Kinky Boots

Hayley Goertzen

The movie Kinky Boots is based on the true happenings of WJ Brookes shoe factory in Northampton,

England during the 1990’s and how it evolved into Divine Shoes (5). It was such an inspiring and amazing story

that it became not only a movie but a musical as well. The films itself is not only about the shoe factory, but it

also brought forth some difficult social issues. By examining the movie, you can see certain themes continuing

through out the plot, it is clear that the film teaches its audience about overcoming prejudices, accepting

people’s diversity and differences (4). This is of social importance because societal diversity and

multiculturalism increases every year around the world and unfortunately humanity is still trying to move past

the idea that one human is better then another.

When looking at LGBT rights in the film Kinky Boots, which takes place in the 1990’s, the characters Don

and Nicola show negative reactions when they discover that Lola (or when out of drag, Simon) is not a woman

but a drag queen, whereas Charlie and the house keeper Mrs. Cobb show a more indifferent reaction upon the

discovery (1). While Lola/Simon is not a homosexual, he is still a member of the LGBT community by being a

drag queen or cross-dresser. In Canada, we are known as being more progressive in our acceptance of those

who are members of the LGBT community. Same-sex marriage became legal in Canada in 2005, becoming the

fourth country world-wide to do this, as well as banning any legal discrimination based on sexual orientation

(13). Similar to those in the film Kinky Boots, discrimination against the LGBT, although decreasing in numbers is

not gone. There are still those in Canada that believe same-sex marriage is/could be harmful to society (7).

Prior to 1969’s legalization of same-sex sexual activity, being homosexual was considered a capital crime

that resulted in life time imprisonment or the death penalty; at the time Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau put

forth Bill C-150 for legalization of birth control, abortions and homosexual activity, stating “there's no place for
the state in the bedrooms of the nation” (). Comparatively to the United Kingdom, where the film takes place,

homosexual activity wasn’t decriminalized until 1982 (14), this gives you more of an insight into how the LGBT

community was perceived by those in the film. Through out Kinky Boots the characters who were more against

Lola and the factories creation of drag queen footwear become more open to the idea and in the end put aside

their previous discrimination of the LGBT, coming together in an acceptance of Lola.

The story’s main character is an African American drag queen in the 90’s, not only is he a member of

LGBT community but also a visible minority. Statistics Canada states that a visible minority as “persons who are

non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour and who do not report being Aboriginal” (9), they estimate that by

2031 up to 14.4 million people in Canada will be a visible minority. In 2014, nearly a quarter of London’s 8

million people were members of the 5 main ethnic minority groups (11). Kinky Boots talks about Lola’s

difficulties in being a black drag queen, from growing up in a small UK town to working in London.

The movie introductory scene shows young Simon (as this scene is pre-drag Lola is referred to as

Simon) putting on high heeled shoes and dancing on a pier until his father catches him, coming out angrily

calling him a stupid boy (1). This scene sets a mood for how Lola is discriminated against and what he faces

everyday. Lola says later in the film that his father had him training to be a boxer and had the opinion that “if

you're big, black and a boxer you are sorted”, implying that it was expected for Lola to become a boxer due to

his ethnicity. Lola goes on to say that his father disowned him, refusing to see Lola even on his death bed

because became a drag queen rather then a boxer (12). In both the film and the play we are shown that even

the most offended people, Don and other factory workers, begin to look past Lola’s exterior and become open

to understanding and accept him for the good person he is rather then his appearances.

While the movie is essentially about Price’s Shoe Factory, we also get to see what it’s like being an

LGBT minority in London, a large urban UK city with a population of 8 million people, and Northampton, a small
rural town with a population of 200,000 people. Seeing these two types of communities gives you some insight

on the differences between how each area views LGBT people and the kinds of support structures available.

When in London, Lola is able to have a job where he can express himself, dress in full drag and perform with

very little discrimination, having no fear of walking down the street dressed in “heels and a frock”. Whereas

when Lola even mentioned visiting Northampton to Charlie he doesn’t want Lola to pick up the boots at the

shoe factory, and when Lola does show up Charlie tries to sneak him in the back way to avoid him being seen.

Lola shortly after moves into a bed and breakfast in Northampton and refuses to allow the inn-keeper, Mrs.

Cobb to see him without his wig on, he also goes to the factor in stereotypical men’s clothing rather then a dress

where he is still made fun of and harassed by factory workers (1).

In many case when you are in smaller communities, like Northampton, there are less urban centers

and groups in place for people of all ages to receive support. Due to the lack of resources available not as many

people openly fit into that category, having personally experienced this when I grew up in smaller towns and

cities. The larger the population of an area the more diverse the people in it and the more resources there are,

from forums to groups and even bars, like the one in Kinky Boots, help create an atmosphere of acceptance for

those who are LGBT.

At the end of the film Lola is seen performing for the last time on stage at the drag bar and all the

Kinky Boot Factory is there, even those who did not understand or like Lola at first, they are all being supportive

and cheering for not only Lola but all the drag queens there, dancing and singing at getting along. They accept

each other in the end for their difference and no more prejudice is seen interfering with their personal and

business life going forward (1, 2). Watching this film or seeing the on-stage musical is the only tangible way to

feel involved with the evolution the characters undertake, remembering that all this is based on a true story

makes the transformation even more phenomenal. These people faced financial adversities, accepted their
diversity and multiculturalism, overcame their prejudices and became a family. If the whole world saw and

understood this the world would be an incredible and united place.

 Resources Page
1. Kinky boots. Dir. Julian Jarrold. Perf. Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah-Jane Potts, Jemima Rooper,
Linda Bassett, Nick Frost, Robert Pugh. BBC Film, 2006. DVD.
2. Kinky Boots: The Musical. Dir. Jerry Mitchell. Lyricist. Cyndi Lauper. By Harvey Fiernstein. Ontario,
Toronto. Nov. 2016. Performance.
3. Arata, Jan. "Kinky Boots Movie Review Summary." Detailed Review Summary of Kinky Boots. Allreaders.
Web. 23 Mar. 2017.
4. Cole, Laura." Kinky Boots: Not-so-Kinky Themes. Broadway Educators. Laura Cole, 20 May 2013. Web. 23
Mar. 2017.
5. Lee, Adrian. What Happened to the Kinky Boots Factory. Express.co.uk. Express, 21 Aug. 2015. Web. 23
Mar. 2017.
6. UOT. "The Omnibus Bill." University of Toronto Library . UOT, 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

7. Global Advisor. "Same-Sex Marriage." Ipsos, June 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
8. Statistics Canada. "Projections of the Diversity of the Canadian Population." Statistics Canada, Mar.
2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
9. Government Of Canada Statistics Canada. "Classification of visible minority." Government of Canada,
Statistics Canada. N.p., 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
10. Canada, Government Of Canada Statistics. "NHS Profile, Canada, 2011." Government of Canada,
Statistics Canada. N.p., 27 Nov. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
11. Coombs, Kevin. "Up to 30% of UK population will be from ethnic minorities by 2050 – study ." RT -
Question More. N.p., 6 May 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
12. "Kinky Boots Script - Dialogue Transcript." Kinky Boots Script - transcript from the screenplay and/or
Chiwetel Ejiofor movie. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
13. Parliment of Canada. "Bill C-38." House Government Bill - C-38, Royal Assent (41-1). N.p., n.d. Web. 14
Apr. 2017.
14. Parliment UK. "Regulating sex and sexuality: the 20th century." UK Parliament. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr.
2017.