Over the past few years, drag has moved on substantially from being an underground art form to mainstream entertainment thanks to shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. This has coincided with the passing of legislation across the world that has given the LGBTQ+ community (where drag was born), more rights.
But even though drag is now more popular than ever, it still has its critics – especially now that it’s influencing children to show to the world that they too have charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. One of these children is nine-year-old Nemis Quinn Mélançon Golden from Montreal. Performing under the drag name Lactatia, Nemis has reportedly been dressing in drag since he was seven after becoming a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race. However, he has said that he’s always had a passion for makeup and women’s clothes. According to Nemis’ mom, Jessica, he first asked to wear her make up when he was just two years old, and Nemis revealed in an Elle.com video that he’s been “wearing my sister’s tutus since I was like three or four”. Nemis came to the world’s attention in May when he appeared alongside Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio at her ‘Werq the World Tour’. The drag superstar spotted Nemis in the crowd and invited him onstage, praising his outfit and the fact that his mom was supporting his drag. However, when Nemis appeared on the British TV show This Morning via a live link, his mom was subject to a barrage of criticism. Nemis’ mom Jessica has encouraged her son to pursue his love of dragand even does his make up for him. She said in the This Morning interview that she thought it was “the most fantastic thing” when Nemis first expressed an interest in drag. “When I started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, [I realized] this was an actual form of art that actually happens in the world,” Nemis said. One of the show’s hosts, Phillip Schofield, brought up the fact that those who practice drag are usually adults and asked where Nemis would be able to perform because he is so young. Nemis replied by saying that he mostly performs in the shower and in the living room. Jessica said that Nemis’ performance opportunities were limited by his age because drag kings and queens usually perform in 18+ clubs, but that he was set to perform at a festival in Mexico in the near future. “I think it’s extremely important to allow your children to really tap into their creative side, encourage and foster that independent spirit and being an individual,” Jessica said. “I encourage all parents with their kids, if they have a passion, support it and let them do it.” Nemis’ age, however, meant that the This Morning interview received a lot of attention online, with many viewers criticising Jessica for allowing him to take part in such an adult pursuit, and some went as far as to say that she was sexualising her son. Another Twitter user wrote, “Disgusting that children that young are being sexualised by their parents, it’s not right!” Whilst Jessica’s decision to allow Nemis to become a drag queen at such a young age has received a lot of criticism, there were many who praised it, and I definitely fall into this category. Children should be allowed to express themselves in any way they please. The modern world has encouraged many young people to long for conformity – to have an Instagram-perfect life – and this has had a detrimental effect on many people’s mental health. That’s why Nemis’ confidence to fly in the face of the haters is a welcome breath of fresh air. “I love [drag queens] because they do what they want to do and they aren’t afraid to do it,” Nemis said. “I think I’ve had Lactatia inside of me since I was born,” he added. “And that’s why I love that song ‘Born This Way’.” You keep doing you, Lactatia!
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