[Tom4784]

A 14-year-old schoolboy was banned from performing a drag act wearing high heels and a long silver wig at his school's talent show.

Lewis Bailey was distraught when teachers in Dudley, West Midlands, denied him the chance to compete after he had practised his lip-sync dance routine for weeks with the help of his family.

His mother Natalie, 37, said the school had claimed it was illegal for under-18s to take part in drag act competitions but Lewis said he was not being 'accepted for who I am'.

Lewis, who was inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race, said he was 'heartbroken and confused' at the school's clampdown and said he felt he was 'truly being myself' when performing in drag.

But the principal of Castle High School and Visual Arts College in Dudley, West Midlands, defended the school's decision on the grounds of 'age appropriateness'.

Teachers put a stop to Lewis's plans just a day before the talent show, leaving him devastated after he had spent weeks preparing a dance routine.

His performance was a dance to a medley of tracks he mixed with his stepfather including songs by Little Mix, Ariana Grande and RuPaul.

He was planning to wear a floral co-ord top blazer and skirt from eBay, high heels his grandmother brought him, and a long silver wig.

But on Monday he was 'pulled out of lessons' and told he couldn't take part in Tuesday night's show, he said.

Lewis said: 'They claim it's because it is illegal - but I think the real reason is they don't accept me for who I am.

'I'm heartbroken and confused. After all the effort I have put into it, it has knocked my confidence a lot.'

Mother-of-three Natalie said his new hobby - which includes immaculate make up and choreography - has seen the once-withdrawn boy come out of his shell.

She said: 'There's no law over impersonating a female and doing a dance. We can't find anything anywhere that says that, and anyway it's a school talent show, not a competition.

'His act for the talent show was dressing as a lady and dancing. There is no swearing, no raunchy behaviour, nothing over the top.

'The school is very multicultural and I think the school think some of the parents won't like it. But people should be able to do what they want to do and be who they want to be.

'They have really knocked his confidence. They have knocked his confidence to zero.'

Michelle King, principal at Castle Academy, said: 'Castle is an inclusive school that celebrates diversity.

'With regard to the performance of our student Lewis Bailey at the end-of-term talent show; we made the decision that it was not age appropriate for either the learner and for the intended audience, his peer group, for Lewis to appear as a drag act.

'We understood Lewis wanted to appear in the style of RuPaul, whose style of performance is characterised by strong language and sexual innuendo.

'We invited Lewis to appear in the show as a singer and were happy for him to dress in any manner he wished.

'We regret we did not communicate this earlier but stand by our belief that it is not appropriate for young people to perform drag acts. RuPaul's own TV show requires contestants to have a minimum age of 18 years old.

'Our decision was entirely made on the basis of age appropriateness, with sensitivity to both Lewis and to his fellow students.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...lent-show.html

Youtube video

A ridiculous story tbh, there's no laws against this and I doubt the headteacher would have the same issue if the kid was a girl doing the same routine. It's sad that the only backwards attitude in this story comes from the school itself. If it's just a lipsync to music then there's no reason to prevent him from performing, not all drag is hypersexualised, that's a very general and old fashioned view on things.

If a place had a trademark smell then Dudley's would be the overpowering stench of bad weed and I can only assume that the head is suffering from bad judgement brought on by a secondhand high Come thru diversity and tolerance in an area that I didn't think such things existed though

[RileyH]

I read about this and I felt so bad for ha But at least sis is getting proper gigs now collect that cash

[Crimson Dynamo]

good news a school enforcing rules.

RuPaul's own TV show requires contestants to have a minimum age of 18 years old

oh the wee boy's parents have gone to the media - says it all really

what a surprise

[ethanjames]

she now is having a show with Charlie hides and is at dtagworld and that we stan a legend

[Nicky91]

silly decision from that school, it is a talent show after all, and if this is the boy's talent, so be it

''His performance was a dance to a medley of tracks he mixed with his stepfather including songs by Little Mix, Ariana Grande and RuPaul.''

well he has good music taste then, wow

[arista]

He is Very Positive
and Brave.

