crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Photos: Gender creative nine-year-old helps educators understand queer youth

When a third-grade teacher from Texas asked her mostly 8-year-old students what they wanted to be when they grow up, one of them wrote on the white board: "drag queen." That response came from Keegan, now 9, a "gender creative" kid, in his mother's words, illustrating just one of the challenges facing educators as they accommodate the range of gender identities that students might express.

Updated on: Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/16

Keegan, 8, who identifies as gender creative, drag name Kween-Kee-Kee, after completing his first drag performance during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018 in Texas. Educators who for centuries have divided students into boys and girls are now figuring out better ways to address students who are nonbinary, gender fluid and gender nonconforming, in addition to transgender kids, whose gender identity differs from the one they were assigned at birth. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan, 8, who identifies as gender creative, drag name Kween-Kee-Kee, after completing his first drag performance during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018 in Texas. Educators who for centuries have divided students into boys and girls are now figuring out better ways to address students who are nonbinary, gender fluid and gender nonconforming, in addition to transgender kids, whose gender identity differs from the one they were assigned at birth. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

2/16

Keegan (R), plays with his older brother, Noah, 10, outside their family home following a drag lesson with his drag queen mentors. Keegan's parents say he often remains in full drag until bed time. By one survey nearly 3% of youth in Minnesota fall under these categories, identifying with neither gender, or both, or trans, or just defying a traditional male/female binary option. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan (R), plays with his older brother, Noah, 10, outside their family home following a drag lesson with his drag queen mentors. Keegan's parents say he often remains in full drag until bed time. By one survey nearly 3% of youth in Minnesota fall under these categories, identifying with neither gender, or both, or trans, or just defying a traditional male/female binary option. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

3/16

Some school districts in the United States are using more gender-neutral language, addressing students by their preferred pronouns, which can be “they,” “them,” “theirs” for an individual, or the invented “zie,” “zir,” “zirs,” which are used as a substitute. Some schools also allow students to easily change their preferred name or gender identity. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Some school districts in the United States are using more gender-neutral language, addressing students by their preferred pronouns, which can be “they,” “them,” “theirs” for an individual, or the invented “zie,” “zir,” “zirs,” which are used as a substitute. Some schools also allow students to easily change their preferred name or gender identity. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

4/16

Keegan pours glitter on his head during his 9th birthday party at his home near Austin. The glitter party was inspired by a Queer Eye episode. Keegan's family says he was motivated to try drag after watching RuPaul's Drag Race. The degree of acceptance for such students can literally be a matter of life and death, experts say. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan pours glitter on his head during his 9th birthday party at his home near Austin. The glitter party was inspired by a Queer Eye episode. Keegan's family says he was motivated to try drag after watching RuPaul's Drag Race. The degree of acceptance for such students can literally be a matter of life and death, experts say. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

5/16

Keegan bounces on the trampoline with his older brother, Noah. A national survey of 34,000 LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 released last week found 39% seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, as did more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth, according to the Trevor Project, a pro-LGBTQ group focused on suicide prevention. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan bounces on the trampoline with his older brother, Noah. A national survey of 34,000 LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 released last week found 39% seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, as did more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth, according to the Trevor Project, a pro-LGBTQ group focused on suicide prevention. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

6/16

Keegan and Noah play video games. Another study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 and based on a cohort study of 129 trans and gender nonconforming youth aged 15 to 21, found that suicide attempts plummet 65% and depression symptoms fall 71% if they are allowed to use their chosen name at school, home, and work, and with friends. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan and Noah play video games. Another study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 and based on a cohort study of 129 trans and gender nonconforming youth aged 15 to 21, found that suicide attempts plummet 65% and depression symptoms fall 71% if they are allowed to use their chosen name at school, home, and work, and with friends. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

7/16

Alex (C), drag name Alexandria Van Cartier, 26, a drag queen and mentor to Keegan, before taking the stage during the International Drag Festival 2018. Alex says he tries to impress upon Keegan a sense of feeling comfortable in his own skin. "Part of what drag has done, for me at least, it's like if you're not enjoying what you're seeing in the mirror, than there is something wrong... I better like what I'm seeing.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Alex (C), drag name Alexandria Van Cartier, 26, a drag queen and mentor to Keegan, before taking the stage during the International Drag Festival 2018. Alex says he tries to impress upon Keegan a sense of feeling comfortable in his own skin. "Part of what drag has done, for me at least, it's like if you're not enjoying what you're seeing in the mirror, than there is something wrong... I better like what I'm seeing.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

8/16

Keegan has gained a following on his minikweenkeekee Instagram page, posting photos dressed in full drag and other life updates with the help of his mother. “ If you’re just going to define gender aside from biological sense, every other thing we use to define gender that I can think of, is purely just a societal, cultural thing. I would like people to just feel, to express themselves for who they are,” said Megan. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan has gained a following on his minikweenkeekee Instagram page, posting photos dressed in full drag and other life updates with the help of his mother. “ If you’re just going to define gender aside from biological sense, every other thing we use to define gender that I can think of, is purely just a societal, cultural thing. I would like people to just feel, to express themselves for who they are,” said Megan. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

