The Lighthouse Club charity has renamed a Christmas fundraising lunch after its burlesque theme was criticized as ‘straight out of the dark ages’.
A digital flyer published by the construction industry mental health charity advertised its £850-a-table Christmas lunch in the East Midlands as having a ‘burlesque’ theme and included an image of a ballerina in stockings network
The Cambridge Dictionary defines burlesque as “a type of modern entertainment involving dancing and a striptease (a performer who takes off her clothes)”.
The event will take place at the Northampton Town Center Hotel on November 24, but now has a ‘cabaret’ theme after Construction news contacted Lighthouse about concerns about the burlesque theme.
Ahead of the rebrand, Chithra Marsh, national president of Women in Property, said CN: “We fully appreciate that this event is a charity fundraiser, but its theme and values come straight from the dark ages.
“The lighthouse building charity has woefully misjudged the mood of the industry and the wider business community.
“Now so many organizations are doing good work to raise awareness of inappropriate behavior and promote positive change in construction, it’s disappointing that they could be undermined as a result of an event like this.”
Others had also taken to social media to criticize the event.
Andy Stevens, builder, broadcaster and former vice president of the London region of the Federation of Master Builders, said on LinkedIn: “Is this really acceptable as a charity fundraiser? I was shocked to see this advert from a construction charity .
“Several senior industry figures, men and women, have contacted me to express their displeasure at this. I am appalled as are many others. I hope other companies and individuals will vote with their feet and not attend to that and support something in line with the values and morals of the majority of people.”
The Lighthouse website promises that diners will be “mesmerized by the enchanting performances of our cabaret dancers, who will add a touch of glamor and charm to the atmosphere”.
As well as dancers, the event will also feature a set from Liverpool comedian Jamie Sutherland and former boxer and footballer Curtis Woodhouse.
Lighthouse chief executive Bill Hill said: “Our charity is 100% dedicated to equality, diversity and inclusion as a way of accelerating the cultural change needed to create a better working environment for generation and the next.
“We are always advocating for more women in our industry and any fundraising event, however promoted or themed, will be delivered in accordance with [with] our equality, diversity and inclusion policies and fundraising standards.
“The event in question has been reformulated as a cabaret-themed event that better reflects the actual content and in response to any unintended offense caused.”
