Courtney Act: what’s wrong with kids being taught about gay people

Drag superstar Courtney Act is heading back to Australia for her new Under the Covers tour. She spoke to Matthew Wade over the phone from L.A. about marriage equality, the postal survey, and what audiences can expect in her new show.

***

When drag superstar and singer Courtney Act saw the No campaign spreading misinformation during the postal survey process, she felt she had to speak up.

Before Australia’s recent Yes win, Act was a vocal advocate in the Yes camp, and believes it’s important for those with a platform to use their voice.

“It’s dumb how the No campaign are saying that all kids will be taught about gay people in school if marriage equality passes,” she says.

“I don’t understand why this is an issue. In a recent survey 49 per cent of people aged 16 – 24 identified as not exclusively heterosexual, which means half of school kids will engage in some sort of homosexual behaviour.

“Why not have them educated and informed so that they know what to do with their bodies, and their partners’ bodies.”

Act is currently living in the U.S., and was there when marriage equality became a reality.

“When it passed here I was overwhelmed with emotions I didn’t expect,” she says.

“I realised that prior to that moment I just accepted that I would always be viewed as a second-class citizen, and I didn’t even know I’d thought that until marriage equality passed.

“It was a really profound moment.”

Act commends people around Australia that have encouraged the people in their lives to vote Yes, contributing to the ultimate victory.

“It’s not just important for people with a platform, it’s anybody reaching out to friends and family,” she says.

“Filling out your form is great, but speaking with friends and family, and making others accountable for mailing their forms back is too, everybody has their part to play.”

Act is currently gearing to kick off her new tour Under the Covers in February next year.

Given her last tour only saw Adelaide and Perth, Act says she’s glad she’ll be able to travel around the whole of Australia this time.

“I felt guilty last time, because sometimes the stars just don’t align,” she says.

“But next year I’m super excited – The Girl from Oz was a fun show, and Under the Covers will be just as fun.”

Act adds that the new tour will have more theatrical production value.

“Under the Covers is going to have more production, it’s the next evolution of my live cabaret show, I’m really looking forward to it,” she says.

Under the Covers will kick off in Melbourne on February 3 2018 before traveling around the country. For more information and to buy tickets visit: courtneyact.com/under.