O GENS CAN REALLY MOVE QUICKLY AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I KNOW A NUMBER OF EXPERTS ARE LOOKING AT TREATMENT OF POST COVID ESPECIALLY AROUND FATIGUE AND OTHER ILLNESSES.

AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID AND ARE EXPERIENCING LONG HAUL COVID OR FATIGUE, WHICH ARE NOT NECESSARILY FROM MY LAYMAN'S UNDERSTANDING UNIQUE TO JUST COVID.

ANY VIRUS, EPSTEIN BARR CAN CAUSE LONG-TERM FATIGUE.

I HEARD ONE EXPERT SAY THAT COVID IS JUST A VIRUS BEING A VIRUS.

IS THERE SOME OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY FIND WAYS TO HELP TREAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FATIGUE AND LONG-TERM FATIGUE AND LONG-TERM VIRUS POTT VIRAL SLOOS?

ARE WE AT A BREAK THRU MOMENTS, DO YOU THINK BECAUSE OF, OBVIOUSLY NOT A PRICE WE WANT TO PAY, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, BUT IN ORDER TO HELP BRING SOME NEW TREATMENTS TO FOLKS WITH THESE LONG-TERM ISSUES?

I THINK TREATMENT WILL BE THE GOAL.

I THINK WHAT LONG COVID HAS TAUGHT US IS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON IT.

AND I DO THINK THAT COVID IS DISTINCT BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGER PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WHO GET THE DISEASE WHO GETS LONG COVID.

SO WITH OTHER VIRUSES YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH SMALLER FRACTION OF PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE, WHO WILL SUFFER THOSE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE SMALLER NUMBERS, THERE'S LESS EMPHASIS AND LESS RESEARCH THAT CONTINUES ON TO TRY TO FIND BETTER TREATMENT FOR THOSE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> SO STANDING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR EARLIER COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVE SOG CLOSELY TOGETHER AND TRAVEL SOG QUICKLY AND BEING ABLE TO CIRCLE THE WORLD, SO MANY PEOPLE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAVEL, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS OR IN THE UNITED STATES TO REALLY BUCK UP OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM AND OUR MESSAGING SO THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM WE'RE INVENTING THE WHEEL EVERY TIME WE COME UPON A VIRUS, THAT WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT TO IT TO GET TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARING AN EMERGENCY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TREATMENT AND ACCESS AND THE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, THE MOST QUICKLY.

>> WELL, MY PERSONAL VIEW ASK, IS THAT THE U.S.

PARTICULARLY UNDER COVID SUFFERED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A MORE NATIONALIZED HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM.

AND WE SAW HOW SOME COUNTRIES WHO HAD THOSE KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WERE ABLE TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY.

THE U.K. IS AN EXAMPLE.

BUT I HAVE EVEN SEEN COUNTRIES IN AFRICA THAT HAD BETTER REPORTING JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A NATIONAL SYSTEM.

AND WE PUT A HUGE BURDEN ON AUGUST OF OUR STATES AND THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE-- TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH A NEW PATHOGEN THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CAN MOVE, WE CAN NATIONALIZE SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES FOR SURVEILLACE AND DIAGNOSIS AND REPORTING, ET CETERA.

>> SO WE'RE ALL GETTING READY TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL, THE STUFF IS OUT IN THE ISLE, THE INDEX CARDS ARE READY TO G FOLKS ARE GETTING BACK TO WORK, MANY.

AS WE GET READY TO GET THIS FALL AND GET BACK INTO THE BUILDING, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUICK BITS OF ADVICE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE KEEPING IN MIND TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE JUST IN GENERAL, NOT JUST FROM MONKEYPOX AND COVID, HOW CAN WE DO THIS IN A HEALTHY WAY AS WE CLOSE HERE?

