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<\/p>\n‘Celebrity Big Brother’: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Courtney Act On Preparing For A Debate With Ann Widdecombe And Michelle Visage Rivalry (EXCLUSIVE)<\/b>
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The cat is well and truly out of the bag,\u00a0\u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019<\/a>\u00a0star Courtney Act<\/a> has finally arrived in the \u2018Celebrity Big Brother\u2019<\/a> house.<\/p>\n Prior to entering the \u2018CBB\u2019 residence, HuffPost UK caught up with Courtney to chat<\/a> about how she hopes to promote issues of gender and sexuality, why she doesn\u2019t think she should win and how she \u201ccertainly hasn\u2019t\u201d asked \u2018Drag Race\u2019 judge Michelle Visage<\/a> for any tips on surviving in the house…<\/p>\n I\u2019m excited! I feel like I got to cheat on the big test by seeing half the cast that\u2019s gone in already, so there\u2019s been some serious Googling and fact-checking, and girding my loins for a debate. Well, at least with Ann Widdecombe…<\/span><\/p>\n One thing with people like Ann on reality television, that I have general concern for, is that she\u2019s hysterical and funny, but the things that she stands for are quite horrible and oppressive. I think it\u2019s very dangerous to make somebody who is so oppressive likeable.<\/span><\/p>\n Having said that, I respect that she\u2019s a very intelligent woman<\/a>, she\u2019s not like one of these stupid people who somehow came to power\u2026 she knows what she\u2019s talking about.<\/span><\/p>\n I think it\u2019s very dangerous to make somebody who is so oppressive likeable.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I\u2019m obviously not going to change any of her opinions, but I do hope to perhaps understand how she thinks that a woman shouldn\u2019t have the right to choose what happens to her body<\/a> or why she thinks pregnant women in prison should be shackled while in labour<\/a>, or why she\u2019s against trans rights<\/a>, or why she supports the death penalty<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m genuinely interested to, you know, talk to her and hear more about how she\u2019s come to those conclusions that seem somewhat closed-minded for such an intelligent person.<\/span><\/p>\n Maybe she just hasn\u2019t come in close contact with somebody like me before, or somebody like India [Willoughby] before. So hopefully she might get to see that our similarities are greater than our differences.<\/span><\/p>\n Yeah, for sure! I think we all live<\/a> in echo chambers, and in my echo chamber sometimes I\u2019m preaching to the choir about, you know, being genderqueer or pansexuality, and just the topics of gender and sexuality in general. <\/span><\/p>\n I really think that these topics are not understood by most people, and I love being able to talk about them and have people ask questions.<\/span><\/p>\n And I\u2019m not offendable, so I really look forward to using what I know and what I\u2019ve learned from my own experiences to talk about those important topics and hopefully enlighten some people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n I really think [gender and sexuality] are not understood by most people… I love being able to talk about them and have people ask questions.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For sure. I haven\u2019t seen the episode, but I saw that India said she had some preconceptions about drag queens<\/a>. I think a lot of her comments are valid, but I think she perhaps is pigeon-holing drag as being one thing. Drag has evolved so much and there are so many facets of drag – from your East London drag to your Glamazon drag, and obviously \u2018Drag Race\u2019 has had such a huge influence all around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n I just really think India will soon have a new perception of what drag is and what it means. And I actually think that despite her comments we\u2019ll have some common ground and get on quite well.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m not familiar with that…<\/span><\/p>\n I suppose I\u2019d have to know more about her specific views, but I would definitely be keen to discuss that with her.<\/span><\/p>\n I thought that the \u201cbathroom debate\u201d was something that was just happening in North Carolina, but it\u2019s nice to know that it\u2019s not unique to America. Trans people have been using the bathroom since the beginning of time. It\u2019s only now that this conversation has been raised that this theoretical issue has been created.<\/span><\/p>\n And I think it is used to oppress people, I don\u2019t actually think it\u2019s got anything to do with the bathroom, just as it was never anything to do with the water fountain when it came to people of colour.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ll definitely be keen to talk to her about that. I love conversation and getting down to the nitty-gritty and hearing people\u2019s opinions, and I just love that this year, seeing so many intelligent and diverse people going in means that there will be lots of intelligent conversation. <\/span><\/p>\n On the last show that I did [\u2018Single AF\u2019 on MTV], I was the oldest person by 10 years and the conversation got about as intelligent as what colour lip gloss to wear, so I\u2019m looking forward to some mental stimulation. And possibly some physical, who knows?