Pre-school removes LGBT book depicting men in ‘erotic fetish wear’

Parents have successfully persuaded a nursery to ditch a book promoting LGBT relationships that included images of “bondage” clothing, after they withdrew their four-year-old daughter from the pre-school.

Will and Maria Taylor first raised concerns with staff at Genesis Pre-School, in Hull, East Yorkshire, when they saw “two images of men who are partially naked in leather bondage gear” in the book ‘Grandad’s Pride’.

Although staff initially defended the images, the nursery’s trustees have now accepted that they are not age-appropriate and removed the book from its nursery, in conjunction with a wider review. The book, which shows a young girl planning a local ‘Pride’ march for her homosexual granddad, is advertised for children from aged zero.

‘No justification’

Mr Taylor is broadly supportive of LGBT resources for children and has previously volunteered at ‘Pride’ events, but felt this book was not suitable for children and criticised staff for claiming that “children would not understand or perceive erotic or sexual images”.

He explained: “That was no justification in our eyes. Arguing with us over the appropriateness of these sexual images quickly damaged the trust we held for the nursery team. At this stage I was concerned and took our daughter out of the nursery.

“It seems those with safeguarding responsibilities are basing their decisions on what is safe and appropriate based on whether the child will recognise the risk for what it is. To be clear, the ‘perception’ of the child is not the arbiter of what is age-appropriate or safe, regardless of their level of understanding.”

In response, Publisher Andersen Press attempted to defend the book’s illustrations, claiming accusations they were not age-appropriate are “deeply offensive and homophobic”.

Four-year-olds

Earlier this year, a Church of England primary school in Essex defended its use of a book promoting gender confusion to four-year-olds.

Stephen and Joanne Evans withdrew their son from the school when ‘My Shadow is Pink’ was set to be used as part of World Book Day.

In the story, the boy is encouraged to identify with his ‘pink shadow’ by wearing a dress to school as if he is a girl. His father tells him: “Your shadow is pink, I see now it’s true, it’s not just your shadow, it’s your innermost you.”