- EXCLUSIVE Book’s publishers have blasted criticism as ‘homophobic’
- In one section of the book two men in leather fetish gear are seen kissing
Source: Dailymail.co.uk.
UK – The publisher of a new children’s book featuring a man in bondage gear and a woman with trans ‘top surgery’ scars has branded parents voicing objection as ‘homophobes’
‘Grandad’s Pride’ is the creation of Waterstones children’s book winning author and illustrator Harry Woodgate – who uses they/them pronouns – and is published by Andersen Press, who told MailOnline they stand by the product.
The children’s tome promises ‘to celebrate the power of community and the importance of LGBTQIA+ history’ and is highly regarded in some circles – even winning the Waterstones’ coveted children’s book prize.
However a slew of parents have taken to social media to complain about the book’s subliminal messaging claiming it is recommending sexual fetishes and body modifications too early.
It comes amid growing concern over the sexualisation of children, with parents protesting outside Drag Queen shows for youngsters, demanding access to lesson plans on gender being taught in the classrooms, and a theatre show that normalised sex to children as young as five.
The book’s publication also comes amid a storm over the controversial trans clinic the Travistock Centre, which is facing mass legal action from 1,000 families of children ‘who where rushed into taking life-altering puberty blockers’.
The new book revolves around the titular grandad regaling their grandchild with memories of pride and features a host of colourful illustrations of various LGBT people – some of whom are pictured kissing in leather fetish gear.
However many have expressed surprise that the book is targeted at four-six years old due to its perceived mature sexual content – and some have even labelled the book potentially harmful.
Taking to Twitter, one women said: ‘What a relief that books for two-seven year-olds now include illustrations of men in fetish gear and girls who’ve swallowed an ideology that encourages them to get their breasts cut off.
‘Well done children’s publishing! This is what kid’s books should celebrate: fetishes, misogyny and mutilation.’
The book is currently being sold on Amazon for the price of £10.58 and holds a 65% approval rating with 24 five star ratings with some praising the book’s ‘terrific illustrations.’
However it has also been criticised on the site with people warning its contents are actually ‘anti-pride’.
In one review, a person who claims to be a ‘mental health professional’ writes: ‘As a mental health professional who has worked with children in private practice for over 15 years, I strongly discourage anyone from showing this book to their child.
‘It’s a great idea – of course – to teach your child to be accepting of everyone as they are, gay or straight. And in fact this is something children do naturally, unless they are told otherwise.
‘But making a concerted effort to tell them that they should ‘celebrate diversity’ is a very different thing. Why? Because ‘celebrating’ and waving signs saying ‘No H8’ implies that anyone who is accepting-but-not-celebratory is somehow bigoted or hate-filled, which of course is nonsense.
‘And when you combine this with issues of ‘gender identity’, you tell children that there is a thing called ‘gender identity’ which is different to biological sex.
‘A young child may start to think ‘oh, maybe I’m not a boy/girl after all’ simply because YOU made the suggestion by showing them this book.
‘In this way this book will create MORE gender dysphoria. That is not a good thing. I would not wish gender dysphoria on anyone.
‘And that’s before we even get on to the kink/fetish images included in this book (see photo). What is that about?!’
Another reads: ‘This book features men in bondage gear and glorifies mastectomies for healthy girls.
‘I’m disgusted at the publishers and at Amazon for selling such an item.’
Harry Woodgate has published several children’s books including the first instalment of Grandad’s Pride, titled Grandad’s Camper.
They also said that their children’s book Timid had one of the first non-binary characters in the genre as the protagonist Timmy used they/them pronouns.
Reacting to the furore over the book, publisher’s Andersen Press pushed back and labelled criticism of the books themes or imagery ‘homophobic.’
A statement reads: ‘We stand by our author and illustrator Harry Woodgate and their book Grandad’s Pride.
‘We believe it is a faithful representation of Pride Celebrations and Pride Parades around the country enjoyed by many families.
‘We discussed the images of the Pride parade during our stringent and robust editorial process and decided collectively that we should show a true representation of what a Pride march looks like and what the many children who attend these events see.
‘We consider accusations of “hidden messages” to be baseless, deeply offensive and homophobic.’
A spokesman for Waterstones said: ‘Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate is available in most of our bookshops.
The new title is a companion to the very successful Grandad’s Camper which was a School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 and shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards, including the CILIP Kate Greenway Medal 2022 and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2022.’
It comes as it was revealed that pupils as young as seven will be encouraged to wave rainbow flags and wear a badge which displays whether they use male, female or non-binary pronouns.
Last month, The Mail on Sunday saw lesson plans which showed children in Key Stage Two – which covers seven to 11-year-olds – are taught about being non-binary.
The lessons are being rolled out as part of Schools Diversity Week, which is run by LGBT charity Just Like Us in the last week of June.
More than 6,000 primary and secondary schools have signed up. Andrea Williams, of Christian Concern, said: ‘Thousands of children will be indoctrinated with extreme gender ideology this summer without the knowledge of their parents.’
Just Like Us did not respond to a request for comment at the time.
