THE owners of historic Cutty Sark ship have come under fire over kids’ shows hosted by drag queens.
The taxpayer-backed London attraction’s half-term activities included drag story time and a doll-making session celebrating “cross-dressing”.
The activities were part of Greenwich Maritime Museums’ backing for LGBTQ+ History Month, which included the ship flying a Progress Pride flag.
Ray CollinsCutty Sark tea clipper docked permanently in Greenwich[/caption]
Ray CollinsAs part of LGBTQ+ History Month the progress pride flag flies from the ship[/caption]
Ray CollinsThe Cutty Sark tea clipper docked permanently in Greenwich[/caption]
A series of events targeted at children over February half term include drag aerobics and a paper doll making session that promised to “touch upon the role of drag and cross-dressing within the context of historical polar exploration”.
Other sessions advertised include a map drawing session which says: “Your maps might not divided up by straight lines and right angles. They might have queer borders – or none!”
In a “Polari” session children could learn about the secret language used by LGBTQ+ sailors.
And they held a singing workshop led by a young trans choir.
Stuart Andrew, shadow culture secretary, said: “The Cutty Sark played an important part in our country’s history.
“You would hope that these publicly funded museums would focus on teaching children about the role it played in history rather than promoting gender ideology to them.”
Lucy Marsh from the Family Education Trust said: “Drag is completely inappropriate for children as highly sexualised, gross caricatures of women should not be performing to children.”
She said taxpayers should not fund the projects: “Nor should the Cutty Sark be flying the Pride Progess flag as it’s celebrating a highly contested political ideology that doesn’t safeguard women and children. It should be celebrating our country and flying the Union Jack.”
The museum group – which includes the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory – last year received a £21.4 million from the Government.
A spokesperson for the Royal Museums Greenwich: “The February half-term activities at Royal Museums Greenwich are a celebration of identity and inclusion for the national LGBT History Month established in 2005.
“The programmed family-friendly activities do not contain content or activities inappropriate to the age group to which they are promoted. The programmes have been created in consultation with families and are very well received by our audiences.
“The Museum’s commitment to diversity and equality is a long standing one and in line with the Equality Act of 2010.
“The Act requires cultural organisations to reflect the full range of backgrounds and perspectives found in our society.”
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