A kindergarten in Vienna has found itself at the center of a heated conflict with parents after displaying a poster featuring a naked transgender man with both breasts and a penis.
The poster, which carried the slogan, “Bodies, naked and bare, vulva, penis, breasts, butt. You decide for yourself, yes! Bodies are great!” prompted two families to withdraw their children from the facility.
The issue came to light when a young boy asked his father about the “strange pictures” he had seen at the kindergarten. Curious and concerned, the father visited the school and was shocked to discover the poster, which depicted various individuals showering naked.
Initially, the kindergarten removed the poster after the father voiced his complaints. However, following discussions with the regional head and the management of KinderWien (Kiwi), which oversees the facility, the parents were informed that the posters were deemed appropriate.
“The manager advocated sexual education for 1- to 6-year-olds without any educational background, which seemed highly inappropriate to us,” the mother told Kronen Zeitung, an Austrian newspaper.
When no agreement could be reached, the parents were warned they might lose their children’s spots at the kindergarten. Ultimately, the family decided to withdraw their two children, aged one and four, from the program. “We were always concerned with a good solution in the interests of the children, but because we dared to criticize the practices of early sexualization, we were banned from all Kiwi facilities, including the daycare center,” the parents explained.
In contrast, the kindergarten claims the decision was mutual, asserting that both parties agreed to part ways.
Interestingly, the dispute occurred over a year ago, leaving some puzzled as to why the parents are only now bringing the issue to the media’s attention.
The controversial poster comes from a book titled Bodies Are Great, which aims to combat body shaming. While the book itself was not used in the classroom, Kiwi argues the poster aligns with Vienna’s education plan, emphasizing diversity and body positivity. “The children should be taught that bodies are very different, i.e., fat or thin, dark or light, large or small,” Kiwi stated.
Despite these intentions, the incident has ignited a broader debate on the boundaries of early sexual education and the role of such materials in kindergartens.
