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<\/p>\nAn award-winning Morris dancing group has dropped the word ‘men’ from its name to avoid offending trans and non-binary people.<\/p>\n
Brighton Morris Men has renamed itself ‘Brighton Morris’ and still won’t allow women to join its ranks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They say they want to attract new dancers and be more inclusive to people who identify as male.<\/p>\n
The group, which was formed more than 50 years ago, says they now welcome cis males, trans men and those people who are non-binary or gender non-conforming.<\/p>\n
Hugely popular at May Day celebrations, they dance at events across the UK and have performed at festivals across Europe.<\/p>\n
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Brighton Morris Men which has renamed itself ‘Brighton Morris’ still won’t allow women to join its ranks<\/p>\n
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The group say they want to attract new dancers and be more inclusive to people who identify as male<\/p>\n
They were launched in 1967 at the University of Sussex as part of a nationwide renaissance in folk dance.<\/p>\n
Traditionally Morris Dancing was exclusively for men only who, with bells on their shins and wielding sticks, handkerchiefs and swords, would perform at Whitsun celebrations in towns and villages across the UK.<\/p>\n
In Brighton there is a separate dance group for women dancers called Cuckoo’s Nest Morris.<\/p>\n
The move has caused mockery among residents in Brighton who said the change unnecessary.<\/p>\n
One asked: ‘Are women (with fake beards) allowed\u2026?’<\/p>\n
Another said: ‘Is this really necessary. Surely in this day and age there should be just one group for various gender identities.’<\/p>\n
Another resident joked: ‘It’s very important that skipping about with hankies is gender separated.’<\/p>\n
In a comment organisers said they voted to chance their name and drop ‘men’ from the title at their annual general meeting.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘Brighton Morris is always open to new dancers, regardless of their level of experience.<\/p>\n
‘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.’<\/p>\n
Morris dancing has been part of the traditional May Day celebrations since the 17th century after it became popular in the court of Henry VIII.<\/p>\n
Its origins are thought to stem from a Moorish dance and English dancers would, on occasion, blacken their faces in tribute.<\/p>\n
However the tradition of folk dancing began to wane in the Victorian era and by the early 20th century it had largely died out.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/11\/08\/76416231-12617903-image-a-8_1697009090960.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The group, which was formed more than 50 years ago, says they now welcome cis males, trans men and those people who are non-binary or gender non-conforming<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/10\/11\/08\/76416227-12617903-image-a-7_1697009086244.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Traditionally Morris Dancing was exclusively for men only who, with bells on their shins and wielding sticks, handkerchiefs and swords, would perform at Whitsun celebrations in town and villages across the UK<\/p>\n
A resurgence in the 1930s the explosion in traditional English folk music in the 1950s and 60s saw a huge rise in popularity for Morris dancers and dozens of groups sprang up across the UK.<\/p>\n
It has been suggested the dances formed part of a pre-Christian fertility rite and many feature phallic elements or sexual innuendo in their display.<\/p>\n
The dances are also thought to empower those that enact them bringing luck wherever they are performed.<\/p>\n
Similarly, last September, it was reported that Exeter Morris Men changed their name to\u00a0Exeter Morris to be more inclusive.<\/p>\n
The group has now become a mixed gender side and welcomes both men and women to participate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Glory of the West, a\u00a0Women’s Cotswold Morris side based in the City of Exeter, states on their website that they welcome dancers who identify as women or non-binary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The group, which was founded in 1976 at the University of Exeter, also allow musicians ‘of any gender.’<\/p>\n