Courtney Act praises the ‘amazing’ drag queens that inspired her

Celebrity Big Brother winner Courtney Act has praised the “amazing” drag queens and “gender bending giants” that inspired her when she was growing up.

The former RupPaul’s Drag Race contestant took to Twitter to discuss her drag idols, including Paul O’Grady’s drag persona Lily Savage and Irish-English entertainer Danny La Rue.

I’ve seen lots of comments about how it was about time there was a drag queen on mainstream TV, naturally I agree, but I’m certainly not the first,” she wrote.

“All of these amazing performers have paved the way for me and have inspired me in so many ways.”

–– Courtney Act

Courtney Act lauds the drag queens who paved her way

“I stand on the shoulder (don’t worry, I took my heels off) of so many gender bending giants. Lily Savage, @JulianClary, Grayson Perry (@Alan_Measles), @DameEdnaEverage, @eddieizzard and of course Danny La Rue!

“All of these amazing performers have paved the way for me and have inspired me in so many ways.”

Act, who recently released new song “Fight for Love” in a bid to compete for Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, also linked to a documentary on La Rue on YouTube.

Courtney Act praises the drag queens and “gender bending giants” from before her time. (courtneyact/Twitter)

Courtney Act hosts her own Christmas show

Act recently hosted her own variety special on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve, which was praised for its exploration of LGBT+ issues,  including homophobia in football.

The star has been applauded for increasing the representation of drag queens on mainstream television.

Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza came soon after BBC Three announced it will launch a UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2019.

Act recently told PinkNews that she believed only queer people should sing the “faggot” lyric in The Pogues’ Christmas classic “Fairytale of New York,” after a debate ignited around whether the anti-gay slur should be censored on radio stations.

“A similar thing I can think of is the use of the N-word in hip-hop and rap music,” she said.

“I know that whilst that word is in there and I listen to it, I know it’s not for me and I’m fine with that. I think that you could apply the same logic [to “Fairytale of New York”].”

The star continued: “I feel like, if you’re singing along and you don’t identify as a faggot, then you shouldn’t use that word.”

• Drag
• Jan 03

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