what are people's views here about Desmond Napoles, the 11 year old "drag queen"?

[rareboy]

You must have missed a couple of the key interviews then.

Desmond has made it clear that being a performer and drag artist has been his passion since he was very young.

There's no real money in going into Pride parades or drag shows, so the notion that the parents are 'exploiting' him for gain just doesn't make sense.

Some kids are born old. I was. So I get that he wants to burst out into the world.

I know of a couple whose son started wearing tutus and other articles of female clothing when he was only about 3. And loved to dance and sing. His parents have never discouraged him...he is now moving into the world of professional dance 12 years later and is proudly homosexual as well.

Generally, I find that the homos who have the most issue with his age and ambition tend to be those who struggled and repressed their own homosexuality...or who were just very late bloomers.

 

[mikey3000]

Or prefer to not publically sexualize their child in a nightclub full of drunk gay men for money. Generally I find the homos who support this behaviour have much deeper sexual issues.

 

[eddielee]

Or prefer to not publically sexualize their child in a nightclub full of drunk gay men for money. Generally I find the homos who support this behaviour have much deeper sexual issues.

On this issue I agree with you.

 

[mikey3000]

At 11 years old, a child is just beginning to discover and explore their sexuality, and it's our job as parents to make sure they do that safely. When your kid discovers masturbation, should you out him on stage and let drunk adults watch them for $$ ? Fuck no! Maybe this kid is learning that women's clothes turn him on, so what. You let him (or her) explore in a safe and private environment. What if, in 10 years he grows out if this faze, these videos will haunt him for the rest if his life. Maybe he's not making tons of money, but the potential damage that his parents permit may have life long repercussions.

 

[rareboy]

^ It is so clear that you know nothing about Desmond Napoles.

 

[mikey3000]

I don't have to, I can recognize predatory behaviour when I see it.

 

[peeonme]

Laying aside the issue of sexuality, I often ask myself if it's right to put any children in a place where they don't have a 'normal' childhood. Is this any different than putting children in speedos at a swim meet or in revealing garments for gymnastics? How many child stars had a messed up life as an adult?

 

[ludolfo]

Laying aside the issue of sexuality, I often ask myself if it's right to put any children in a place where they don't have a 'normal' childhood. Is this any different than putting children in speedos at a swim meet or in revealing garments for gymnastics? How many child stars had a messed up life as an adult?

is having to go to school a 'normal childhood'? fkin traumatized me from day one! I wouldn't like to think what I went through, and what a lot of unhappy kids go through having to endure school, some killing themselves' is normal.. YES in this civilization parents are forced to just hand over their children. There are good parts though, eg as explore din another thread where Muslims do not want their children to learn accepting LGBT people. they would rather indoctrinate them with their own religious beliefs which do not accept gays. But apart from that there is a lot of bad in enforced education.

Now my views on this 11 year old drag queen. I have mixed views. On one hand it does look like exploitation. YET I remember what it was like for me when 11 and having to hold the massive secret in that i was gay (not even really understanding it myself), and even lying to myself, which can seriously screw you up. HOW I woulda loved it to just me myself...! I am hoping this works out that way for Desmond!

 

[sshears]

At 11 years old, a child is just beginning to discover and explore their sexuality, and it's our job as parents to make sure they do that safely.... Maybe this kid is learning that women's clothes turn him on, so what. You let him (or her) explore in a safe and private environment.

I am not sure about the women's clothing comment, but I agree with everything else stated.

What if, in 10 years he grows out if this faze, these videos will haunt him for the rest if his life. Maybe he's not making tons of money, but the potential damage that his parents permit may have life long repercussions.

Life long repercussions, which may include deep emotional scarring (from potential bullying and lack of acceptance) and even death (sucide). Any good parent would realize that no amount of money or social stance is worth that risk.

 

[ludolfo]

I have seen a LOT of very negative judging from youtubers who we can call 'alt-right'. They believe that the 'lefties' behind the pushing of these video (the whole things to do with Desmond) is an elitist plot to blur the boundaries of gender for ALL men and women. Now, there could be something to this. I sometimes visit this porn site and have noticed that more and more there is a preponderance of chick with dicks, and ALL categories that usually gay people who say like straight-ish gays would cringe at. but it is like an agenda to as said blur.
but I know from MY experience, being able to attract girls when a young teen that no matter how much i would snog them and dry hump them so as to pit ON me being straight, my REAL lust was for lads. A completely different feeling. Now why didn't I go bi=sexual?? because we are all diverse and different
I am currently watching this amazing documentary that makes me FEEL good because it very shows the magical fabulous gay diversity of life, and I am sure Desmond would have been in hir ELEMENT in this world lol ~~~

 

[rareboy]

It is clear that so many who are commenting here have never really heard of Desmond or have listened to him.