>> I HOPE THAT EMPLOYERS WILL AND UNIVERSITIES, ET CETERA, WILL REALLY THINK ABOUT THEIR POLICIES DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

COME THE END OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

AND AS IS ALWAYS ITS CASE, IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL, YOU SHOULD STAY HOME.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD ADVICE, I THINK, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, DR. PHYLLIS SKANKI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, I APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT UP THE GOAL OF THE CHILDREN'S LIT RASSEE NONPROFIT DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SPREAD LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, ONE SUCH EVENT IN JAMAICA PLAIN OVER THE WEEKEND WAS MET WITH AGGRESSION AND HATE FROM MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUP NSC-1316789 JUST THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF EXTREMIST HATE GROUP DEMONSTRATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS BUT ALSO THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF SIMILAR ATTACKS ON DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'M JOINED NOW BY THE HOST OF THE DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR THAT WAS TARGETED ON SATURDAY PATTY BOURRE, AND REVEREND IRENE MONROE, A SYNDICATED RELIGION COLUMNIST AND COHOST OF GBH'S ALL REVED UP PODCAST.

WELCOME TO BOFT YOU.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU PATTY, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR, BUT YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT ONE IS HEARK REGULARLY ON TWITTER PEOPLE SAYING I WOULD NEVER TAKE MY KIDS TO A DRAG SHOW AS IF EVERY DRAG SHOW IS EXACTLY THE SAME, SAYING I WOULD NEVER TAKE A KID TIE CONCERT.

YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS AT THESE STORY HOURS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE STORY.

I THINK IT'S TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO BE WORRIED THAT A DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR MEANS THE SAME KIND OF DRAG PERFORMANCE THAT YOU MIGHT SEE AT A DRAG BRUNCH.

YOU MAY HAVE GONE OUT TO A CLUB AND SEEN A DRAG QUEEN PERFORMANCE.

BUT DRAG QUEENS ARE PRETTY SMART PEOPLE AND WE KNOW WHEN TO DO WHAT AND WHERE AND HOW.

SO THE DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS WILL REALLY INTENDED TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND CREATE I WAS AND SELF-LOVE IN KIDS.

AND IF DONE THROUGH READING BOOKS AND SINGING SONGS AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

>> O'Connell: ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY KID WHEN SHE WAS FOUR OR FIVE IS WE WENT PO PROVINCETOWN AND WALKED DOWN COMMERCIAL STREET SOME 15, 16 YEARS AGO AND SHE WENT UP TO EACH DRAG QUEEN AND GOT ONE OF THE POSTCARD, ASKED THEM TO AUTOGRAPH IT AND MADE A BOOK OUT OF IT.

WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK WHAT WAS GOING ON, WHAT DO OUR-- WHAT IS THE REACTION OF KIDS, PATTY, WHEN ARE YOU IN THE LIBRARY OR INTERACTING WITH THEM.

DO THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS?

DO THEY JUST ACCEPT YOU AS YOU ARE?

>> SO FOR INSTANCE, THE STORY HOUR ON SATURDAY WAS MOSTLY ATTENDED BY PRETTY YOUNG KIDS.

AND WITH KIDS THAT AGE, LIKE UNDER FIVE, THEY HAVE VERY FEW QUESTIONS IN GENERAL, IN MY EXPERIENCE.

THEY LIKE THE COLORS OF THE COSTUME.

SORT OF THE SCALE OF DRAG WHICH CAN BE VERY EXAGGERATED.

I'VE ALSO DONE STORY HOURS FOR OLDER KIDS, MORE LIKE THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH GRADE.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE SURPRISINGLY READY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT GENDER IDENTITY AND WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.

>> O'Connell: AND PATTY, I KNOW THAT ALL OF US IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND THE INTERSECTIONALLITY ONES WHICH WE WILL GET TO IRENE IN A MINUTE, BECAUSE I SAW YOUR FAVORITE WORD THERE.

PATTY, WE'RE ALWAYS ON SOME LEVEL OF ALERT.

WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING AT THE EVENT AND HOW DID YOU REACT WHEN YOU SAW THESE NEO-NAZIS OUTSIDE PROTESTING?

>> CERTAINLY NOT WITH SURPRISE.

WE HAD ALREADY RESCHEDULED THE EVENT BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL FOR PROTESTS.

SO WHEN THEY SHOWED UP AT THE END OF THE EVENT, I HEARD THEM OUT ON THE STREET.

IT WAS LIKE OH, THEY'RE HERE WHICH DOESN'T MEAN THERE WASN'T ALSO, YOU KNOW, FEAR.

