EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Former Labour MP Tristram Hunt sparks row as he pulls trans books and poster from the Young V&A before Kate re-opened museum after £13million redevelopment
Flip-flopping Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refuses to say whether or not he believes a woman can have a penis, but his party’s former senior MP Tristram Hunt appears to take a firmer stand when it comes to trans issues.
I hear that Hunt, who is now director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, has sparked a furious row after he ordered the removal of a poster with pro-transgender messages as well as two LGBTQ+ themed books.
The poster was on display at the former Museum of Childhood in the East End of London. The books were for sale in its shop.
He instructed them to be removed before the Princess of Wales opened the museum under its new name, Young V&A, last week, after a three-year, £13million redevelopment.
The poster was produced by controversial charity Stonewall and read: ‘Some people are trans, get over it!’.
Tristram Hunt (right) instructed the books and poster to be removed before the Princess of Wales (left) opened the museum under its new name
Princess Kate receives a goodie bag for her children from school pupils at the Young V&A
The books removed from the YVA bookshop – Seeing Gender and Here and Queer – are illustrated titles.
Their removal proved particularly controversial because the museum reopened on the same day London celebrated its LGBTQ+ Pride festival.
Rowan Ellis, 31, author of one of the books, Here and Queer: A Queer Girl’s Guide to Life, accuses the museum of stigmatising trans content as ‘inappropriate’ for children. She describes herself as ‘lividly angry’ that her work was removed.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union accuses the museum of ‘seeking to hide the existence of trans people’. Its culture group secretary, Steven Warwick, claims the decision ‘adds to the current climate of transphobia and trans-erasure, putting trans people, particularly young trans people, at risk’.
He adds: ‘It is particularly galling that this decision was made during LGBTQ+ history month.’
A V&A spokesman says the decision was ‘complex’ but the museum’s senior team ‘felt more consultation was necessary with young people and teachers on how to present these topics, to ensure their perspectives were more fulsomely represented’.
The PCS and another trade union, Prospect, together with LGBTQ+ employees from the museum, met Hunt last week, demanding that the poster was displayed again and the books sold once more. However, their demands were refused.
The museum’s spokesman says its decision ‘was not intended to be exclusionary, and we do recognise the concerns that this has caused’.
‘Our decision was taken as part of a wider programme that we are developing on how we present gallery content in a more considered and inclusive way. The V&A is fully committed to presenting an inclusive programme and visitor experience. This includes trans representation as well as voices and perspectives from across the queer community.’
The Princess greets children at the Young V&A during her visit to the museum
Former Labour MP Mr Hunt is now director of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Flip-flopping Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refuses to say whether or not he believes a woman can have a penis, but his party’s former senior MP Tristram Hunt appears to take a firmer stand
A V&A spokesman says the decision was ‘complex’ but the museum’s senior team ‘felt more consultation was necessary with young people and teachers on how to present these topics, to ensure their perspectives were more fulsomely represented’
The Duke of Gloucester isn’t having much luck in the property game.
First Richard and wife Birgitte moved to a smaller property at Kensington Palace so Prince Harry and Meghan could use Apartment 1.
They turned it down. Now, the Gloucesters have cut the asking price of their country home by £500,000.
Barnwell Manor, in Northamptonshire, was £4.75 million last September. Now it’s a snip at £4.25 million.
Princess Diana’s wedding dress co-designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who turned 70 yesterday, is impressed by the fashion sense of the new Princess of Wales.
‘What Kate’s doing is wonderful, wearing things people can relate to,’ she tells me.
‘When we used to dress Diana, she would come in and have something designed especially for her. I think now she would have done what Kate is doing, wearing ‘High Street’.’
July 4th? Beckinsale flies flag for Britain!
Good to see Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale trying to turn America’s Independence Day into a celebration of Great Britain.
The 49-year-old actress — who is from Chiswick, West London, and whose father was Porridge star Richard Beckinsale — marked the Fourth of July with a bizarre fancy dress party complete with Union flags.
Her mother, actress Judy Loe, 75, dressed as a medieval maiden, while her stepfather, television director Roy Battersby, 87, appeared to be a bemused monarch.
Beckinsale (far left) seemed to be Tweedledum from Lewis Carroll’s Through The Looking-Glass.
‘There is some corner of Beverly Hills that will be forever England,’ says the star of Pearl Harbor, who now lives in Los Angeles.
Good to see Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale trying to turn America’s Independence Day into a celebration of Great Britain
Kate’s little brother to be a dad for first time
The Princess of Wales, who admitted to being ‘very broody’ last year, can look forward to the patter of tiny feet. Catherine’s brother, James Middleton, is to become a father.
His wife, Alizee, a French financial analyst, 33, is expecting their first child.
‘We couldn’t be more excited,’ he says. It’s cheering news for Middleton, 36, who was devastated by the death of his pet spaniel.
‘It was a very difficult start to the year after losing my beloved Ella,’ admits the entrepreneur.
‘However, we will end the year with the most precious little addition to our growing family.’ For the announcement, Alizee posed with their dog Mabel.
Catherine’s brother, James Middleton, is to become a father. His wife, Alizee, a French financial analyst, 33, is expecting their first child
The Princess of Wales, who admitted to being ‘very broody’ last year, can look forward to the patter of tiny feet
Gathering no Moss… Nikolai and Camille
When Kate Moss launched her ‘wellness’ brand, Cosmoss, last September, the model’s boyfriend, Count Nikolai von Bismarck, was on hand to lend his support.
This week, Von Bismarck, 36, who has been with Moss, 49, since 2015, was seen returning to his Paris hotel with model Camille Rowe, 33. Von Bismarck and Moss decline to say if they are still together.
This week, Von Bismarck, 36, who has been with Moss, 49, since 2015, was seen returning to his Paris hotel with model Camille Rowe, 33
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