Can you imagine that the LEGO bricks we play with have a “gender” distinction?
Recently, some mega media reported that the Science Museum in London revealed that LEGO bricks have male and female components, leading to the conclusion that LEGO is actually against the LGBTQ+ community!
When the news broke, most netizens were left completely baffled. How could a science museum make such an outrageous statement? Even Elon Musk, who’s been pushing to sue LEGO over illegal advertising, shared the news on his social media with a facepalm clown emoji.
How could LEGO, a globally popular toy, possibly be linked to the LGBTQ+ community?
According to media reports, the Science Museum in London recently launched a themed exhibition called “Seeing Things Queerly.”
The term “queer” refers to sexual minorities like LGBTQ+ individuals and those with gender identity issues. Once a derogatory slur, it has recently been embraced by Western academia as a way to express individuality and reject societal norms.
The exhibition materials point out that the studs and tubes on LEGO bricks represent “male and female parts,” and the way the bricks interlock symbolizes “heterosexual mating.” This, they argue, suggests that LEGO only sees male-female combinations as “legitimate,” while anything else is considered “unusual,” implying that LEGO is against the LGBTQ+ community.
These scholars’ almost obsessive reasoning on the LGBT issue is truly baffling. The media outlet that reported the news bluntly called it “ridiculous” and added, “People expect to gain information, education, and inspiration when visiting a science museum, not unreliable claims rooted in gender ideologies.”
Even in most countries where LGBT issues are more widespread, regular netizens were equally shocked and mocked the news after seeing it.
In fact, while LEGO has never made a clear public statement on the issue, it’s definitely not “against” the LGBTQ+ community, as the Science Museum in London suggested.
Last year, for Pride Month, LEGO released its first LGBTQIA+ themed set, called 40516 Everyone is Awesome. Inspired by the rainbow flag, the set includes 11 minifigures in different colors, representing various genders, sexual orientations, and skin tones, emphasizing that everyone is unique and valuable.
The release of this set sparked quite a bit of controversy. LEGO Vice President Matthew Ashton explained that the set was simply meant to encourage more love and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. “This LEGO set is not just a toy, but a medium for promoting diversity and inclusion. It encourages us, as we build, to think about how we can better understand, respect, and support everyone around us.”
True to LEGO’s style, their perspective really elevates the conversation. However, the core of LGBT issues is something everyone likely has their own understanding of. As always, let’s not confuse our inclusivity with giving certain people the opportunity to stir things up.
What do you all think about this? Let’s chat in the comments!
