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Sex education investigation: 'There was no guest speaker dressed as a drag queen'

Education minister gives update in Tynwald

Claims of a drag queen teaching a lesson at one of the Island's schools and telling a child to leave due a dispute over the number of genders were 'inaccurate'.

That's part of the verdict of an investigation into the Island's Relationships and Sexual Education Curriculum, which has been paused since February due to concerns raised by parents.

Investigators have released a report into Part One of the investigation - looking at the events of a 'Drop-Down Day' held at Peel's Queen Elizabeth II High School in September 2022.  

Stories of what happened during one of those sessions, in which guest speakers are invited to speak to pupils, reached international media - including the Daily Mail, GB News, and Fox News.

Education Minister Julie Edge says a speaker, who occasionally performs as a drag artist, was invited to speak to pupils about 'gender neutral language and the concept of gender in the LGBTQ+ environment' and made it 'clear from the outset that the classroom was a safe-space and no question was a silly question'.

'The guest speaker in September 2022 did not discuss sex education.'

The minister gave an update in Tynwald this morning:

Part Two of the investigation will look at the wider curriculum and how it was taught at QEII.

Part Three will focus on the RSE Advisory Curriculum guidance and training provided by the Department of Education Sport and Culture.

Two investigators, Paul Morris and Richard Power - previously described as a lawyer and former policeman, are in charge of investigating and producing the reports.

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