logo
Science museum claims Legos push a 'heteronormative' agenda in LGBTQ tour

Science museum claims Legos push a 'heteronormative' agenda in LGBTQ tour

Fox News07-02-2025
Britain's Science Museum has argued that the way children's Lego bricks fit together reinforces gender and sexuality stereotypes.
The Science Museum in the United Kingdom has recently made headlines for its self-guided tour that tells "stories of queer communities, experiences, and identities." This "Seeing Things Queerly" tour at the museum claims that Legos push a "heteronormative" agenda.
"Like other connectors and fasteners, Lego bricks are often described in a gendered way," the online blog for the self-guided tour says. "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."
The tour guide blog adds further, "This is an example of applying heteronormative language to topics unrelated to gender, sex and reproduction. It illustrates how heteronormativity (the idea that heterosexuality and the male/female gender binary are the norm and everything that falls outside is unusual) shapes the way we speak about science, technology, and the world in general."
The Telegraph, which resurfaced this tour, which appears to have begun in 2022, on Thursday, reported, "No source is provided for the alleged view that people consider Lego to be gendered, or that sticking bricks together is called 'mating.'"
Fiona McAnena, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, scorched the display as "bonkers."
"The Science Museum's self-guided trail on all things 'queer' is completely bonkers, and includes some absurd claims. The idea that Lego is 'heteronormative' because the blocks are described as 'male' and 'female' is ridiculous," she told The Telegraph. "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."
Lego also sells an LGBTQIA+ playset called "Everyone is Awesome" with Lego minifigures standing in front of a rainbow including the various colors of the LGBTQIA+ flag.
Matthew Ashton, the Vice President of Design at the LEGO Group, designed it himself, and explained that he did so with drag queens, the Black community, and transgender people in mind.
"It sends a powerful message, but it is also fun and quirky and doesn't take itself too seriously," he said. "We've made sure to include black and brown colors to represent the broad diversity of everyone within the LGBTQIA+ community. We've also added in the pale blue, white and pink to support and embrace the trans community as well. I purposely put the purple drag queen in as a clear nod to the fabulous side of the LGBTQIA+ community. I hope it's a joy to build and a joy to look at, and hopefully it will bring a lot of joy to people's lives."
Lego has also waded into gender politics before. In 2021, the company released a statement expressing concern that girls "remain held back by society's ingrained gender stereotypes as they grow older," and has a lengthy entry on its website on "How eliminating gender bias can build confidence and creativity."
Fox News Digital has reached out to both the museum and the Lego company for comment and did not receive an immediate reply.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New & Creative Bluey Activities That Will Entertain Kids During the Last Few Weeks of Summer
New & Creative Bluey Activities That Will Entertain Kids During the Last Few Weeks of Summer

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

New & Creative Bluey Activities That Will Entertain Kids During the Last Few Weeks of Summer

