Education ministry questions ‘appropriateness’ of LGBTI content for children aged 5-8

The debacle over the theatre production Around the World in 80 days continued on Thursday, with the education ministry questioning why an LGBTI+ message would be fit for children.

The original format of the show included the question “can a boy want to be a girl and a girl want to be a boy?”

According to the ministry “the true question is how appropriate is it for children aged 5,6,7 and 8, to be exposed to such matters.”

“Additionally, what is the relationship between questioning gender issues and this classic act of international literature?”

It is unclear why the ministry chose to publish the statement, as an education ministry committee had asked Cyprus’ theatre organisation (THOC) to amend the contentious question.

The final version of the play was changed to say, “can a boy love another boy and a girl love another girl?”

This prompted a number of complaints from parents who said this was inappropriate, as was a scene of a boy wearing heels. Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou told the Cyprus Mail he did not know how many complaints had been filed but that even one complaint was worth investigating.

“We are aware there a different opinions on the matter but we have to have the middle ground.” Earlier this week, he maintained the decision to cut the contentious line was not censorship.

Asked about his opinion on the matter, Prodromou said committees know best as they are comprised of experts in their field.

“There are so many plays available, why did this line become a sticking point?”

According to Prodromou, the issue of the LGBTI+ was a philosophical matter. In response to a comment that LGBTI+ are members of society and not an abstract philosophical thought, he said “well yeah they’re members, but how many and where.”

Prodromou noted a potential way forward was to include age restrictions for theatre productions akin to those for films.