MANHATTAN, N.Y. — Parents at a school district in New York say that they are horrified after witnessing a man deliver a risque’ drag performance during their children’s talent show.
According to reports, Public School 96 PTA President Frankie Quinones gave the final performance at the Manhattan Learning Expo, held on May 25 for District 4 students, some as young as five. He wore a long-haired wig, a short black dress that was partly sheer, and high heels.
Quinones, sticking out his tongue at times, pranced across the stage during his Iris Chacón number, and seductively spread himself out on the riser, where he kicked his legs into the air and, at one point, exposed his g-string.
Video footage captures the sound of some squealing and screaming once Quinones became especially sensual. Parent Raquel Morales said that some of the reaction was of those who became especially outraged.
“People were horrified,” parent Raquel Morales told the Daily News. “It looked like a nightclub performance.”
Her 10-year-old son, J.D., said he also felt uncomfortable and didn’t know why such a performance would be allowed for children.
“I left the show the minute he started sticking his tongue out. I had my children with me and I wasn’t going to allow them to see that,” another parent, who desired to remain anonymous, stated.
It is unclear as to who ultimately gave the green light to Quinones to be a part of the talent show, which otherwise featured piano and drum recitals and children’s choirs, but his act was listed on the event program as a “special surprise performance.”
Superintendent Alexandra Estrella served as emcee and introduced Quinones.
The New York City Department of Education has now released a statement acknowledging that the performance was not appropriate for children. It advised that, unrelated to the situation, Quinones will no longer serve as PTA president after this month as his tenure is coming to a close.
“The content of the performance was inappropriate, and a school administrator has spoken with the parent,” it said, likely referring to Quinones. “Mr. Quinones has served the maximum number of terms permitted as PTA president, and the school will host an election later this month to select a new president.”
“The superintendent will continue to meet with parents and review the process for vetting performances at district events,” the district stated.
