9-year-old 'drag queen' - am I wrong or is this incredibly disturbing?

[Foxpyjamas]

Hi, long-time lurker, first-time poster.

Someone posted this link on my FB this morning with a comment that made it clear he thought this was cool.

I just thought it was extremely disturbing and a clear example of a child being inappropriately sexualised. The way the article is written this point of view is presented as moralistic prudish pearl-clutching, like whatever an Alt-Right or Christian says must be completely unreasonable.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Alt-Right are wrong about almost everything but in this case I don't care who says it, those pictures are awful. Not because the boy is wearing a sparkly costume (complaining about that would indeed be ridiculous but as far as I can see that wasn't even what anyone was saying) but because of the poses, the makeup, the fact that this is a CHILD.

I feel like most progressive types would agree these days that children should be able to wear what they like free from gender stereotypes, but a child drag queen? Isn't that a completely different kettle of fish? I have always had some qualms about drag anyway (it strikes me as mocking women) but for adults it's one thing - I don't know much about it but aren't drag shows genuinely pretty sexual, like definitely in the realms of adult entertainment? But the article and my friend are muddying the issue trying to make it about the fact that there's no problem with a kid wearing a sparkly suit.

Am I crazy here?

I get the impression that the thought process of some progressives is that "what does the Alt-Right think about this?" is a preliminary to asking themselves "what do I think about this?"

That's exactly the impression I got as well. Zero critical thinking, just 'bad people say X, so X must be false'. I'm sure even Donald fucking Trump has some opinions that I would agree with.

As an aside, if 'Lactacia' is supposed to be a 'sexy' reference to lactation (as would seem to be the case) I also find that inappropriate. I'm lactating and there's nothing sexual about how I feed my baby. There's no way a little boy thought of that stage name by himself.

Wtf?? How on earth are so many people supporting this shit??

TBF, I don't this wee kid knows what that means, to him Lactaters are his (Lactatia s) fans.

Actually, that might make it worse. I'm not sure.

Doesn't look like harmless dress up to me!

Lactacia? Really?

What the fuck is this?

That video?

Surely this is a huge safeguarding issue? This is NOT OK.

People are so busy tripping over themselves to be all 'cool' and accepting that they are missing when there most certainly is a safeguarding issue

This is really bad. All very dodgy! Mind you I got my 10 yo a photoshoot (no make up etc) last year and she did a few poses and my Sister who is a social worker said it was too sexualised??? No one told her what to do she just posed. Kids do mimic adults

Have to admit I didn't watch the video no.

Thin-end-of-the-wedge paedophilia, is what it is.

There are also photos of one of his performances in a gay club, where people are snapping photos of him and laughing while he spreads open his legs and does other sexual display poses. It's really quite disturbing.

The link on my FB showed the child on a site selling sex toys and the like.

If it's genuine, I think the child should be removed from whoever is supposedly raising him.

We have known for many years the sort of abuse child performers experience in mainstream media. This is up a level of child abuse.