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School musical Fit angers parents for "promoting" homosexuality
"Plays like Fit aim to encourage people to be proud of their sexuality and reassure those with questions and concerns that it is just as 'normal' to be gay as it is to be straight."
A school play aimed at 11 - 14 year-olds to tackle homophobic bullying has upset parents and made headlines in tabloids and broadsheets alike for ‘promoting’ homosexuality.
Fit, which was written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, was originally commissioned by LGBT campaign group Stonewall has so far been performed in 75 schools by the accomplished Drill Hall touring theatre group. However, it was the performance in Dagenham Park Community School that prompted complaints from parents.
A mother of two pupils at the school said: "When I was 11, I didn't even know what 'gay' was.
"It has come to something when our schools are worried about first year pupils making up their minds about their sexuality. What happened to the three Rs?"
Another parent also added: "Maybe I'm pretty old-fashioned sort of bloke but I don't want my boy seeing this. I could be wrong but I don't think it’s normal to think about being gay at that age."
Schools have reported a growing trend in homophobic bullying over the last few years, with the use of the word ‘gay’ increasingly being used as a form of generalised abuse. While often not meant in a homophobic way the ‘You’re so gay’ or ‘That’s so gay’ expression still has negative, homophobic connotations.
In a recent survey of more than 1,100 young people found that 92% of gay, lesbian and bisexual pupils have experienced verbal abuse, with 41% experiencing physical bullying and an astonishing 17% receiving death threats.
Plays like Fit aim to encourage people to be proud of their sexuality and reassure those with questions and concerns that it is just as 'normal' to be gay as it is to be straight. Post-performance Q&As with the cast and Rikki Beadle-Blair always highlight such points and are key to the success of the play.
There will be a public performance of Fit at 7.30pm on Saturday 15th November in the Drill Hall 1. Tickets cost £15 and £10 for concessions. For more information, visit the Drill Hall website.
