Drag – “a hideous sexualisation of children” Rev Dr Ian Paul
A 300% rise in school, library and church acts has alarmed many parents
Standing before a church organ wearing a neon green leopard-print leotard, black tights and high-heeled shoes, Kenzie Blackheart performs a drag act in front of young families.
The lip-sync performance at St Mark’s Church in Southend-on-Sea was the headline act of the area’s Winter Pride event.
The arresting sight is symbolic of a 300 per cent increase over the last year in the number of drag acts performing at schools, libraries and now, churches.
Tomorrow, five will perform for the first time under the ornate gold ceiling of the 340-year old St James’s Church in Piccadilly, London.
A promotional video shows the drag queen Barbara, dressed in a metallic purple gown and a bouffant wig, playing a piano in the Grade I listed church. At the event, titled PREACH!, the congregation will be encouraged to sip on “mocktails and cocktails” sing along, and dance in the aisles.
The Rev Ian Paul, a conservative member of the General Synod: “I think it’s inappropriate. People may say ‘you’re a reactionary and you don’t understand’, but I think most ordinary people also think this is really bad.
“I would call it the hideous sexualisation of culture and sexualisation of children. It’s of a piece with things happening in schools and the idea of people . . . going into primary schools and telling children they can make up their own gender.”
The Times (£) here
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