“With Hon. Zahra’s comment it seems that she will be the one in Malta, together with her party, to push for a ban of such messages. In the same way as their friend Victor Orban did in Hungary,” he said.

Engerer recounted how he helped launch the children’s book ‘A Fairytale for Everyone’ at the European Parliament last November.

Endorsed by Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen, the book intends to challenge traditional fairytale gender norms through stories featuring princesses slaying giants and princes finding true love.

“The book is being translated into a big number of languages and I look forward to the Maltese version too,” he said.

ŻiguŻajg, a government programme of artistic events aimed at children and families, will this month put on Gender Boss, described as a “multidisciplinary production aimed at teaching kids about gender fluidity” and “entertaining the idea that gender is playful and malleable, not chosen for you but by you.”

Produced by Martina Buhagiar and featuring Martina Georgina and Romeo Roxmann Gatt as the lead artists, it is set to put on five performances – twice for schools and three times for the general public.

Zahra said that while she hasn’t read a copy of the script, the way the performance is being described on ŻiguŻajg’s official website raises a number of concerns.

“If it means what we think it means, which sociologists, anthropologists, sexologists, psychologists and other experts were consulted for advice before their subject reaches these children with open minds in the way it is being promoted?” she questioned.

“While we are in favour of free expression, creativity, arts, gender and personal liberty, we are also in favour of everything taking place in the right time and place and, when it comes to sensitive subjects, through consultation with experts. If it is designed wrongly, it can have an opposite effect on children of such a young age.”

Her statement was criticised by the likes of the Malta Gay Rights Movement, PL MP and CEO Randolph Debattista, ADPD candidates Sandra Gauci and Mina Jack Tolu, and Volt Malta.

Everyone should enjoy equal rights irrespective of gender identity, skin colour, whom they love and what they believe in.
Culture is a splendid opportunity to provide a safe environment with the full freedom to express oneself.
We owe it to today's and upcoming generations. pic.twitter.com/Eolb9GwGgl

— •Owen Bonnici (@OwenBonnici) March 5, 2023

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that “everyone should enjoy equal rights irrespective of gender identity, skin colour, whom they love and what they believe in.”

“Culture is a splendid opportunity to provide a safe environment with the full freedom to express oneself. We owe it to today’s and upcoming generations,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, ŻiguŻajg has insisted that the project isn’t intended as a “brainwashing tool” but as a means of “promoting acceptance and understanding of diversity through arts and creativity”.

Do you think children should be taught about gender fluidity?