Controversy erupted in Great Britain and Scotland in September over materials related to same-sex relationships targeted at primary school children.
In Scotland, Catholic groups and others were angered by a project that uses dolls to teach tolerance for, among other groups, homosexual couples.
The so-called Persona Dolls were funded by Lesbian Mothers Scotland. According to a report in the Edinburgh News, educators bring the dolls to school and use them to tell stories to help children “unlearn discriminatory attitudes and behaviors.
Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph reported on a controversy in Great Britain over a pamphlet published by the government-funded Family Planning Association.
The pamphlet, “4 You,” is targeted at 9-11 years old, but includes material that some believe is inappropriate for that age group. Among other things, the pamphlet includes a cartoon depicting a young girl masturbating in the bath, a diagram showing the location of the clitoris, and the admonition that it’s “totally normal” to be attracted to members of the same sex.
Sources:
Primary pupils to get lesbian doll lessons. Jason Cumming, Edinburgh News, September 26, 2003.
Attack on children’s cartoon sex guide. Sarah Womak, Daily Telegraph, September 27, 2003.
The explicit sex guide aimed at nine-year-olds. Laura Clark, Daily Mail, September 27, 2003.