CBEEBIES has sparked outrage for hailing trans sex workers as “inspirational mums” alongside Holly Willoughby and Michelle Obama. The BBC’s children’s TV channel has a list on its website celebrating mothers in honour of International Women’s Day.
![[Image of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, with text describing their work providing housing and support for LGBTQ+ youth.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/international-womens-day-cbeebies-celebrating-974127155.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Among them they cite American drag queens Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera who they say were “drag mothers”. They established a shelter for homeless youths in 1970 and paid the rent by sex work, according to reports. CBeebies website says: “Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, transgender drag queens and ‘drag mothers’ to the STAR House, provided a home, food, clothing and a sense of family to many LGBTQ+ kids made homeless by their biological families.”.
![[Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender activist, wearing a flower crown and jewelry.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/p-marsha-p-johnson-stood-592437408.jpg?strip=all&w=800)
The website added that the pair “mothered” the STAR House in New York. The Beeb said the web page was not current and was meant for adults. Shadow women’s minister Mims Davies said: “We all know and appreciate families these days can come in all shapes and forms and that is to be roundly celebrated too.
![[Black and white photo of Sylvia Rivera speaking at a rally, with Chelsea Goodwin visible in the background.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rear-second-left-folded-arms-974129619.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“However, this list seems to be deliberately provocative and instead of a celebration looks like a distraction from actually celebrating women. “Women should be front and centre on International Women’s Day. There are rightly other days and times to focus on other achievements and groups and our national broadcaster should be capable of doing that.”.
![[Holly Willoughby at the NTA Awards.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/48d65e85-dd77-4e11-8868-294eb8aba513.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Lucy Marsh from the Family Education Trust said: “This is not only completely inappropriate for children but hugely insulting to women to celebrate these men as ‘mothers’.”. She said TV licence payers do not want to fund this “nonsense”. The piece sparked a backlash with parents on internet forum Mumsnet this week.
![[Michelle Obama speaking at a podium.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/former-us-first-lady-michelle-926533072.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
One wrote: “Not inspirational. Not mums.”. Another added: “The whole thing seems totally inappropriately pitched for CBeebies.”. Another parent said: “CBeebies is for little children. Why do they need this nonsense? Just let kids be kids.”. One wrote: “This is awful. Who put this together? The BBC is becoming a parody of itself - why are drag queens in absolutely everything?”.
![[Portrait of Mims Davies MP, Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bed3adeb-c5ae-4600-a56c-f00034e395b2.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
