ABC accused of "grooming" children after drag queen appearance
The ABC has come under fire after a famous drag queen appeared on a children's program.
Liberal Senator Alex Antic accused the public broadcaster of "grooming" kids, after Courtney Act, whose real name is Shane Jenek, appeared on Play School to read a book about a girl who wanted to wear pants instead of dresses.
“The program was rated G and has been heavily promoted on TV and on the app. Why is the ABC grooming children with this sort of adult content,” Senator Antic said on Tuesday.
He also the program was encouraging "gender dysphoria" by having the drag queen appear at all.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young refuted his claims, suggesting it was an entirely inappropriate use of term "grooming".
“Heavens above – girls wearing pants. That is the level of rubbish you are putting forward,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
The book in question, The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick, is about a young girl who feels more comfortable wearing pants than a party dress to her friend's birthday.
Senator Antic said, “Cross dressing. Let me ask you this, does ABC agree that transgender or cross dressing are adult concepts?”
ABC managing director David Anderson rejected the assertion, responding, “Senator, I don’t see that as grooming children with our content.”
The Senator doubled down on his stance, saying the book was "deeply, deeply offensive” and that the ABC should face repercussions for "grooming".
Grooming traditionally refers to when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
But that characterisation was entirely wrong and offensive in the context of a children's story about a girl who likes to wear pants, Senator Hanson-Young said.
“Grooming is a really serious matter! It is not for being played with by conservative senators to make headlines,” she replied
“Sexual assault survivors right around this country will be deeply offended, deeply offended by you playing politics.”
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