SAMPLE CASE FOR THE TERTIARY ETHICS OLYMPIAD

Dragged Down

The headline on the Drag Syndrome website boasts, “FRESHLY FIERCED! Drag collective featuring highly addictive queens & kings with Down-Syndrome.” The troupe performs internationally at drag shows with the twist that all of the performers have Down syndrome. Since its beginnings in the UK in 2018, many have applauded the show for giving individuals with Down syndrome a place to shine and perform for an adoring audience as they highlight instead of hide their disabilities and break gender norms. The expressed purpose of the show is to do away with “prejudices about life with Down syndrome” giving performers a platform to express their sexuality and artistic ambitions. However, some critics are concerned that the show exploits people with intellectual impairments, while others worry it diminishes the authenticity of drag as an art form. One critic, Peter Meijer, owns a venue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the troupe was scheduled to perform. Meijer expressed concerns about exploitation and specifically questioned the capacity of troupe members to give their “full and informed consent.” When Meijer refused to allow the troupe to perform at his venue, the American Civil Rights Union (ACLU) filed a civil rights complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability and sex. Meijer responded saying, “I fundamentally don’t understand how someone can take my very good faith concern about the potential for exploitation and spin that into discriminating against people with a disability.” Down syndrome occurs when a person is born with an extra, third, chromosome at the 21st genomic locus. The syndrome manifests differently in different people, but it nearly always involves physical and intellectual disabilities. The creative director behind the troupe is Daniel Vias, who notably does not have Down syndrome.4 In a promotional video, he states, “I believe people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome that brings them extra talents.” He also addresses critics of his show by stating that they “don’t want people with Down syndrome to be part of contemporary culture and like to suppress the other.” The drag kings and queens have shared their testimonies of how they felt ostracized by others due to their condition, but found confidence and an uplifting community when they joined the Drag Syndrome troupe.

When the performers were asked by Gay Times about their favorite parts of donning their drag show personas, one of the drag queens, Otto Baxter, who performs as Horrora Shebang answered, “The thing I like about drag is meeting other people, lots of makeup artists, drag artists, lots of new faces and old faces. It’s exciting, it makes me feel sexy, I do lot of outrageous things. It makes me feel confident. Despite being heavily criticized and prevented from being shown at certain venues, the show has continued in Europe. A recent show in Germany, on May 5, 2023, coincided with the European Day of Protest for Equality for People with Disabilities. The drag kings and queens are all adults and professional performers who have expressed their desire to be treated as equals in entertainment. The performances involve dramatic portrayals of sexual acts and innuendos, crude humor, and cross-dressing, which many view as inappropriate. However, according to Vais, people with Down Syndrome are stereotyped as “as very angelic, very innocent, [and] very cute,” which can be interpreted as unfairly infantilizing them, especially those that are adults.6 The Drag Syndrome show allows the performers to express their sexuality. For example, Baxter, explains “people with Down syndrome like sex....Horrora Shebang is definitely the sexiest character that I’ve played.”

This case is from the 2024 Ethics Olympiad – Please note that we have removed references in order to make it an easy read. The case was originally published by the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Case Writing Committee. For more information about the IEB visit...www.appe-ethics.org

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