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Aussie TV Show Praised For Teaching Gender Identity To Kids

Aussie TV Show Praised For Teaching Gender Identity To Kids

Drag queen Courtney Act explained how people should feel free to identify however they choose and be accepted for it.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

One of Australia's most famous drag queens, Courtney Act, has been praised for teaching gender identity to kids.

She appeared on the ABC's Little Kids, Big Talk programme to discuss the hot topic and she explained all the ways people can identify.

Courtney, whose name is Shane Jenek, was asked about how gender can be subverted through the art of drag.

"I think the cool thing about drag is that it's about expressing how you feel, and I think that there's something really beautiful about people being themselves," she said.

A boy on the panel asked whether people treat her differently when she's dressed as a man.

She replied: "They do actually, it's quite interesting because when I am dressed up as Shane ... I present looking like a boy and people treat me differently.

"Regardless of how I look, the world looks the same to me, but sometimes people look differently and react differently to me depending on how I'm dressed."

Courtney added that she doesn't mind whether people refer to her as a man or woman in either state of dress, but had an important lesson for everyone watching.

"I find that as long as people are being kind and polite, then that is what is important. And I always find that whatever someone tells you that they want to be called, it's always best to listen to them and call them the name that they want to be called," she said.

"I was a young boy and people told me that boys should look or act or even feel a certain way and I always enjoyed more of the things that the girls liked when I was at school," he says.

"And sometimes people said that boys shouldn't like girls things and that boys should like sport and football and I preferred dancing and singing and colourful, fun things."

Courtney Act/Instagram

The former Rupaul's Drag Race contestant's video has been viewed more than 1.2 million times and people are celebrating her for approaching gender identity with an easy-to-understand way.

One viewer said: "This so beautiful and the kids are so cute asking some very good questions. Courtney was amazing with the kids."

Another added: "Just brilliant! Beautiful respectful and well mannered kids. Courtney is just lovely. Congratulations to the ABC."

A third wrote: "This is why I feel like we are raising such a more tolerant and accepting generation because this is not hidden, not taboo, allowing people to be who they feel comfortable being."

It wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, with former Australian Christian Lobby managing director Lyle Shelton criticising the segment. He accused the ABC of 'indoctrinating children' and questioned why the 'sexualised' content was presented to children.

Featured Image Credit: ABC

Topics: Australia