Durian should be here any minute
You know why is our son always late to everything
I think he gets it from you
Hi mom and dad
Oh Darry
Are you kidding?
What?
You didn't tell us you'd be dressed like that for lunch
You know I have a show later; I'm a drag queen
What's the big deal?
Drag culture. It's been a part of the mainstream for quite some time now.
From Tony award-winning Broadway musicals
To block-buster movies
(You still have a lot more to learn before you can become a full fledged queen.)
And popular TV shows
Chantay you stay
In a recent episode of RuPaul's Drag Race a contestant opened up about his family's reaction to his drag career
My dad may have been a little off set in the beginning
I remember he said to me I don't have a problem with you being gay but you guys just don't dress up as a woman
Today this son dressed in drag is not welcomed at lunch with his folks
You're out in public with us!
It doesn't matter what I'm wearing, I'm still your son!
No, no, no, no, no, you are not our son when you're dressed like that.
No, you've told us all about it. But to see you sitting there like that
Well. If you witnissed this show of disaproval.
What if one of our friends sees us? Come on, Darry!
Please leave the costumes on the stage
What would you do?
(Excited welcoming)
How are you?
Welcome to the show
Joining us. Today is Monet exchange
I am Monet Exchange and you better get your currency in check girl.
Monet was a charismatic contestant on season 10 of that hit show RuPaul's Drag Race
Together we're going to break down the action behind the scenes outside the Parkview diner in Brooklyn, New York
(Chattering) Hey mom and dad!
(Awkward silence......)
DAD: What is this? MOM Oh my god. You look like a clown
He looks like a clown
I'm embarrassed for you and us.
when you see young Jackie. You see yourself
Oh, absolutely, and That could be you. Oh it
It has been me.
I can't believe you would do this in the middle of the day like this
What is wrong with you?!
After watching the family interaction...
Do you walk around like this all the time?
It's not okay
This first customer tries to put it all into perspective for our parents
There are worse things.
This is half full there are worse things that's his job. Would you go to the show? To see that?
That's right, honey, stop I'll go to the show anyway.
Oh but don't you think it looks like a freak?
I wish I had a body like that.
Are you guys doing they're actors? Oh I am so glad
She said she wasn't going to the drag show in a couple of seconds I was going to say give me the ticket I
Was I've been to them that they're hysterical
Jackie why are you watch your body?
it's mostly Spanx and I
Give you my address. Will you come over make me?
Have a nice day and this this is what you do. Okay, since I can't stand I can't be here with you guys
The moment our parents storm away from the table Jackie receives compliments
And comfort oh
Go go go go. Yeah
And again ask them. How should I handle this? What should I which I love? How should I?
As long as you doing what you love
Whose party
Our special guest Monet wants to meet these women as well. Oh my god you ladies were of
How do you feel girl I mean again in our community?
We don't always feel safe and I hope that there's people who can make me feel safe like though you do
What is your message to people who think that this is weird not normal to people who think that minor business
This man makes it his business to get involved when he sees Jackie hurting
Thank you Wow all the way over there and when Jackie joins their table, that's how you guys had to take that
So sorry, honey
another hug from a complete stranger
From all the way over here. You yelled something. What did you say there?
You're not gay but
You can be own person without your parents
They raised you but you gotta develop me blossom and be who you want to be as a person
But we'll all of the days diners agree with the person this son
Wants to be this is an embarrassment to your mother and I I'm gonna go to the bathroom
When Jackie leaves the table and now he's gonna go cry our parents talk to this couple
Can you believe this?
Did you see that? Yes
That's my son
I feel sorry for you
Do you have a a son? Yes. Well, how would you react to it?
Myself here way sir as a father. What would you do there is the most accepted
That is a real
reaction to how people feel
That's the reality
We've heard the server center. Oh, absolutely
Totally she continues adding support for Jackie
We're gonna break it time for us to say hello
You felt for the parents. I have two feelings. I feel bad for the parents
But I also feel bad for him. I really do. I have a son. I love him more than anything else the whole world
There's nothing that he could do. That would make me
Resent him in any way whatsoever. I may not like it. We may have discussions about it
But I've never lose our child of mine over anything like that
And then we meet this woman so captivated she can't take her eyes off
What's happening? I went to school to perform and this is what I wear my show
This is the Jackie that I was telling you guys about. You should be proud of this son that you raised
This th-this is what I should be proud of
Would you be embarrassed?
This is my my smiling she's here I just came from cemetery 1 myself
When our family takes a moment to process what she just said
this man at the next table
Jumps in my son's game field. He came out
Jackie leaves the table and he continues
What happened to you
His whole thing, Don and Brian trying to bring more it's not him he's born
You know what? It just came out when it came out and you're okay with that
We step in to say hello to both diners either
She was crying I was crying with him. I couldn't thank you because I told him my son died
When you have your son
This this is the way he wants to be but you have him, you know, you can pull you I can't go myself. I
Think parents have to accept the children the way their what's the key to understanding and dealing with it?
I think you just have to open a heart. You just can't be closed
You know, you have to be open you have to be accepted and that's the way I've lived my life
My son is gay. He opened my eyes, you know, yeah