Queer Nature event at Kew Garden draws tirades from Piers Morgan
It comes after Kew Gardens launched it Queer nature after work Event that promised an evening of music, cabaret and access to the “Queer Nature” exhibition. The exhibition of plants and fungi is intended to raise awareness of natural organisms “that challenge traditional expectations.”
Unsurprisingly, however, Morgan was less than pleased. Speaking about the event on Sky News Australia, Morgan said: “Why are we having a strange celebration of things like mushrooms?”
He was accompanied on the show by comedian James Barr and right-wing presenter Tomi Lahren.
Barr was quick to point out that “scientifically, mushrooms have approximately 23,000 different genders and that is where this exhibition originated.”
Morgan seemed unconvinced by the statistics, even when Barr encouraged him to ask a scientist about it. “That’s called a mushroom and that’s all,” Morgan teased, clearly unconvinced that there is a complex science behind the composition of mushrooms.
“Why can’t we just have straight plants?” asked Piers Morgan
/ Dominic Lipinski/PA WireThe former GMB presenter then added: “We’ve just had Pride month where we spent the whole month flipping everything LGBTQ-themed… Why can’t we just have straight plants?”
Contrary to Morgan’s thoughts, the plant kingdom is incredibly complex. Actually the majority of plants have both male and female structures and are considered hermaphrodite or bisexual. Britannica notes that many popular flowers such as roses, lilies and tulips are considered bisexual.
“I just don’t understand why you care,” Barr added, before suggesting that Morgan might be frustrated because he just lost the National Television Award to a gay presenter.
Lahren later chimed in: “What concerns me is that there are 23,000 genders for mushrooms and mushrooms. I’m a little worried because LGBTQ+ barbecue is already too long for most Americans and most people to remember, so now we’ve added 23,000 genders to it.”
A spokesperson for Kew Gardens told the Evening Standard: “Plants and flowers have often been associated with queer identities, both positively and negatively, and this will be explored at the Queer Nature Festival by amplifying queer voices through art.” This celebratory and varied programming includes art installations, horticulture, performances and events as well as weekend programs and after-hours events.”
To clarify the matter, the representative also explained: “In some species, there are no separate female and male plants (they are hermaphrodites), so the male/female binary system does not apply at the individual level.” In some of these plants, the Flowers will initially be male and later the female parts will become active (and vice versa).
“Some plants are even more complex, with functionally male, functionally female and hermaphrodite flowers, all on the same individual. With fungi, even the basic system is anything but binary, as fungi have up to 36,000 different mating types.”
For more information about Queer Nature events at Kew Garden, visit kew.org.
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/kew-garden-queer-nature-piers-morgan-gay-mushroom-lgbtq-b1105592.html Queer Nature event at Kew Garden draws tirades from Piers Morgan
