Was preforming at a school this week, ford kids aged 6-10, together with a friend.
We have our group called "Flamma & Fjolla" (The Flame & The Queer) and preforme with fire, dance and jokes.
My character, The Queer, always wears a Pride-hat, a skirt and make-up, and for this year also a wig, since we started the whole show by dancing to Loreen's "Euphoria" (the best song ever in Eurovision Song Contest).
While dressing up we worked a lot with the make-up to make The Queer look as good as possible without without making too much out if it. Because The Queer's philosphy is to be whom ever you are and dress up how ever you want to. Just as long as you are comfortable with your self and can stand up for what you are doing.
He is kind of sissy acting, but not in a bad way. He just likes to have fun! And we never tells that he is gay, but the kids nows it anyway, I guess, since he is dancing and says he is from the land of fabulous, wearing lipstick, make-up and a cute turquoise dance-skirt.
And in the beginning I was wearing this wig, that made me look pretty good by the way, and the funny thing was when we entered the school yard with all the kids running around and we were fully dressed and in make-up, the first question from almost all the kids were: Who is SHE?, pointing at me.
And I didn't wear any fake boobs more special attributes then just make-up, the wig and the little skirt. All ready there we had reached the effect we wanted, to neutralize the gender and sexuality.
Then, in the dance, The Queer does such a "bad" preformance that The Flame takes of his wig, and all of a sudden he puts on a pride-hat! Just to show that he is queer and that the colours stands for pride, happiness and fun!
The kids just loved the show, as usual, and loves The Flame & The Queer. Not to mention the teachers at the school. Even some parents enjoyed what we were doing and none didn't mind that we have that theme on the show!
For me and my friend, who both are a part of the HBTQ-society, it is important that we can learn the kids that there is nothing wring with being yourself, as long as you stand up for whom you are and that you don't preach about it. They need to build their own opinion, but we think that we are able to change their attitude a little just by being our self on stage, and show them that there is nothing wrong for a guy to wear make-up and/or a wig, if he wants to.
We all have a responsebility towards our kids and youths to make sure that they belive in them self and teach them about rights and wrongs. And I know that not everybody agrees with me that teaching kids that homosexuality is right, is a good thing, because who knows what ideas they might get from that! They might become gay them self! Well, let them! What's the big deal?
As long as they are happy and proud of whom they are, just as The Flame & The Queer! And as long as we are porud of them!
The even asked when they will meet us again... :)