IT WAS AS SOMETHING THAT I pREALLY FELT THAT I NEEDED TO.

VERY DISCREETLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE A RETREAT FROM THE OBJECT OF THEIR AGGRESSION, BUT THE FACT OF THE MAT CERTIFICATE THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVEN'T DONE A STORY HOUR THAT HASN'T HAD A DEMONSTRATION OR THE THREAT OF.

>> REVEREND IRENE MONROE I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, ALL SORTS OF FOLKS, STRAIGHT FOLK, GAY FOLKS.

AND A COUPLE HAVE SAID TO ME WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WHY IS THIS A BATTLE THAT WE'RE FIGHTING?

WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING A DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR WHEN WE ARE BEING ATTACKED FOR A WHOLE LIST OF OTHER ISSUES?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO BROUGHT THAT UP?

>> SO THIS IS WHERE MY FAVORITE TERMINOLOGY, INTERSECTIONALLITY COMES IN TO HERE.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS THAT WE ARE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES HERE, WE ALSO HAVE BLACK DRAG QUEENS, THERE YOU ARE DEALING WITH RACISM, AND HOMOPHOBIA AND ALL THE OTHER IS AMS THAT COME WITH A MULTIPLE IDENTITY.

BUT THE ISSUE HERE IS WHAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO FIND OUT IS THAT THESE HATE GROUPS LIKE THE NATIONALIST SOCIALIST CLUB 131 AND THE PATRIOT FRONT, THEY'RE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENDERS HERE.

WHILE NSC WAS OUT THERE DOING ST. PATRICK'S DAY SAYING KEEP BOSTON IRISH, WE HAVE HAD THE PATRIOT FRONT OUT, YOU KNOW N FRONT OF BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM BEGINNING TO REALIZE IS THAT AS WE SEE A NATION CRAWLING TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE AND DEMOCRACY, WE WILL ALWAYS SEE A BACKLASH, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CAN COMPARE TO THE '60S, THAT AS A NATION, INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE TO THE MARGIN THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A GROUP THAT FEELS THAT THEY ARE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THE TENANT AND BED ROCK OF ALL THESE WHITE NATIONALIST GROUPS IS THIS NOTION OF REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

SO AND WE BEGAN TO HEAR IT CERTAINLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA WHEN WE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE JEWS WILL NOT REPLACE US.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT I JUST NEED TO SAY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT NO MATTER WHAT OUR IDENTITY MIGHT BE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK UP BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A MOMENTS WHEN THEY WILL COME FOR US AND THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO SPEAK UP FOR US.

>> O'Connell: AND ONE OF THE NOTES TOO THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS IS AS HISTORICALLY REVEREND IRENE, IT MAY NOT HAVE SEEMED IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO USE A CERTAIN WATER FOUNTAIN OR IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO SIT IN A CERTAIN PLACE ON THE BUS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT THINK THAT ARE INCONSEQUENCE SCWENGS, BUT IS IT SAFE TO SAY THO THOSE ARE THE BUILDING BLOCK THRAS GET TO THE ACCEPTANCE THAT WE ALL DESERVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I ALWAYS SAY THIS, THOO HAD ROSA PARK NOT SAT DOWN, KING COULD NOT HAVE STOOD UP.

ST ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE VIOLATING A STATE LAW THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOW, THAT AT THAT MOIMENT, IT CALLS INTO QUESTION WHO DO WE WANT TO BE.

AND HOW MIGHT WE BE BETTER THAN WE ARE IN THAT MOMENT.

>> O'Connell: PATTY, TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE NEXT, AND WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I MEAN I'M HORRIFIED AT THE AMOUNTS OF HATE THAT IS BEING DIRECTEDDED AT THE SMALL, YOU KNOW, EVENTS JUST MEANT FOR A FEW KIDS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN THERE ARE A MILLION THINGS WE CAN BE ANGRY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND THIS ISN'T REALLY, DOESN'T MAKE THE LIST FOR ME, BUT WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?

ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE ON DOING THESE EVENTS AND ARE YOU LOOKING TO GET MORE SUPPORT IN DIFFERENT WAYS BOTH FOR YOUR SEAFLT AND ALSO TO CONTINUE DOING THE EVENTS?

>> HMMMM, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE INITIALLY THIS ISN'T WORK THAT I SOUGHT OUT DOING.

I WAS A DRAG PERFORMER WORKING IN OTHER VENUES, AND OTHER WAYS.

AND THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO MORE AND MORE.

THERE IS A DEMAND FOR IT.

AND THIS ONLY INCREASES MY RESOLVE TO DO IT.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE MAKING ITS RIGHT PEOPLE MAD, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK IN WHAT I AM DOING.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO KEEP DOING THESE EVENTS.

WE WANT TO KEEP INSPIRING KIDS TO READ AND TO LOVE THEMSELVES AND TO BE CREATESSIVE IN THE WORLD.

>> O'Connell: PATTY, I THINK PART OF WHAT MAKES SOME PEOPLE, THIS TOTALLY TRIGGERS THEM AROUND DRAG AND AROUND KIDS IS THEIR INSECURITY OR CONCERN AROUND BOTH, TALKING ABOUT SEX AND I DON'T MEAN TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY, BUT YOU KNOW, KILLEDS ARE BOMBARDED WITH SEXUAL MESSAGES ALL THE TIME.

AND PARENTS, WERE ALL SORT OF NOT GREAT AT TALKING ABOUT IT NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE ARE ON ONE HAND.

AND THEY VIEW DRAG AS THAT.

AND ALSO THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT GENDER EXPRESSION BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DON'T FEEL SECURE IN THEIR GENDER EXPRESSION OR MAYBE THEY'RE INSECURE ABOUT WATCHING SOMEBODY ELSE'S GENDER EXPRESSION.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOW IN THIS HOT SEAT OF HAVING TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR SEEM TO HAVE?

>> I HAVE DEFINITELY FOUND MYSELF TRYING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT ARE ABOVE MY PAY GRADE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

I LIKE TO DO DRABBING BECAUSE IT HELPS ME CONNECT WITH MY COMMUNITY.

IT HELPS ME EXPRESSION-- EXPRESS MYSELF CREATIVELY.

SO I'M REALLY NOT OUT HERE TO TEACH ADULTS ABOUT SEX AND GENDER AND SEXUALITY.

BUT I AM HERE TO PUT ON A GOOD SHOW AND HOPEFULLY HAVE PEOPLE LEAVE FEELING REALLY GOOD AND GO ON AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> REVEREND IRENEA WE ARE ALL LAUGHING AT THIS BECAUSE IT IS ALL SO TRUE AND SO COMPLICATED FOR AMERICANS.

ON TWITTER I GOT INVOLVED, I HAD A TWITTER FIGHT LAST NIGHT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SWORN THEM OFF ABOUT SOMEONE SAYING ARE YOU SHOVING THIS SEXUALITY DOWN OUR KIDS' THROATS, AS IF EVERY SINGLE GRIMMS FAIRY TALE IS INSTILLED WITH SOME MADEEN TRYING TO BE MARRIED OR GET MARRIED.

THE ORIGINAL RA-- RAPUNZEL FAIRY TALE IS NOT A HAPPY ONE.

IT IS ONE THAT IS KIND OF VIOLENTED, VERY VIOLENT AND DEALS WITH SOMEONE SOMEONE NOT CONSENTING TO A SEXUAL ACT, THAT WOULD BE RAPUNZEL IN THE TOWER.

AND THE BIBLE FILLED WITH TONS OF SEX,TONS OF VIOLENCE AND THESE ARE ALL BOOKS THAT WE URGE OUR KIDS TO READ.

WITHOUT ANY SELF-AWARENESS OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN THEM.

YET WE GET UPSET IF THERE SAY DRAG QUEEN IN AN AGE APPROPRIATE WAY DOING A PERFORMANCE WITH AN AGE APPROPRIATE BOOK.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET TO A MORE OPEN-MINDED AND SELF-REFLECTIVE STANCE HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL WE NEED TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET WITH THESE ISSUES.

THAT IS FIRST OF ALL BECAUSE WE NEED TO FACE OUR FEARS AND ST NOT LIKE PATTY IS NEW TO US OR IRENE IS NEW.

