Drag Syndrome is the name of the United Kingdom drag troop featuring drag queens with Down’s Syndrome that is scheduled to perform in Grand Rapids on the first day of Project 1 by Art Prize next month – but last week Peter Meijer the grandson of Meijer stores co-founder Frederik Meijer, wrote in a letter to Art Prize officials that he would not be allowing the group to perform in his venue citing concerns about the “potential exploitation of the vulnerable”.
But in defense of Drag Syndrome, Ben Klyne a local Grand Rapids Drag performer says that that is a complete misunderstanding of how people with disabilities engage with and in art.
“Drag for me is a form of self-expression that I couldn’t really do in another form and as someone with autism it helps me get around people more in a way that’s rehearsed so it’s a bit more comfortable.”
In a video made to social media, Justin Bond, one of the performers troop, asked the Michigan community to offer some perspective towards him and his fellow drag queens.
“We do have what it takes because we deserve the right to be in drag and to perform.”
According to Art Prize officials the drag performance will still be held just in a different venue. The location has not been announced yet. Project 1 is a public art event in place of the Art Prize competition this year and it will run during September and October.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.