8 hours ago
School under fire over drag act for 11-year-olds
A secondary school has been criticised over plans to stage a drag artist performance to children as young as 11.
Fareham Academy, in Hampshire, said the display would form part of its annual Pride event on June 27.
But Suella Braverman, the former Tory home secretary, has urged the school, which is in her constituency, to rethink the 'morally reprehensible' plans.
She told The Telegraph that such a performance would be 'utterly inappropriate' for children, adding: 'Schools should be places of learning, not adult entertainment.'
The MP said several parents had complained to her about the plans, which follow a similar Pride event at the school last year when a drag artist also performed.
A statement on the academy's website said: 'This event is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to raise awareness and show support for the LGBT+ community.
'We will also be raising funds for local LGBT+ charities during the day.'
However, Mrs Braverman said: 'This is utterly inappropriate for children at school. I've been contacted by several parents and I've urged the school to withdraw their invitation to this drag artist.
'Adults are free to enjoy drag, but children should not be exposed to it at school. It is highly sexualised, presents a demeaning and distorted image of women and does not fairly represent the LGB community either.'
She added: 'Pretending to children that a man can be a woman if they put on some make up and wear a dress is wrong and sexualises the education of children.
'There are many other ways in which the school could mark Pride, eg by inviting a lesbian woman or a gay man to talk about their experiences, instead of this offensive, sexualised and wholly inappropriate action.
'I consider this a morally indefensible safeguarding issue and urge Fareham Academy to change course.'
Government guidance states that schools should include age-appropriate LGBT+ content in their curriculum, including during Pride events, and foster an inclusive environment.
It also advises that LGBT+ teaching should be integrated into the curriculum, rather than being taught as standalone lessons, and that schools should ensure all pupils feel accepted and safe.
On Saturday, The Telegraph revealed that Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, a charity, had been handing out leaflets to primary schools to teach schoolchildren about 300 different varieties of LGBT pride flags – and the sexualities and gender identities behind each of them.