9/16

Keegan reacts to his peers during class at his 3rd grade elementary school. The issue comes up long before adolescence as gender identity typically manifests itself in children by kindergarten. “What’s at stake is nothing less than the future lives of these children and own health as a society,” said Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, a national advocacy group for LGBTQ students. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan reacts to his peers during class at his 3rd grade elementary school. The issue comes up long before adolescence as gender identity typically manifests itself in children by kindergarten. “What’s at stake is nothing less than the future lives of these children and own health as a society,” said Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, a national advocacy group for LGBTQ students. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

10/16

Keegan is comforted by his father, Chris, at their home. Chris said at first he was ambivalent to Keegan's gender expression, not thinking too much about it. However, in the years following, the family made a collective decision to be more aware of prescribed gender typical roles and not imposing them at home. Both suicide survivors, Megan and Chris felt it was important to just "let Keegan be himself." (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan is comforted by his father, Chris, at their home. Chris said at first he was ambivalent to Keegan's gender expression, not thinking too much about it. However, in the years following, the family made a collective decision to be more aware of prescribed gender typical roles and not imposing them at home. Both suicide survivors, Megan and Chris felt it was important to just "let Keegan be himself." (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

11/16

Transgender rights have risen to the fore in recent years and as LGBTQ people prepare to mark the 50th anniversary since the Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969. Keegan is one student who has benefited from the Stonewall legacy. Among his mentors are a pair of real-life adult drag queens. He usually goes by the pronouns “he,” “him” and “his.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Transgender rights have risen to the fore in recent years and as LGBTQ people prepare to mark the 50th anniversary since the Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969. Keegan is one student who has benefited from the Stonewall legacy. Among his mentors are a pair of real-life adult drag queens. He usually goes by the pronouns “he,” “him” and “his.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

12/16

Robby, a drag queen, helps Keegan rehearse for his inaugural drag performance. Transgender rights have risen to the fore in recent years and as LGBTQ people prepare to mark the 50th anniversary since the Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969. Keegan is one student who has benefited from the Stonewall legacy. Among his mentors are a pair of real-life adult drag queens. He usually goes by the pronouns “he,” “him” and “his.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Robby, a drag queen, helps Keegan rehearse for his inaugural drag performance. Transgender rights have risen to the fore in recent years and as LGBTQ people prepare to mark the 50th anniversary since the Stonewall uprising of June 28, 1969. Keegan is one student who has benefited from the Stonewall legacy. Among his mentors are a pair of real-life adult drag queens. He usually goes by the pronouns “he,” “him” and “his.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

13/16

Under the mentorship of the drag queens, Keegan’s drag life has blossomed. “I think that we’re trying to sort of redefine success and also telling this eight-year-old that if you are yourself and you continue to be yourself and you grow up and you do good and that that’s successful. I know that I am getting... a feeling we’re providing something that is going to positively affect this young kid,” said Robby’s husband Alex. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Under the mentorship of the drag queens, Keegan’s drag life has blossomed. “I think that we’re trying to sort of redefine success and also telling this eight-year-old that if you are yourself and you continue to be yourself and you grow up and you do good and that that’s successful. I know that I am getting... a feeling we’re providing something that is going to positively affect this young kid,” said Robby’s husband Alex. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

14/16

Neither Keegan’s teacher nor his principal said they received any training on educating gender nonconforming students and have worked with intuition and observation. The teacher wants to let Keegan bring up the subject “at his own pace.” His parents said they were surprised when, five years after he first started wearing dresses and a full year after they began cooperating with a photographer on this project, he said he was gay. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Neither Keegan’s teacher nor his principal said they received any training on educating gender nonconforming students and have worked with intuition and observation. The teacher wants to let Keegan bring up the subject “at his own pace.” His parents said they were surprised when, five years after he first started wearing dresses and a full year after they began cooperating with a photographer on this project, he said he was gay. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

15/16

Keegan accompanied by his family, glances at another performer during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018. Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota offer some of the most extensive guidelines as part of its Out4Good program supporting LGBTQ children, outlining polices developed over 20 years on pronouns, gendered activities and facilities, and safety and bullying, said Jason Bucklin, the Out4Good coordinator. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

Keegan accompanied by his family, glances at another performer during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018. Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota offer some of the most extensive guidelines as part of its Out4Good program supporting LGBTQ children, outlining polices developed over 20 years on pronouns, gendered activities and facilities, and safety and bullying, said Jason Bucklin, the Out4Good coordinator. (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

16/16

A gender-inclusive curriculum can prevent the kind of bullying that typically begins in grade school and can evolve into homophobia by middle school and sexual harassment or dating violence by high school, Bucklin said. “It isn’t just about the transgender students,” Bucklin said. “It is about bringing everybody into the classroom and having the ability to feel successful.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 24, 2019 12:55 PM

A gender-inclusive curriculum can prevent the kind of bullying that typically begins in grade school and can evolve into homophobia by middle school and sexual harassment or dating violence by high school, Bucklin said. “It isn’t just about the transgender students,” Bucklin said. “It is about bringing everybody into the classroom and having the ability to feel successful.” (Amanda Voisard / REUTERS)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Photos: Gender Creative Nine-year-old Helps Educators Understand Queer Youth

© 2026 HindustanTimes