Men Dancing in Drag Angers Some Thanksgiving Day Parade Watchers

"Kinky Boots" performance prompts bewilderment, outrage, debate on Twitter.

ByABC News
November 29, 2013, 1:16 PM
Balloon handlers wait before the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2013, in New York.
Balloon handlers wait before the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2013, in New York.
John Minchillo/AP Photo

Nov. 29, 2013— -- The cast of the hit Broadway musical "Kinky Boots" performed two songs during Thursday's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, provoking strong reactions of both support and anger because some of the male actors were dancing in drag.

The Tony Award winning musical was written by Harvey Fierstein with music by Cyndi Lauper. Fierstein released this statement to the website Broadway World, saying:

"I'm so proud that the cast of KINKY BOOTS brought their message of tolerance and acceptance to America's parade. Ten years ago I was humbled to ride a float dressed as Mrs. Claus and it was the thrill of a lifetime. Congratulations to Macy's, on leading the world, not only with your salesmanship, but also your humanity."

Those who were not pleased with what they saw on NBC's broadcast of the parade took to Twitter to voice their opinions. Here's a collection of tweets, pro and con:

So some people had a problem with the Kinky Boots number at the parade. Deal with it, losers!

Andrea Patrick (@AndreaKcc) November 29, 2013

","publishedDate":"2013-11-29T18:16:13Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2014-04-25T15:22:02Z","section":"US","wordCount":175,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"image","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":null,"featuredImage":{"caption":{"credit":"John Minchillo/AP Photo","text":"Balloon handlers wait before the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2013, in New York.","lines":2},"image":{"alt":"Balloon handlers wait before the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2013, in New York.","src":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_macys_parade_kb_131128_16x9_992.jpg?w=1600","sources":[{"min":0,"max":374,"src":{"x1":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_macys_parade_kb_131128_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"}},{"min":375,"max":693,"src":{"x1":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_macys_parade_kb_131128_16x9_992.jpg?w=608"}},{"min":694,"src":{"x1":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ap_macys_parade_kb_131128_16x9_992.jpg?w=1600"}}],"fetchPriority":"high"}},"dateline":"Nov. 29, 2013—","seo":{},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:us:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/US/kinky-boots-performance-yorks-thanksgiving-parade-sparks-outrage/story?id=21050776","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"0","alertTag":"none","authors":"ABC News","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"Nov. 29, 2013—","id":"21050776","modDate":"2014-04-25","mediaOnPage":"image","modTime":"11:22","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2013-11-29","pubTime":"13:16","section":"US","subBrand":"none","title":"Men Dancing in Drag Angers Some Thanksgiving Day Parade Watchers","videoId":"none","videoName":"none","wordCount":175},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/US/kinky-boots-performance-yorks-thanksgiving-parade-sparks-outrage/story?id=21050776","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/US/kinky-boots-performance-yorks-thanksgiving-parade-sparks-outrage/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};