Teen drag queen banned from performing in school talent show to dance at DragWorld UK
Lewis Bailey was told it was illegal for under 18's to perform in drag
By Steve Brown
A teenage boy who was banned from performing in drag at his school’s talent show will now be performing alongside stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Lewis Bailey 14, was left distraught when he was told he couldn’t compete as drag queen Athena Heart in Castle High School and Visual Arts College talent show after practising his lip-sync and dance for weeks.
His mother Natalie was told by the school that it is illegal for people under 18 to take part in drag competitions.
Lewis – who came out as gay to his family last year – has now accepted an invitation to perform at DragWorld UK, an event which is dubbed Europe’s Largest Celebration of Drag, and will feature former Drag Race stars Jinkx Monsoon, Bebe Zahara Benet and Farrah Moa.
The teen will be performing his act which includes a medley of songs mixed by his stepdad such as Little Mix, Ariana Grande and RuPaul.
Despite Lewis being “heartbroken and confused” after the school’s decision, principal Michelle King defended the decision.
She 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.”