Down syndrome ‘drag show’ created by LGBT activist coming to Michigan

A public art event in Grand Rapids, Michigan next month will feature men and women with Down syndrome performing as “drag queens” and “drag kings.”  

A drag group known as “Drag Syndrome” is comprised of performers with Down syndrome, and is an LGBT activist's attempt to promote so-called “inclusion.”  Their performances feature song and dance by men wearing women’s dresses, garish makeup, wigs, and in some cases fake breasts. Women sport beards and men’s clothing. A local TV channel, Wood TV, reports that "some people may be concerned because people with Down syndrome have limited mental capacity that they might not have the ability to decide to take part or understand what they are taking part in." 

The organizers of the show, however, are defending the event. 

“We sought them out because they are at the very highest level of disability drag,” said event organizer Jill Vyn of DisArt, a Grand Rapids organization that connects art and people with disabilities.

“Drag has never only been about sexuality,” DisArt co-founder Christopher Smit said. “Drag is about gender performance, drag is about expression. Drag is also about ridding the culture of really damaging stereotypes.”

Drag queen shows largely consist of men dressing as women in order to mock stereotypes of womanhood and femininity.  

“Drag Syndrome appears to be part of a broader trend that’s more preoccupied with promoting ‘gender fluidity’ to various groups than genuinely helping those groups,” reported LifeSiteNews' Calvin Frieburg last November. “‘Drag Queen Story Time’ events in the UK and United States feature crossdressers reading and performing to small children in public libraries and nursery schools, while the pro-LGBT media has heavily promoted stories about prepubescent drag performers such as Nemis Quinn Mélançon Golden, also known as ‘Lactatia,’ and Desmond ‘Desmond is Amazing’ Napoles.”

“Down syndrome ... affects a person’s ability to think, reason, understand, and be social. The effects range from mild to moderate,” according to webmd.com.  

Viewers of the show, who know that those with Down syndrome did not conceive and put together this troupe on their own, will be left to wonder to what extent, if any, those with Down syndrome who are participating in this event are being exploited by activists to unsuspectingly push the LGBT agenda. 

The show is scheduled to be performed at  September 7, at 7:00 PM.

Contact Project 1 to voice your concern here.