Sex toys on display at child friendly day for Out There Queer Fest Exeter

[IwantToRetire]

It was reported that one stall displayed anatomical models of male and female genitalia, a condom-fitting device, condoms, and a penis-girth measuring card. Children as young as three were said to be present.
Devon County Council did not directly receive any complaints about the event from parents at the time, but Cllr Hill insisted there had been a safeguarding oversight.

His motion called for an independent review and an assurance on safeguarding policies and added: “This motion seeks to ensure that children and vulnerable people are protected from inappropriate material, unsafe environments, and disorderly conduct at publicly funded events.”

Cllr Hill said his motion was about protecting children while the cabinet’s response – that the council already had robust safeguarding procedures in place – was about protecting the council.

Full article https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/26156426.council-clash-sex-toy-stall-row/

If you read it again, it very carefully doesn’t say there were not inappropriate sexual education objects displayed.

When you read the whole article it is quite clear that there were. It sounds very much like full size model penises or vaginas.

Sex education for children is important but it is essential that it is age appropriate and that us not compatible with a public display of penises.

Perhaps what happened on that particular occasion wasn't as we would have hoped, and lessons have been learned.

So what was it. They say nothing wrong with the event so what was not as they hoped and what happended that meant lessons have been learned

It says quite clearly there was adult only material on display. It just says they didn’t put cuddly toys or sweets next to them.

Why is it always LGBTQ+ children that these displays are aimed at. It's arguable, imo, that a prepubescent child who has been labelled as LGBTQ+ has already been sexualised. Even so how are they different from any other child of that age that means they can be exposed to things that would normally be considered totally inappropriate?

Q is all about the break down of societal norms - including the norms that protect children from sex.

Children also offer legitimacy to T

Is this the same councillor related to this post?

https://x.com/edhill_reports/status/2099270460101824706?s=46&t=ePglbcGCUNr9ilRXZbFSew

I did Raise it at the time, but the issues were not properly addressed in my opinion, so in Devon we will continue to expose children to these things.

Is it OK? Do you think its fine?

Lots of us raised it at the time, and were ignored. There are more details, including images, in this article.
https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/queer-fest-at-exeter-library-devon-county-councils-child-safety-test
The claim from dcc is that it wasn't a safeguarding issue, because libraries unlimited said so. However, for sex ed to be safe it must be done at an appropriate age, in a controlled environment and by an appropriate adult. A table with explicit items and a poster about chemsex, in the entrance foyer to the library, at a queer event targetting 'children of all ages' is not that, it's grooming.
They also claim lessons were learned, but another event was planned (and cancelled following complaints) targetting 4-11year olds, in the children’s section, as part of pride. No lessons were learned.

Predatory men will always use any special identity that allows access to children, be that a tv presenter, scout leader, church figure, teacher or now, lgbtq+. The refusal to acknowledge this safeguarding failure is because of identity politics and is a huge 'predators welcome here' invitation.

I don't understand the number of people willing to defend random, not DBS checked adults potentially interacting with children about matters of sex. In a library!!

Ctiticising this is really not the same as kids getting a glimpse of a cheeky rude nick nack in a shop, and its not the same as saying kids shouldn't have properly delivered, age sppropriate sex ed in school.

Surely we should be teaching kids not to talk to strangers about sex? Safeguarding is about looking for what potential ptoblems could occur and taking that as your starting point, not handwaving them away and saying 'nah, it'll probably be fine'.

This does seem to be all about breaking down boundaries.

This does seem to be all about breaking down boundaries.

And now with the NSPCC at the helm!

The interesting question is why does any queer "child friendly" display require sex toys & anatomical models of body parts? It's almost as if children are being advised that this is what "queer folk" are interested in?

That people can't see this is a massive problem in terms of safeguarding children

Also, saying something 'is a safeguarding issue' doesn't mean it it's disastrous/ terrible/ should be banned.

It means it has the potential to cause issues re child safety in its current format.

Ikr?

Gay men have fought for years to get away from the awful stereotype of paedophilia, then there's people doing things like this.

It would piss me right off if i was a gay bloke.

But perhaps therein less the difference between gay and queer.

From the linked article

The manager told us he was “excited” about the event, and was unable to recognise any problems in teaching children about sexuality. He also told us that there had been many complaints received and that he felt those emails were offensive.

So complaints were received but ignored because they were deemed 'offensive'. This does not bode well for the veracity of the library's internal investigation.

He described us and the concerned adults who had emailed as “people like you”, lumping us all into a bigoted category of people whose opinions and concerns should be ignored in the interests of “inclusion and diversity”.

He told us that while some of the adults hosting the event might have a DBS check, it was not something requested by the library before allowing access to children.

We suggested that the library should restrict access to the event to adults only, and were offered assurances that only children accompanied by a parent or guardian would be admitted to the event.

The event was advertised as a family event, for all ages, and included K-pop branding to appeal to young children. It was situated for maximum visibility in the foyer of the library meaning all patrons had to walk past it.

The images in the article show that at least one stall displayed what looks like a purple butt-plug - so it does not appear to simply be prosthetic anatomy as a PP suggested - Prosthetic anatomy..... pretty sure if I was a gay man I would want to try prepare myself for anal, its nowhere near like a vagina.

I'm not sure what sort of background checks and training that an adult preparing e.g. a 13 year old (part of the target demographic for this event) for anal would need but I am guessing that they would be pretty extensive. Perhaps any sort of background check is unnecessary as random adults who say they want to help children explore their sexuality are clearly beyond reproach.

Surrey Pride co-founder Stephen Ireland guilty of raping boy, 12 - BBC News

The whole thing is just one massive red light to me but maybe I'm just a bit old school.

A lot of gay people still consider queer a slur.

Its is one of the reasons why groups like LGB without the T exist.

As a friend of mine says, 'Gay is a sexuality, Queer is a way for the woke crowd to look cool'

Exactly this. They rejected PIE decades ago, and many now reject Q+ for the same good reasons. It's just terrifying how many people think it's just about being kind and inclusive.

Absolutely. For example, children who have tragically been victims of abuse could find this retraumatising. When done in an appropriate environment, appropriate adults are on hand to help deal with any such issues and provide support. The risk review disclosed in an foi (and only completed after complaints) showed this wasn't even a consideration for libraries unlimited.

The whole 'Sex positivity' and 'queering' culture has enabled and encouraged all of the perverts to come out of the closet - and to be lauded for it too. People are ashamed to be seen as prudish or uptight and so give the green light to all sorts of inappropriate people and practices.

The paedophiles have not gone away.... they are simply using another vehicle and another approach; and the internet has led many more men ( incliuding lots of young men) down the path of paedophilia and sexual predation, dressed up as fetish, kink, or 'Queer'.

I find it incredible that people really can't see this, and seem to think that seeing a problem here equates to being against sex education per se.

Its like Helen Joyce said "some things....are not like some other things!" She was talking about sex differences but I think it applies very well to all the straw men that get constantly wheeled out.

Random non DBS checked adults in a library that sounds like its managed by at least one activist, are not the same as qualified, trained DBS checked teachers delivering the national curriculum in a school fgs I can't believe this even needs saying.