Lego blocks scrutinised for promoting heteronormativity in museum tour
A self-guided museum tour criticises Lego blocks for promoting heteronormativity, asserting they reflect outdated gender norms. This perspective has sparked controversy and backlash.
A self-guided tour at the Science Museum in London has labelled Lego blocks as anti-LGBT, claiming they reinforce “heteronormativity”.
The Seeing Thing Queerly tour encourages visitors to explore the museum through the perspectives of “queer communities, experiences, and identities”.
However, it critiques Lego blocks for having “male or female parts which ‘mate’ with each other”, suggesting that this promotes the viewpoint of only two genders. This assertion has been reported by The Telegraph, which further explains that such a view is considered anti-LGBT, encompassing various non-heteronormative groups.
A guide for the tour outlines the thought process, stating: “The top of the brick with sticking out pins is male, the bottom of the brick with holes to receive the pins is female, and the process of the two sides being put together is called mating”.
Fiona McAnena, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, condemned this perspective as “bonkers”, asserting that “The idea that Lego is ‘heteronormative’ because the blocks are described as ‘male’ and ‘female’ is ridiculous”.
She continued, saying, “Children who play with Lego don’t need to be told that some people say fitting Lego blocks together is ‘mating’. People expect to be informed, educated, and inspired when visiting the Science Museum, not to have dubious claims rooted in gender ideology forced on them.”
Media personality Piers Morgan reacted on social media by exclaiming, “Oh f**k off.”
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, responded by simply posting a clown face emoji.
Gender issues have been prominent in the 2024 US presidential election campaign, with one of US President Donald Trump’s initial acts being the signing of an executive order to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, as reported by AFP. “From now on women’s sports will be only for women,” Mr Trump stated during the signing event at the White House.
