"This must be an all-time cultural low. We are now encouraging those with special needs to imitate the sexual provocations of deluded same-sex impersonators—and calling it “art.”
That is exactly what the organizers of the Grand Rapids, Michigan art fair, Project 1, are attempting to do. This upcoming event, scheduled for September 7, will feature the London-based Drag Syndrome troop perform alongside local disabled drag queens. Drag Syndrome advertises itself as “Freshly Fierce! The world’s first drag troop featuring highly addictive drag queens and kings with Down’s Syndrome!”
Christopher Schmidt sought to re-educate the culturally backward, naive, and overreacting “some people” thusly:
“Drag has never only been about sexuality. Drag is about gender performance, Drag is about expression. Drag is also about ridding the culture of really damaging stereotypes. People with Down’s syndrome, or any disabled person, has at their disposal multiple art forms that they look for to get out into the world their version of life and their own identity. So judging these performers only on their Down’s syndrome or only on their disability status, that’s the same thing as judging someone on race… There’s some mystery, there’s some potential controversy, but in the end we hope this is an opportunity for our community to move forward.”
Drag Syndrome’s Otto Touting describes life as a drag performer as being very similar to that of a superhero: “By day I am a man, and by night I am a drag queen… They worshiped me on stage.”
Words cannot adequately describe the evil of this callous exploitation.
First it was our children, and now it’s those with mental disabilities. Foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless,... Romans 1:31."
Pulpit&Pen
That is exactly what the organizers of the Grand Rapids, Michigan art fair, Project 1, are attempting to do. This upcoming event, scheduled for September 7, will feature the London-based Drag Syndrome troop perform alongside local disabled drag queens. Drag Syndrome advertises itself as “Freshly Fierce! The world’s first drag troop featuring highly addictive drag queens and kings with Down’s Syndrome!”
Christopher Schmidt sought to re-educate the culturally backward, naive, and overreacting “some people” thusly:
“Drag has never only been about sexuality. Drag is about gender performance, Drag is about expression. Drag is also about ridding the culture of really damaging stereotypes. People with Down’s syndrome, or any disabled person, has at their disposal multiple art forms that they look for to get out into the world their version of life and their own identity. So judging these performers only on their Down’s syndrome or only on their disability status, that’s the same thing as judging someone on race… There’s some mystery, there’s some potential controversy, but in the end we hope this is an opportunity for our community to move forward.”
Drag Syndrome’s Otto Touting describes life as a drag performer as being very similar to that of a superhero: “By day I am a man, and by night I am a drag queen… They worshiped me on stage.”
Words cannot adequately describe the evil of this callous exploitation.
First it was our children, and now it’s those with mental disabilities. Foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless,... Romans 1:31."
Pulpit&Pen
