Drag queen row erupts over closing ceremony

Drag queens will appear in the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in what is being described as first open display of homosexuality at an Olympic ceremony.

The revelation on Wednesday by Olympics Minister Michael Knight set off a flood of calls to talk-back radio stations with some listeners denouncing it as endorsing a gay lifestyle.

There was elation in Sydney's vibrant gay community which regarded it as another breakthrough in acceptance for homosexuals worldwide.

"This is the first time gays have openly gone on display at an Olympics," drag queen performer Sally (Trevor) told Reuters.

"This decision has brought people out of the dark ages and it shows that people are getting more tolerant of gay people."

Knight said the drag queens, some wearing original gowns from "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", were solely in the October 15 closing ceremony as part of a segment celebrating Australian film.

The Australian hit, which won the 1995 Oscar for best costume design, told the story of a group of drag queens on a bus journey through outback Australia.

"In the closing ceremony there is one short segment that pays tribute to great Australian movies," Knight told ABC radio.

He declined to specify other films but mentioned "Babe", "Crocodile Dundee", "Strictly Ballroom" and "Mad Max" as examples.

Both Knight and ceremony director Ric Birch dismissed concerns the drag queens participation represented a celebration of gay culture.

"There is no celebration of drag or drag queens or the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or homosexuality in the closing ceremony," Knight said.

Birch said between 40 and 200 drag queens would take part.

He responded angrily to "right wing reactionaries" who might object to the presence of drag queens at the Olympics.

"This element of the show is only a tiny part of a huge celebration and for the right wing reactionaries, or whatever part of a community is outraged about it, they're always going to be outraged," he said.

"I'm not sure if they've noticed there is a gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade that takes place in Sydney watched by hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders and which attracts a huge international contingent.

"That's part of Sydney life whether they like it or not - it's part of Sydney."

Despite Australia's image as a macho society, Sydney has a thriving homosexual community with its annual gay Mardi Gras attended by up to one million people.

The Sydney Morning Herald, which prompted Knight to disclose the drag queens' participation by running a front article on the issue based on leaks from the gay community, said Games organisers had wanted those chosen to sign confidentiality agreements about their participation.

It said there was also a possibility that the closing ceremony would feature a group of "muscle Marys" -- well-toned gay men performing alongside the drag queens.