<\/span><\/p>\n I think that any kind of discomfort stems from ignorance and I think that by talking about these topics, people will come to understand them.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019d love to make it to the final\u2026 but I actually don\u2019t think that I should be allowed to win. I know that\u2019s not something that I should think, but it\u2019s \u2018Year Of The Woman\u2019. We live<\/a> in a patriarchy where men<\/a> make the rules and men<\/a> define the narrative, and things have been in men<\/a>\u2019s favour for so long, and I think the script should be flipped and a woman<\/a> should win\u2026 although if it had to be a male<\/a>-bodied person, I\u2019d like it to be me.<\/span><\/p>\n I actually don\u2019t think that I should be allowed to win… it’s ‘Year Of The Woman’.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Fuck yeah. You just know that Michelle Visage is sitting somewhere in the world right now fuuuuuuuming. And I would be lying if I said that it didn\u2019t bring me no end of joy.<\/p>\n No. Certainly not.<\/span><\/p>\n I saw little bits of it. It\u2019s hard to be forced into a life of crime, illegally downloading foreign television programmes, but I did watch little bits of it.<\/p>\n And… you know on \u2018Drag Race\u2019? Ru and Michelle always say, \u201cgirl<\/a>, don\u2019t blame the edit, you\u2019re just making excuses\u201d? I have got screenshots of two tweets within 48 hours of Michelle coming out of the house where she blamed the edit. She said, \u201coh there was so much more than what you saw on television, I wish you could have seen everything\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Well, I saw they\u2019ve announced John Barnes<\/a> who is the\u2026 footballer? I feel like football players\u2026 I\u2019m often threatened by alpha males<\/a>, or at least historically I have been. Now I like to put on my favourite costume and stand up against them\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n But the UK has got such a different relationship with masculinity. Whether it\u2019s John Lennon or Harry Styles\u2026 none of these are typical \u201calpha males<\/a>\u201d. The UK respects that, but in Australia and America it\u2019s still very much about masculinity.<\/span><\/p>\n Even David Beckham! I\u2019m loathe to use the term \u201cmetrosexual\u201d, but he seems like a pretty cool guy<\/a>, and he\u2019s a soccer player. So I don\u2019t know whether John is going to be of the David Beckham variety of football player, or whether he\u2019ll be a little more oppressive.<\/span><\/p>\n Dream housemate\u2026 a handsome, intelligent gentleman, aged 28 to 40, who is somewhere on the sexuality spectrum, likes boys<\/a>, likes girls<\/a>, and perhaps somebody in between. And terror housemate would just be a meathead, opinionated alpha male<\/a>. Piers Morgan would be a nightmare housemate.<\/p>\n Look, in real life, when I\u2019m in drag and they\u2019ve had a few drinks, it\u2019s shocking to see how quickly those sorts of people who are against any idea of homosexuality or gender diversity can bend and start flirting\u2026 and even on several occasions making out and going even further with me. Behind a closed door.<\/p>\n So often I think a lot of that meathead bravado is actually a distraction for things that lie beneath the surface.<\/p>\n “My terror housemate would just be a meathead, opinionated alpha male<\/a>. Piers Morgan would be a nightmare.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There are so many times I\u2019ll be going out to a party, and I just think, \u201cgoing to this party in drag would be so much more fun\u201d. And so I think there will be times in the house where I just wanna get up in drag.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve got so many great outfits, I\u2019ve been allowed four bags, whereas everybody else gets two, because I\u2019m dressing for two genders – male<\/a> privilege is alive and well! – but I\u2019ve got so many great costumes and I wanna wear them all. I can\u2019t wait to put them on.<\/span><\/p>\n I mean, how could you not love it? It looks so pretty and so fun and there are so many sparkles! If you don\u2019t have an appreciation for things that sparkle – <\/span>then <\/span><\/em>we\u2019re going to have a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n Standing up and doing the right thing is more important than anything… so I look forward to any confrontation.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Look, I think that any preconceptions will quickly be dispelled – I feel like these are famous last words – when people meet me. <\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m just about having a good time and enjoying company and having fun. Maybe I\u2019m being ignorant here, but I feel like most people just want to connect to other people and have a good time. So I\u2019m hoping they\u2019ll look past anything they might think is a bit strange and see somebody who\u2019s having fun.<\/span><\/p>\n I really like confrontation, but I like balanced confrontation. So if there\u2019s a man<\/a> speaking down to a woman<\/a> who isn\u2019t comfortable defending herself, then I\u2019m more than happy to be an ally to either a woman<\/a>, a minority or anyone in the house who\u2019s being bullied or discriminated against.<\/span><\/p>\n Standing up and doing the right thing is more important than\u2026 anything, really. So I look forward to any confrontation, and hopefully that will lead to education and transformation of those opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018Celebrity Big Brother\u2019 airs every night on Channel 5.