A secondary school has been criticised for its decision to organise a Pride Day event where it asked children as young as 11 to dress up as drag queens.
Following heavy pressure from parents, the school was forced to cancel the event which would have featured San Samuel, better known as Aida H Dee, who runs Drag Queen Story.
A letter sent to parents about the June 16 event was met with backlash, and New Mills School in Derbyshire’s head teacher has now axed the event.
Despite its cancellation, the school remains under scrutiny, and Dr David Starkey says the plan is a symptom of a “new, compulsory mainstream”.
Speaking on GB News, he said: “I am fed up about what were alternative causes, like gay rights, black rights etc, being turned into a new, compulsory mainstream.
“We’ve decided that what was essentially 60s counter-culture is now mainstream and compulsory.
“It seems to be wrong, it’s as tiresome as standing up to salute flags.
“Can you imagine if it had gone ahead? The One child who hadn’t turned up with painted toenails or whatever it is…”
David Starkey has criticised Pride events
PAThe invitation called on pupils to “wear something rainbow or colourful” and they “may express themselves by doing something small like wearing a tutu, make-up or painting their nails.”
Starkey added parents should be allowed more of a say in matters that affect their children in schools.
“It seems to me that parents should have a moral choice on this.
“Many parents find this profoundly troubling, and in my view, rightly so.
“Why should institutions be interfering in any way in what is an intensely personal matter?”
Speaking to MailOnline, head teacher Heather Watts said: “As a school we want to support all our pupils and were happy to support our student LGBT group to organise the event planned for June 16.
“Due to stories that have appeared in the national press I have now received a large number of emails, both supporting the event and expressing their concerns about the event.
“I have today taken the decision to cancel Friday's event, to avoid any potential disruption to the school on that day, when many of our pupils will be taking GCSE exams. Although we support diversity, I have to consider the well-being of all our pupils and with a large number of students taking their exams I have to consider the potential impact of any distractions.
“I know that many of our pupils, staff and parents may be disappointed by this decision. I will be in discussion with our pupils, parents and staff, to seek their views on what alternative events we could organise in the future to celebrate Pride.”
