Daily Mail
December 24, 2013
A small Alabama community got the shock of the season on Saturday when a group of scantily clad gay African American Santas took their Christmas parade route by storm.
The Prancing Elites, an all gay dance team known for their provocative moves and outfits, were confused by the invitation to walk the Semmes, Alabama (population 3,000) Christmas parade but swayed and thrust their way through outraged crowds nonetheless.
Parade organizers have since apologized for including the Prancing Elites, but the five gentlemen from Mobile think it was all just part of a day’s work.
‘It felt like a regular event,’ dance team leader Kentrell Collins, 26, told AL.com. ‘We were taking a risk, but we always do.’
The team arrived to Semmes and lined up ready to march in fur-trimmed, snug-fitting Santa outfits.
Even as the gentleman, in full makeup and Santa hats, stripped off their sweat pants at the parade start, they raised some eyebrows.
‘I had no idea that they would be dressed the way they were and that they would think it’s appropriate for a community Christmas parade,’ said Karen McDuffie, who helped plan the event. ‘Their costumes and the style of dancing were inappropriate.’
The team specializes in J-Setting, a lead and follow style hip-hop dance style that involves movements some may find lurid or provocative.
As they strutted their stuff through the parade’s 1.7 mile stretch, many of those raised eyebrows deepened into scorn.
McDuffie told AL.com the team’s dancing was ‘vulgar’ and ‘not appropriate for a children’s Christmas parade.’ She said outraged community members began to vent in phone calls and social media feeds within hours of the event and apologized on behalf of organizers.