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n \nwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/celebrity-big-brother-courtney-act-rupauls-drag-race_uk_5a4faebee4b01e1a4b14cd31<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ‘Celebrity Big Brother’: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Courtney Act On Preparing For A Debate With Ann Widdecombe And Michelle Visage Rivalry (EXCLUSIVE) The cat is well and truly out of the bag,\u00a0\u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019\u00a0star Courtney Act has finally arrived in the \u2018Celebrity Big Brother\u2019 house. Prior to entering the \u2018CBB\u2019 residence, HuffPost UK caught up … Continue reading ‘Celebrity Big Brother’: ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Star Courtney Act On Preparing For A Debate With Ann Widdecombe And Michelle Visage Rivalry (EXCLUSIVE)<\/span> What are your initial feelings about going into the house?<\/h4>\n
Well, let\u2019s talk about Ann Widdecombe. She\u2019s someone who voted against LGBT+ rights throughout her political career, and you obviously represent the complete opposite of that. How do you feel about sharing a living space with her?<\/h4>\n
![](\"http:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5a4fb4321c0000220068ecd5.jpeg\")
Ann Widdecombe<\/strong>” alt=”Ann Widdecombe<\/strong>” data-credit=”Rex\/Shutterstock” data-portal-copyright=”Rex\/Shutterstock” data-provider=”Rex” data-provider-asset-id=”206002737″ data-has-syndication-rights=”false”><\/p>\nSince you were on \u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019, you\u2019ve spoken a lot about raising awareness of subjects like gender fluidity and pansexuality. Is that something you\u2019re hoping you can do on this series of \u2018Celebrity Big Brother\u2019?<\/h4>\n
In the same way, are you hoping you can challenge stereotypes of drag performers while in the house?<\/h4>\n
![](\"http:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5a4fb4b62100002c005f747e.jpeg\")
India Willoughby on ‘CBB’ launch night<\/strong>” alt=”India Willoughby on ‘CBB’ launch night<\/strong>” data-credit=”Karwai Tang via Getty Images” data-portal-copyright=”Karwai Tang via Getty Images” data-provider=”getty” data-provider-asset-id=”900616622″ data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\nI wanted to ask you about India, because she\u2019s quite a divisive figure within the LGBT+ community because of comments she\u2019s made in the past…<\/h4>\n
Well, for example, she wrote a column saying only trans<\/a> women<\/a> who were \u201ctransitioning\u201d should be allowed to use female<\/a> changing rooms and public toilets [she later issued an apology retracting her comments<\/a>].<\/h4>\n
![](\"http:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5a4fb5df1c00003b0068ece6.jpeg\")
Courtney and the cast of MTV’s dating show ‘Single AF’<\/strong>” alt=”Courtney and the cast of MTV’s dating show ‘Single AF’<\/strong>” data-credit=”Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images” data-portal-copyright=”Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images” data-provider=”getty” data-provider-asset-id=”800784556″ data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\nIs any part of you concerned that discussing these topics that so many people don\u2019t understand might backfire or not go down well with reality TV viewers?<\/h4>\n
As \u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019 fans can attest, you definitely have a competitive streak. Are you feeling competitive this time around?<\/h4>\n
Going into this experience, is getting further than Michelle Visage [\u2018Drag Race\u2019 judge and fifth place contestant in \u2018CBB\u2019 2015] something you\u2019re thinking about?<\/h4>\n
I thought you\u2019d have reached out to Michelle for tips on surviving in the house?<\/h4>\n
![](\"http:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5a4fb6551c0000220068ecec.png\")
Michelle was a ‘CBB’ housemate three years ago<\/strong>” alt=”Michelle was a ‘CBB’ housemate three years ago<\/strong>” data-credit=”Channel 5″ data-portal-copyright=”Channel 5″ data-provider=”Other” data-provider-asset-id=”206002764″ data-has-syndication-rights=”false”><\/p>\nDid you catch her time in the house?<\/h4>\n
Have you seen any of the rumours about the other contestants going in late?<\/h4>\n
![](\"http:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/5a4fd5bc2100002c005f74f9.jpeg?cache=AQDUhizSgz\")
Courtney’s official ‘CBB’ photo<\/strong>” alt=”Courtney’s official ‘CBB’ photo<\/strong>” data-credit=”Channel 5″ data-portal-copyright=”Channel 5″ data-provider=”Other” data-provider-asset-id=”206003099″ data-has-syndication-rights=”false”><\/p>\nWho would be your dream male<\/a> housemate, and who would be your nightmare male<\/a> housemates?<\/h4>\n
How would you cope if you ended up in the house with a \u201cmeathead\u201d like you described?<\/h4>\n
With cameras<\/a> filming you 24\/7, how much will we see Shane, how much will we see Courtney, and how much of a difference is there between the two?<\/h4>\n
How do you anticipate someone like Ann will react to you coming out of the bedroom in full drag?<\/h4>\n
Is part of you secretly hoping you\u2019ll wind her up a bit by coming out in drag?<\/h4>\n
You say that, but \u2018Celebrity Big Brother\u2019 is notorious for its arguments. How do you deal with that kind of confrontation?<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n