 

[mikey3000]

It is clear to me that, thankfully, not everyone should be a parent. Letting a child make very public social decisions that will affect him for the rest of his life is just bad parenting. Maybe we should let him vote? Drive a car? Drink and smoke too?

 

[Dominus]

(1) He has autism. Some kids with autism focus on math. Some focus on music. Some focus on science. Some focus on art. Some focus on photography. This one focuses on performing as drag.

(2) Anyone who has ever been to a drag show can tell you that drag show is not about sexualizing the performer. I used to think this was the case until I went with some of my friends to certain drag shows. Then I began to realize it was art, not sex. Many of the drag queens are very old men. The best drag performer I ever saw was an overweight man in his 50s. I was absolutely captivated by his performance I just stared in awe. Was I sexually aroused by him? No. But my goodness was he good. I really wish I know who this performer was so I could try to catch another one of his shows.

(3) I have a nephew who is autistic. He has picked up music and math as his focus. Try to take these things away from him and see what happens. The parents of the drag kid knew that nothing could keep him away from drag. Instead of seeing it as taboo, they embraced it.

(4) Again, I know to the regular person drag show is about sexualizing the performer. I'm here to say it has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with an art. I've seen videos of this kid performing and never once did I think to myself "wow that's sexy". It's like looking at the Mona Lisa and say "wow that's sexy". Just not gonna happen anytime soon.

(5) To those who have seen his videos and think it's suppose to be about sexual arousal, I'm very sorry for your problem.

 

[mikey3000]

The kid has autism? Even more reason for appropriate guidance. Lots of children with autism (and even some without autism) develop a compulsory masturbation habit as a form of comfort and coping. This is not a sexual thing with the child, but rather a comforting habit because it feels good. Should we encourage this behaviour in public and put him on stage, in a gay bar, in front of a group of gay men, for money? This kid's need to dress up and perform is on the spectrum for ASD, his senses need to be stimulated, sure, but with restrictions. And it is a parent's job to restrict and guide their child's behaviour. He is eleven and likely entering puberty, he definitely is sexualizing this behaviour, and if he isn't, the men in the audience sure are.

 

[Dominus]

The kid has autism? Even more reason for appropriate guidance. Lots of children with autism (and even some without autism) develop a compulsory masturbation habit as a form of comfort and coping. This is not a sexual thing with the child, but rather a comforting habit because it feels good. Should we encourage this behaviour in public and put him on stage, in a gay bar, in front of a group of gay men, for money?

I see your comparison here the same as when straight people compare homosexuality to pedophilia. Of course, there should be boundaries. There is no doubt about this. If an autistic kid begins torturing little animals and/or start hurting people then yes the parents should seek out professional help to curb this behavior.

Where this boundary is is exactly what we are discussing. So, please don't pretend I am advocating for no boundary at all.

This kid's need to dress up and perform is on the spectrum for ASD, his senses need to be stimulated, sure, but with restrictions. And it is a parent's job to restrict and guide their child's behaviour. He is eleven and likely entering puberty, he definitely is sexualizing this behaviour, and if he isn't, the men in the audience sure are.

Again, where you see sexualization I only see artistic expression. And if (some) men in the audience are sexualizing the performance, so what? Just about everything under the sun is sexualized by somebody out there. I'm sure there are people with pedophilic compulsions walking the fine line out there but never crossed it so never got identified and put away. There could be pedophiles prowling the beaches sexualizing children there. There could be pedophiles prowling the mcdonalds looking at kids and their happy meals. Should we tell parents to cover up their kids in public places? You know, sort of like muslim women because men have a hard time controlling themselves?

In other words, it's sort of not fair for you to throw out there that the men in the audience might be sexualizing the kid.

The kid wants to perform as drag. I really don't see anything wrong with it. Again, to me saying a drag queen is sexy is like saying hey look at that rock it is so sexy.

 

[mikey3000]

That's ok, man. We can disagree. But I've been to many, many drag shows too. Do you not think a gay bar is a sexually charged enviroment?

 

[Dominus]

That's ok, man. We can disagree. But I've been to many, many drag shows too. Do you not think a gay bar is a sexually charged enviroment?

Yes and no. Yes, gay bars are very sexually charged to certain people. But they are also full of drag queens and straight girls in recent years, who I personally know aren't very sexy at these places.

I have never looked at a girl and thought to myself wow she's sexy. Just like how I have never looked at a drag queen and got aroused.

My point is while gay bars can be sexually charged by and to many people, not everyone there is sexualized or sexually charged.

 

[mikey3000]

Still not the place for a child, drag Queenie or not.