OPINION
Unless of course you’re the media.
In an unprecedented display of inclusivity, drag queens took centre stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, showcasing the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community – while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of The Last Supper.
Held along the Seine River, the spectacular four-hour event featured global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, both considered queer icons. The ceremony blended historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.
And, as if having the warbling songbird Celine Dion there weren’t enough...
Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and hosting Drag Race France, participated in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with Drag Race France Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3’s Piche, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood alongside the runway, gazing fiercely at the strutting models. Later, they joined in, showcasing their own style.
“Fierce” is tranny speak for ‘giving the evils’.
Le Filip, the recent winner of Drag Race France, expressed their positive “surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.
[...] Among their bold performances was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention – and mixed reactions.
Note the weasel phrases “seemed to” and “mixed reactions”.
[...] Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterwards drew attention away from The Last Supper references, saying that hadn’t been his intention.
Just coincidently, Thomas Jolly happens to be gay.
Le Filip responded to the criticism of the scene with a touch of humour and sorrow.
“It feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” they said.
This is of course classic gaslighting. Oh you poor things, thinking it was about The Last Supper. So sad.
You might see apologists saying that it’s only because it featured drag queens that everyone is taking offence, you know – typical transphobia. No, it was intentionally done to cause offence. Again, gaslighting.
Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has significant strides to make in inclusivity.
[...] He also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard”.
Excuse me. I just spat out my coffee.
[...] “If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he said.
From gay Paree to trans Paree.
As those of us not living in clown world know, the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony was a complete and utter shit show. It will go down in history as possibly the worst Olympic opening ceremony on record. Anyone watching it could be forgiven for thinking it was an opening ceremony for tranny-Olympics.
But then again, by the ways things are going, they probably would be right.
