Tennessee Tech is slammed for putting on a campus drag show mocking Christianity with kids present

A Tennessee university is slammed for putting on a campus drag show that mocked Christianity as little kids gave money to performers.

Tennessee Tech University’s theater team dubbed, Backdoor Playhouse, hosted a Christianity-themed drag show with the star performing dressed as a Catholic monk before stripping down to a corset and stockings.

Landon Starbuck posted the video on Twitter and called out the mockery towards Christians as children rushed up to the stage to hand the drag queen money.

‘Tennessee Tech University hosted a drag show that had little kids handing cash to the drag queen who was performing a dance meant to mock Christians,’ Starbuck wrote.

‘Every parent who pays to send their kids to Tennessee Tech deserves to know that this is what they’re allowing on campus.’

The video has received more than 270,000 views since it went viral on September 7 and caught the attention of Phil Oldham, the school’s president, who was oblivious that the show occurred.

‘I am disturbed and dismayed about the activities in a video circulating on social media from a recent event on Tennessee Tech’s campus. I do not feel the activities in the video represent Tech’s values, and I do not condone explicit activity where minors are present,’ Oldham wrote in a statement on Thursday.

Commenters were quick to call out the school calling the video ‘sickening’ while others referred to them as ‘groomers.’

The start of the video is what appears to be the opening of the set with the drag queen coming out from behind stage curtains lip-syncing the 2013 hit Take Me to Church by Hozier.

‘YES!’ an ecstatic crowd can be heard screaming in the background.

Within seconds kids are seen heading to the stage to hand over cash as the performer drops the money and does the sign of the cross.

The video transitions to Elley Duhé’s upbeat hit Middle of the Night as the performer prepares to take off the religious attire by the downbeat.

As soon as his monk robe came off, the audience cheered and more younger children rushed to the front of the stage.

Audience members continued to cheer through multiple songs of the drag queen dancing while taking off more clothing.

Some Tennessee residents were angry that the university allowed the show to occur on campus.

‘This is not acceptable in our state, we need [Oldham] to step up and end this now,’ one person said on Twitter.

Another added, ‘Drag shows should not have minors at them. It is an adult situation and that those are the only people that should be there.’

Other commenters were quick to call school officials ‘groomers’ while claiming the state supports ‘pedophilia.’

‘This is disgusting, perverted and highly offensive Tennessee Tech. I wouldn’t have figured you for groomers, but here we are, not a good look, you perverts.’

Another wrote, ‘What is the matter with these people. Sickness and demonic in nature.’

‘Just plain sick – and with children even. I’m gay and this really disgusts me.’

‘No one cares about the drag show, it’s the children being groomed by encouraging them to give money to an adult who is giving an inherently sexual performance. That is the issue here. Groomers using LGBT as a Trojan horse.’

President Oldham assured his school community that the show did not represent the belief’s of Tennessee Tech University.

I am also offended by disparaging mockery towards any religious group. To be clear, this was not a university sponsored event. No university funds were used. Two registered student groups facilitated the scheduling and promotion of the event.

‘Although registered student organizations have the ability to reserve space on campus, the programming should not include obscene, lewd or explicit activities.’

Oldham said an investigation looking into the event is underway and all events scheduled by ‘these sponsoring organizations are canceled pending review.’

Meanwhile, others weren’t sure what the fuss was about.

‘I didn’t see anything outrageous but even if that was the case, was anybody forced to attend? Were children present against their parents’ wishes,’ one Twitter user wrote.

Another added, ‘All this over a theatrical performance with no nudity or profanity? How can a college have a president who does not understand free speech, diversity, equity, inclusion and performance art?’

The Backdoor Playhouse did not respond to DailyMail.com for a comment.

But shortly after Oldham’s message, the crew updated their Facebook status.

‘Pride isn’t a thing we do one month out of the year. It’s part of our core principles here at Backdoor Playhouse. It’s our culture and our identity. It’s us!

To all our LBGTQ+ friends: We love you! We see you! We stand with you!’