I’m not sure who the target audience is exactly for a touring show featuring drag queens with Down syndrome, but apparently it’s been a thing since 2018 so I’m stunned we haven’t featured it on Sick Chirpse yet.
With renewed popularity in the Drag Syndrome ‘sub-genre’, Mashable recently shared this short film on Twitter titled ‘Born to dance with an extra chromosome’:
Meet the artists and performers of Drag Syndrome, the world’s first drag troupe for people with Down syndrome pic.twitter.com/jAlW44eFfp
— Mashable (@mashable) January 4, 2023
As you might expect, opinion is split on whether this is exploitative of people with disabilities and that comes down to whether you believe people with Down syndrome are able to act of their own volition or not. I’m no expert but from what I understand, people with Downs are remarkably open-hearted and eager to please others, and can have trouble conceptualising how they’re being used or being viewed. Then again, you could argue that preventing a person with Down syndrome from joining a touring drag show is discrimination based on their disability, even if you do cite ethical concerns.
It’s a tricky one, but here’s the general sentiment on Twitter:
I have worked with this incredible group of souls for many many years. Very dedicated part of my life!! NO. This is exploitive by far. No!
— Jamie Ott Blom (@jamie_blom) January 9, 2023
Why is it so wrong? If drag is ok, why is people with Down syndrome in drag not ok? I don’t see some people’s logic. I think drag in general is a cosplay. It should be for adults to enjoy adults. It’s been around for a long time, only when they started going all ages is the prob
— Ligna johnsonista (@ligmajohnson321) January 10, 2023
21st century freak show. Highly suspiciously exploitative because why else a specific group for people with Down’s syndrome.
— Henrietta Freeman (@hen10freeman) January 9, 2023
Cosmic justice awaits everyone involved in doing this to these vulnerable men.
— Andrew Braun🇺🇸 (@primofederalist) January 4, 2023
It’s like we’re repeating the early 20th c. Vulnerable people exploited as circus freaks, the return of the Robber Barons and women having to fight AGAIN for our rights.
— S.I.L.Blog (@SpanglishGuiri) January 9, 2023
This is inherently wrong.
It’s abuse of these extremely vulnerable people.— Phil (@scepticalPhil) January 6, 2023
I know there’s just the one pro-Drag Syndrome Tweet in there but it wasn’t easy finding a positive word about it. Let’s just hope drag shows of OAPs with late stage dementia isn’t on the cards anytime soon.
For the mum of a 12-year-old drag queen who was shocked to find that a paedophile was after her child, click HERE. Who could have seen that coming?
