Science Museum Criticized for Labeling Lego Bricks as Reinforcing 'Heteronormativity'

A London museum's self-guided LGBTQ+ tour claims Lego bricks perpetuate gender norms, sparking widespread backlash and debate.

The Science Museum in London features a self-guided tour called 'Seeing Things Queerly,' which explores LGBTQ+ stories and identities within its exhibits.
The tour claims that the language used to describe Lego bricks—such as referring to parts as 'male' and 'female'—reinforces heteronormative ideas and excludes non-binary identities.
Critics, including the advocacy group Sex Matters, have dismissed the claims as baseless and accused the museum of promoting 'dubious' gender ideology.
The museum's blog post introducing the tour, originally published in 2022, resurfaced after being highlighted by The Telegraph, prompting reactions from public figures like Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro.
The museum has faced previous controversies over its LGBTQ+ exhibits, including the removal of a trans-inclusive display in 2023 following visitor complaints.