WE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED HERE.

I THINK THAT BY NOT TALKING ABOUT IT, WE ENTER NOT ONLY A POLITIC OF SILENCE YOU ABOUT INFANT SIZE OURSELVES OF THE ABILITY TO GROW AND BE MORE SEND.

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT YOU TEACH, IF YOU TEACH HATE I MEAN IF THEY LEARN HATE THEN THEY WILL GO OUT IN THE WORLD AND TAKE THE WORLD.

IF YOU TEACH LOVE WHAT PAITY IS DOING, THEY WILL GO OUT AND EMBRACE THE WORLD BUT ALSO THEMSELVES.

>> PATTY, I ALSO IMAGINE, TRYING TO GIVE KIDS A VITIONZ OF WHAT THEY COULD BE, OR WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE, WITHOUT ANY-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY WITHOUT BEUNDRIES BUT JUST GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN IMAGINATION, I IMAGINE YOU SEE THEM HAVE SOME REALLY EXCITED REACTIONS, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF DRAG BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE KIDS TO AMUSEMENT PARKS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE DRESSED UP LIKE A GIANT MOUSE AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT SAY LITTLE BIT CREEPIER.

>> WELL, CHUCK E CHEESE, STILL FREAKS ME OUT BUT YOU KNOW, MICKEY I THINK I'M OKAY WITH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN ANYONEOESQUE FROM DRAG RACE SAYS DRAGS IS MAGIC AND THAT REALLY IS THE RESPONSE A LOT OF TIME WHEN I COME THROUGH THE DOOR WHATEVER ROOM IN THE LIBRARY WE ARE USING OR SCHOOL, THAT IT IS AN EXCITED REACTION, MUCH LIKE A DISNEY PRINCESS, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE BRUNCH BUFFETT AT KISS KNEE WORLD IF YOU WILL, I DON'T FLOW.

THE EVENTS ARE SO, ARE JUST SO WHOLESOME THAT THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE REACTIONER AND THE REALITIES IS, YOU GOT TO LAUGH.

LIKE THAT'S HOW I FEEL.

>> O'Connell: THAT'S A GREAT REACTION.

IRENE I JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE LAST, I'M WATCHING A FEW OF MY FRIENDS GETS ALL CAUGHT UP IN SOME PRETZEL LIKE ARGUMENTS AROUND FREE SPEECH, AND WANTS TO JUST ARREST FOLKS ONSITE WHO SHOW UP.

WE ARE IN A CHALLENGE HERE THAT, IT DID DEVOLVE AT THE JP LIBRARY THERE WERE ARRESTS THAT WERE MADE.

THE COURT CASES ARE MOVING THROUGH THE COURT.

BUT PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST AND SPEAK UP.

AND WHAT-- THE REMEDY TO THAT IS WHAT?

>> ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPECTABILITY HERE.

AND IT'S NOT PUTTING A CAP ON FREE SPEECH HERE.

BUT ONE OF THE THING SWRES TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE'RE BECOMING MORE TOLL RANTZ AS A SOCIETY, WE HAVE TO GROW AND HOW WE LANGUISH THINGS.

WE NO LONGER OR SHOULD I USE THIS, USE THE "N" WORD WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR BECAUSE WE HAVE GROWN TOWPPED STAND THE HURT THAT IT CAUSED AND CONTINUES IN TERMS OF BAD BEHAVIOR.

I'M ALL FOR OUR FIRST AMENDMENT AND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT, ALL OF THE AMENDMENT RIGHTS, OKAY.

BUT WITH THAT COMES ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY AND I NEED TO JUST SAY RESPECT ABILITY.

>> O'Connell: PATTY BOURRE, IRENE MONROE, GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE SUMMER, THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR A LOOK AT THE BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S JOB PROGRAM FOR HIGH-SCHOOLERS, WHICH MATCHES YOUNG STUDENTS PRIMARILY FROM UNDER-SERVED BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS WITH YEAR-ROUND PAID INTERNSHIPS.

THE HOSPITAL'S V.P.

OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM JOIN US.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND STAY SAFE.

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