Now Science Museum hit by trans row
THE Science Museum is planning to change a display on human biology following complaints over its ‘lack of mention of transgender’.
The Boy or Girl? exhibition, covering subjects such as hormones and chromosomes, will be altered to ‘update [the] non inclusive narrative’.
The popular London museum confirmed that its Who Am I? gallery is currently being reviewed after internal documents revealed the display had been criticised for an alleged lack of transgender representation.
The Boy or Girl? exhibit already makes reference to feelings of being ‘born in the wrong body’ and adds that gender identity ‘may not match your biological sex’. Items on display include a fake penis to be worn under clothing so someone appears as a male, a compression vest to flatten the chest and testosterone patches.
Documents seen by The Daily Telegraph reveal the museum was taking ‘action to consult the Museum of Transology’ in Brighton about the display. It describes itself as ‘the UK’s most significant collection of objects representing trans, non-binary and intersex people’s lives’. Maya Forstater, a tax expert who lost her job for saying transgender people cannot change their sex, is concerned the Science Museum, is being ‘swayed by cultural trends in this way’.
‘Sexual reproduction evolved over one billion years ago and it has not changed in recent years,’ she said. ‘It is the reproductive strategy of all higher animals and plants, including humans. Helping visitors of all ages to understand this is core to what the Science Museum should be doing.’
Boy or Girl? previously removed a sign that read ‘your X and Y chromosomes define your biological sex’ following complaints in 2016.
The Science Museum said the review would ‘take into account new scientific and curatorial research and visitor feedback’. It added that the gallery is updated ‘on a rolling basis, where resources allow, to reflect areas where there has been fresh research or a shift in scientific consensus’.