A gay high school student in the UK has gone viral after he performed an incredible lipsync of "I Will Survive" in drag at a school assembly on his last day.
16-year-old Philipp Penning asked teachers at Charlton School in Telford, Shropshire, if he could do a drag performance at the Leavers Assembly. He'd previously performed as Edna in the school theatre production of 'Hairspray', which is where he originally got the idea.
The teachers at the school initially flat-out denied the request, allegedly stating that the performance would be "unrespectable".
But Philipp's friends and classmates were not going to take that laying down. Only a day later, two of his friends started a Facebook page named Justice for Philipp, and the student body started a petition demanding that he be allowed to perform in drag at the assembly.
The petition received 283 signatures, and was handed in to the principal of the school, who thankfully changed their mind and allowed the performance.
The video of Philipp performing the iconic Gloria Gaynor track at the assembly on Friday last week has now gone viral. In the footage, he enters into the assembly hall in a red dress and black wig, saunters down the aisle, begins voguing to the tune of "Sissy That Walk" by RuPaul, then tells the audience, "I know you all wanted me to do 'Born This Way', but I’m afraid I can’t move that fast in six inch heels. Instead we’re going to be playing a song that’s very special to me and it’s one you will know – 'I Will Survive'."
By the end of the video, he's snatched his wig off, and declared to the audience, "That is the gayest thing to ever happen at Charlton School!”
The performance is heartwarming to watch, not only because of the 16-year-old's passion, but also because of the deafening cheers, applause, and overwhelming support that he's receiving from his classmates.
We're sure he'll be receiving a call from the producers of RuPaul's Drag Race any second now. Philipp, shantay you definitely stay.
Source: Giphy