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. At this point in the summer, our kids have done everything. They're tired of the splash park, they're bored of their toys, and it's way too hot to go anywhere. So, what do you do when you don't want them watching screens all day? The solution: new Bluey activities! Our favorite Australian TV family has a line of new Crayola toys, LEGOs, and other sets designed to spark your child's creativity and imagination. And with weeks left until preschool starts up again, we need all the help we can get! More from SheKnows This $7 Hair-Thickening Shampoo Left Shoppers Totally Impressed: 'My Thin Hair Is Now Giving Full Beyoncé Vibes' Today's Top Deals How Do You Raise Good Kids in Terrifying Times? 'Hello, Cruel World' Author Melinda Wenner Moyer Has Ideas Think Spring! Target Just Added Tons of Gorgeous New Patio Items Target Is Having a Can't-Miss Spring Sandal Sale for Circle Members From toddlers to big kids, there are activities that every Bluey fan will love. Draw pictures (or recreate Rug Island) with Bluey markers. Build the Heeler's house with LEGOs. And make your own designs for Bluey, Bingo, Mum, and Dad —then wash them off in a little toy pool. The possibilities for fun are endless. Check out a few of our favorite new Bluey-themed activities below. Crayola Scribble Scrubbies Bluey Poolside Playset $32.99 Buy Now Got a kid who likes to color on their toys? Now they can with this Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Bluey set. You can color on the figurines with washable markers, then take them to the pool to rinse them off and start over again. LEGO Bluey: Bluey's Beach & Family Car Trip $29.99 Buy Now This adorable LEGO set is built for younger hands, ages 4+. It comes with Bluey, Bingo, and Mum, plus the family car and sand set to build with LEGOs. LEGO Bluey: Bluey's Family House $69.99 Buy Now Build the Heelers' entire home with this epic LEGO set that comes with the entire family, plus costumes for them to dress up, a backyard area to play in, and tons of hidden toys and surprises that fans will love. Play-Doh Bluey Goes Camping Playset $15.13 $16.99 11% off Buy Now Wackadoo! This Bluey Play-Doh is so fun. It comes with molds to make Bluey, Bingo, and their friend Jean-Luc, plus campfire tools, a play mat background, and more. Bluey Stackable Sensory Case $15.52 $19.99 22% off Buy Now Hours of entertainment can be found with this Bluey sensory case. The stackable bins come with sections to play with sand, felt stickers, scratch art, and more. It's great for kids who get bored of one activity and like switching it around, and the easy carrying case makes it perfect for on-the-go. Crayola Bluey Art Kit Coloring is the perfect summertime activity (or anytime!). This Bluey art kit designed for kids ages 4 and up comes with washable markers, Bluey coloring pages, stickers, and a case to hold it all together. Trying to make summer travel less stressful? Check out these kids will love. More Top Deals from SheKnows Is Walmart+ Worth It? Giada De Laurentiis' Newest Cookbook Is Packed With Italian Super Food Recipes Stanley Tumblers Now Come With New Leakproof Lids & Customers Are Raving About Them Best of SheKnows How to Watch These 25 Halloween Movies on Disney+ for Summerween Antics The Dumbest (and Deadliest) TikTok Trends Targeting Teens & Tweens Aquaman, Wolf Monte, & More Unique Celebrity Baby Names

Prince Harry Revealed What ‘Breaks' His Heart as a Father After Reports William Plans to Strip Archie & Lilibet of Their Royal Titles
Prince Harry Revealed What ‘Breaks' His Heart as a Father After Reports William Plans to Strip Archie & Lilibet of Their Royal Titles

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Prince Harry Revealed What ‘Breaks' His Heart as a Father After Reports William Plans to Strip Archie & Lilibet of Their Royal Titles

Prince Harry has been trying to keep Princess Diana's memory alive and continue with her legacy. That's partly why he set out on a tour of Angola to recreate the walk that Princess Diana took across an Angola minefield in 1997. This is a continuing trend, as Prince Harry also did this in 2019 and 2024. 'As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields,' the Duke of Sussex said in a statement. 'All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past.' More from StyleCaster Prince George Might Inherit This 'Rather Annoying' Royal Rule for His 12th Birthday After Being 'Pressured' by William & Kate King Charles Reacts to Claims He's 'Intensely Demanding' Amid Reports William Will Take the Throne 'Sooner Than Expected' Related: Who inherited what from Princess Diana? 'This commitment is about more than removing deadly devices. It's about unlocking potential in a country that has so much — enabling children to walk to school safely, allowing farmers to grow crops, attracting sustainable development and bringing back wildlife tourism,' he added. Harry has previously called continuing his mother's work in the region a 'responsibility' he takes seriously. The Halo Trust, the organization Prince Harry is working with, has cleared 120,000 landmines in Angola that were left over from years of civil war. Prince Harry previously told The Telegraph that Prince Archie requested to see footage of Princess Diana's original walk that Harry recreated. 'Archie was asking about landmines, so I was talking about how some of these guys were blown up,' Harry told the outlet. 'Interestingly, it gave me a chance to talk about my mum, his grandma, which I didn't even really consider, so that became the outcome of the story for him,' he added. According to Harry, Archie 'wanted to see videos and photographs of his Grandma Diana out doing her thing for landmines all those years ago. It produced a very interesting conversation between me and him, different to what I thought it would be.' The humanitarian push comes as new reports indicate Prince Harry might be closer to reconciliation with his estranged father, King Charles, than ever. Aides for the two met recently, and Harry has been open about his desire to patch things up with both his father and his brother. However, this new development doesn't seem to include Prince William. And recent reports indicate the future King is ready to take big steps when he becomes King, with a friend telling The Daily Beast about Harry and Meghan Markle's titles, 'They have asked the Sussexes politely to stop using the style, to no avail, so I imagine William will simply issue new letters patent to formally remove the entire family's right to use HRH when he becomes king.' A former courtier even told the outlet, 'Charles may not want this fight, but William despises Harry and Meghan at this stage, and when he is king, his fury will rain down on them.' Whether that changes after recent reports that the two sides are trying to patch things up is anybody's guess, but for now, it seems like things cannot be fixed between the brothers, even if Prince Harry and King Charles do end up reconciling. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways Solve the daily Crossword

