More grooming: York Museum Trust

Target audience: 4-7 year olds.

The following is a letter sent to the York Museum Trust and forwarded to me. I have witheld names of trustees at her request.

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Dear [   ]

I am writing to you specifically in relation to your role as a Trustee of the York Museum Trust.  There is something I would like you to consider in your role, and to share with the other Trustees if possible

York Art Gallery will shortly be hosting 'Curious Takeover!' on 26 February during half term. The events are directed towards children age 4-7 and are part of the celebration of LGBT+ History Month and The Queering the Burton Project.

The motivation is for greater inclusivity, which is to be celebrated.  I myself am part of this community.  I know what it is to be an outside.  The intention is bold and generous spirited.

However, I note that included on the bill is "Drag Storytime", where young children are invited to "Settle down for an interactive storytime as our Curious Drag Artists read their favourite binary-breaking picture books."

At first glance, this looks lot of fun, something like an 'inclusive' circus. 

But Drag Storytime, and its precursor Drag Queen Stories, is not benign.  This is why:

It is really important that your organisation understands what you are facilitating and normalising. 

When the backlash comes again the excesses of Queer Theory and when the safeguarding risks are exposed, the negative reaction will hit the whole LGBT+ community.  The very community you are trying to celebrate will be hurt because no one wanted to stand up at the time and say, 'actually, this kind of thing really isn't okay for kids' for fear of sounding out of touch or bigotted.

In a few years time I expect the Trustees will have a meetings reflecting on this period, and everyone will say to each other 'we really couldn't have known'.  Well please consider this due warning. 

I have also contacted (__), but I would be grateful if this could be shared with the other Trustees. 

The final decision is on the direction the museums and galleries under your care takes, is of course yours.  But at least your decision whether to continue to include this as children's 'entertainment' will be an informed one.

Many best wishes,

X