Drag Queen Sybil Barrington will perform in this year’s Bermuda Day Parade.

And organisers do not expect there to be a problem with protesters.

Yesterday female impersonator Mark Anderson — also known as Sybil Barrington — said he was delighted that officials at Department of Community and Cultural affairs had warmly welcomed him to the parade during a late afternoon meeting.

He said: “I think its a big step forward for this country, towards tolerance and acceptance.

“I feel really great about this and am very excited to be in the parade, especially after last year.”

Mr. Anderson referred to the last minute Cabinet decision in 2006 which barred him from performing in the parade.

The statement said: “given the longstanding cultural mores of the annual Bermuda Day holiday and local sensitivities, it was considered inappropriate for Mr. Anderson’s entry to participate in the parade”.

A Department of Community and Cultural affairs official said the problem last year centred on his desire to use of the name “Queen of the Gombeys”.

The name did not sit well with certain gombey troops, who threatened to boycott the parade.

This year Mr. Anderson will use the name “Queen of Bermuda”. He has spent the last several days in New York for final fittings of his costume and said six friends have flown in to show their support.

He said: “This is a step in the right direction, a positive move for Bermuda. For me personally it is amazing. I would like to see more of this type of behaviour in Bermuda.”