[Livia]

Good. His parents are arseholes for bringing in the press.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Livia

Good. His parents are arseholes for bringing in the press.

Why is it a good thing? I'd like to hear your reasoning tbh.

[armand.kay]

I'm sure the school wouldn't have a problem with a girl playing a male part in a play or even vice versa. I'm sure they only had a problem with it because drag is a gay thing

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by ethanjames

she now is having a show with Charlie hides and is at dtagworld and that we stan a legend

Him to snatch the crown in season 17?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

I'm sure the school wouldn't have a problem with a girl playing a male part in a play or even vice versa. I'm sure they only had a problem with it because drag is a gay thing

I think it's more that Drag is an adult thing.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

I'm sure the school wouldn't have a problem with a girl playing a male part in a play or even vice versa. I'm sure they only had a problem with it because drag is a gay ADULT thing

fixed

[arista]

Originally Posted by Livia

Good. His parents are arseholes for bringing in the press.

Its cash

[Livia]

Originally Posted by arista

Its cash

I know. And yet no one's worried about a 14 year old being exploited.

[armand.kay]

Originally Posted by Livia

I think it's more that Drag is an adult thing.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

fixed

if the show is age appropriate I don't see what the big issue is. I mean whats so bad about someone lip syncing to a few pop songs??

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

if the show is age appropriate I don't see what the big issue is. I mean whats so bad about someone lip syncing to a few pop songs??

[Livia]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

if the show is age appropriate I don't see what the big issue is. I mean whats so bad about someone lip syncing to a few pop songs??

"If" being the operative word.

[AnnieK]

Had the school put on a panto (Cinderella for eg) which traditionally had female parts played by men would they have not allowed it? Kids being creative should not be stopped.

There is no law that I can find that makes it illegal.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

if the show is age appropriate I don't see what the big issue is. I mean whats so bad about someone lip syncing to a few pop songs??

The school did not think that mimicking an adult drag act is appropriate and they are right. Their job is to protect all the children not pander to one.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Livia

I think it's more that Drag is an adult thing.

Except it isn't. Drag is becoming mainstream and it's becoming something that can be suitable for all ages. Unless his performance is sexualised or contains inappropriate material for children then the school don't really have a leg to stand on. If it was a group of girls performing the same thing then I doubt it would have happened without incident.

It's ridiculous that, in their statements the school claim to support diversity and inclusion when they are the only ones in this story opposing diversity. I don't blame the parents for bringing attention to such a rampant double standard and hypocrisy.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Had the school put on a panto (Cinderella for eg) which traditionally had female parts played by men would they have not allowed it? Kids being creative should not be stopped.

There is no law that I can find that makes it illegal.

My daughter's PRIMARY school put together a play last year (P5, 6 and 7) of Robin Hood, and it had a boy playing the Sheriff of Nottingham's "Widow Twankey style" pushy mum . He was actually really good .

[edited to add] Also, the Sheriff himself was played by a girl.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

My daughter's PRIMARY school put together a play last year (P5, 6 and 7) of Robin Hood, and it had a boy playing the Sheriff of Nottingham's pushy mum . He was actually really good .

[edited to add] Also, the Sheriff himself was played by a girl.

My son played the part of a girl in his last school play in primary school also

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Why is it a good thing? I'd like to hear your reasoning tbh.

I’ll jump in and say his age just might be the reasoning behind it.

At the end of the day that small boy’s a child in Year 9. I wouldn’t call drag appropriate for kids who haven’t even made it past Key Stage 3.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Hopefully he and his mother will learn a lesson about rules and conduct going forward

every day is a school day

[glibberglobber]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

good news a school enforcing rules.

RuPaul's own TV show requires contestants to have a minimum age of 18 years old

oh the wee boy's parents have gone to the media - says it all really

what a surprise

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