Massive Nintendo Switch summer sale is live from £4 — 17 deals I'd shop from Nintendo, Amazon and more
Massive Nintendo Switch summer sale is live from £4 — 17 deals I'd shop from Nintendo, Amazon and more

Tom's Guide

time10 hours ago

  • Tom's Guide

Massive Nintendo Switch summer sale is live from £4 — 17 deals I'd shop from Nintendo, Amazon and more

We're in the thick of summer now, and Nintendo's summer sale has launched! Right now you can save on a bunch of Nintendo's most popular titles, which doesn't happen every day. Right now Nintendo has Switch game deals from £4. For example, if basketball is your favorite sport, you can currently get NBA 2K25 on sale for £4 at Nintendo, a massive 90% discount. Or, if you're in the mood for some platforming action, Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is on sale for £37 at Nintendo. If you're a physical collector, you can get Nintendo Switch game deals from £21 at Amazon right now. There are even some Nintendo Switch 2 games on sale here, like Sonic X Shadow Generations on sale for £36 at Amazon. Keep scrolling to see all my favorite Nintendo Switch game deals. Plus, check out our Amazon promo codes coverage for more savings. This remade collection of two beloved Wii games hits the Nintendo Switch. You'll move into a town full of cute MySims characters and help them with their problems by completing quests, building houses and furniture, decorating, gardening, fishing and more. Lara Croft makes a comeback on the Nintendo Switch. This trio of classic games has been faithfully remastered, letting you re-experience the heart-pounding action and globe-trotting gameplay of the Tomb Raider series on modern platforms. Explore the deepest reaches of space in Outer Wilds. We had high praise for this games gorgeous visuals and soundtrack, and there's also an intriguing mystery story to uncover as you explore. Note: this deal is for the Archaeologist Edition, but you can get the standard digital edition for £20 at Nintendo. The juggernaut soccer sim returns for another season in EA Sports FC 25. While modes like Career and Pro Clubs have been neglected, the new Rush mode is fantastic, and the FC series continues to offer an unrivaled sense of authenticity. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is one of the most impressive remasters to date because of how much effort and detail was put into revamping the visuals of this classic platformer. For £26, you can own three full-length games that maximize their replay value by forcing you down a dark rabbit hole filled with colored gems and time trials. This family-friendly Lego-fied version of Horizon: Zero Dawn expertly balances the former's adorable aesthetics and customization with the latter's character-focused story and tactical combat. As we said in our Lego Horizon Adventures review, this is one of the more action-packed Lego games. But despite its greater emphasis on combat, the game never takes itself too seriously, offering the trademark comedic tone you'd expect from a Lego check: £51 @ Currys The ultimate island gaming experience on Nintendo Switch... other than Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Featuring Hello Kitty and friends, this super cute cozy game is full of quests to complete, decorating and customization. Street Fighter 6 1-2 Fighters Edition will features 26 characters and 20 stages. You'll fight your way to the top with all new content and game modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 like Local Wireless One on One and Avatar Matches. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the most popular Switch games available, and even years after its launch it continues to dominate the best-sellers chart. This means any form of discount is pretty rare, but you can currently save on this must-have family-friendly check: £37 @ Argos Sonic X Shadow Generations combines a remaster of 2011's Sonic Generations, a love letter to the Blue Blur that remains a fan-favorite to this day, with a new Shadow-focused campaign. It's a strong package and perfectly timed with the theatrical release of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. Yakuza 0 Director's Cut is a wonderful entry point into the excellent Yakuza series. You'll be able to explore the densely packed fictional Japanese districts of Kamurocho, Tokyo and Sotenbori, Osaka and experience an engaging story, blood-pumping combat and tons of memorable side quests.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store