The mother of 11 year-old drag queen ‘Desmond is Amazing’ has defended her son’s performance at a gay bar in Brooklyn after an article claimed he was being exploited and danced ‘half-naked’ like a ‘stripper’.
“Drag Kid Desmond Is Amazing delivered a headlining performance at a sleazy Brooklyn gay bar on Dec. 1, where the ten year-old boy danced on stage in a crop top and full face of makeup as a throng of adult men in the audience showered him in dollar bills,” the article read.
Responding through Desmond’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, Desmond’s mother Wendy wrote, “Hi, it’s Mom. I can’t believe I have to type this.
“Articles have been coming out claiming that my son danced half-naked and stripped in a sleazy gay bar for grown men who threw dollars at him and is being exploited and forced to perform.
“THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN BLATANT HOMOPHOBIA and [a] display of the grossly outdated belief that gay men are paedophiles.”
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“Desmond is a professional drag queen. No one forces him to perform, performing is what he loves to do and has always loved to do. He was a ballet dancer for four years and is currently earning an A+ grade in drama at his school. He is extremely talented in his celebrity and character impersonations.
“His costumes are less revealing than a dancer’s or cheerleader’s uniform and are always age appropriate. While he dances, he does not move in a sexual manner.
“He often collects tips, as drag queens sometimes do, which we allow him to keep and he uses to buy clothing and the toy trains he wants,” Wendy explained.
She added, “Desmond is never allowed into the bar area of any club, nor the main floor. He stays backstage with me, in the dressing room, or on stage only. It must be noted, however, that it is not illegal in NYC for a minor to be in an establishment that serves alcohol as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
“Desmond was the sole performer for the event at the centre of this controversy and he performed three numbers. The venue took measures to make sure it would be age appropriate and audience members that attended were respectful and in good conduct.
“I know a lot of drag fans and drag queens do not want to see kids in what they consider an adult form of entertainment or venue, but drag is changing and becoming more widespread and popular with people of all ages, genders, identities, races, abilities, and disabilities.”
Wendy has also had to respond to a video which claimed that Desmond was being drugged, writing on Instagram, “The video is highly doctored & edited from the original video to appear that this is the case. Sadly, we have received a lot of flack from within the LGBTQ+ & drag community because of these accusations.”
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The young drag queen has a massive international following, boasting 114,000 followers on Instagram. Desmond was also featured heavily in the promotion of NYC Pride 2018.
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