Morris dancers drop ‘men’ from title to be more inclusive – but still won’t admit women
A GROUP of Morris dancers have dropped “Men” from their title to be more inclusive — but still will not admit women.
The hanky-twirling tinklers will now be known as “Brighton Morris”, sparking derision from locals.
The group said it voted on the change so they can welcome trans men and non-binary dancers into their “largely male-presenting space”.
But there is no room for females to join them celebrating the 400-year-old Mayday tradition.
One East Sussex local asked: “Are women (with fake beards) allowed?”
Another joked: “It’s very important that skipping about with hankies is gender separated.”
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The group, launched at the University of Sussex in 1967, said: “Brighton Morris is always open to new dancers, regardless of their level of experience.
“The side welcomes those who feel they fit into a largely male-presenting space, whether cis male, trans men, non-binary or gender non-conforming.”
In Brighton there is also a separate dance group which caters for women called Cuckoo’s Nest Morris.
It is thought that Morris dances were originally part of a fertility rite and many feature phallic elements and sexual innuendo.
