{"id":2633745,"date":"2026-07-22T15:16:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-grills-smithsonian-official-over-crotch-harness-exhibit\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:20:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T19:20:36","slug":"republican-grills-smithsonian-official-over-crotch-harness-exhibit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-grills-smithsonian-official-over-crotch-harness-exhibit\/","title":{"rendered":"Republican grills Smithsonian official over &#8216;crotch harness&#8217; exhibit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublican-grills-smithsonian-official-over-crotch-harness-exhibit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2633745&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a Congressional hearing, Representative Mary Miller questioned the Smithsonian Museum of American History&#8217;s director, Anthea Hartig, about the presence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/masterpiece-cakeshop-christian-baker-on-trial-again-this-time-sued-by-transgender-activist\/\" title=\"Masterpiece Cakeshop Christian Baker On Trial Again: This Time Sued By Transgender Activist\">sexually explicit material<\/a>, including an LGBT exhibit featuring a crotch harness, believing it inappropriate for a national museum visited by families and children. Hartig defended the exhibit, explaining that it was part of a closed display and that parents are encouraged to oversee content for their children. Miller pressed for a description of the crotch harness, accusing the museum of displaying &#8220;garbage&#8221; and criticizing its inclusivity efforts, citing a white House report calling for reform to remove what she regarded as anti-American messaging. The debate occurred amid broader Republican concerns over Smithsonian exhibits, with critics alleging liberal bias and inappropriate content. Hartig maintained that the exhibits aimed to educate and that there was no public complaint about the LGBTQ display when it was open. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >hearing reflects ongoing controversies<\/a> over museum content and government oversight, especially following directives from the White House to reform Smithsonian displays.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mary-miller\/\">Mary Miller<\/a> (R-IL) asked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/smithsonian-institution\/\">Smithsonian<\/a> National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig to explain a past <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lgbt\/\">LGBT<\/a> exhibit with a \u201ccrotch harness\u201d in a tense Wednesday hearing on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Miller chimed in with other <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=J-Q4fuu7dPc\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=J-Q4fuu7dPc\">GOP lawmakers criticizing the Smithsonian<\/a> museums\u2019 administration by displaying images of sexually explicit exhibits, including \u201cIllegal to be You: Gay History Beyond Stonewall,\u201d which <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/americanhistory.si.edu\/explore\/exhibitions\/gay-history-beyond-stonewall\/online\/how-far-will-you-go\">closed in 2021<\/a>. Hartig defended herself against accusations of liberal bias at the museums in light of a July 4 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Smithsonian-Report-Saving-Americas-Story.pdf\">White House report<\/a> calling for reform over alleged anti-American messaging in the Smithsonian\u2019s exhibits and materials.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4658907\/terri-sewell-trump-smithsonian-scrutiny-revisionism-fascism\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democratic congresswoman compares Trump\u2019s scrutiny of Smithsonian to \u2018fascism\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4658636\/nancy-mace-ndaa-amendment-us-military-gender-ideology\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Nancy Mace on NDAA amendment: \u2018Chopping off body parts does not make a better soldier\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4658658\/republican-mary-miller-grills-smithsonian-official-lgbt-exhibit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018What is a crotch harness?\u2019 Republican grills Smithsonian official over LGBT exhibit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it make sense to you that sexual material would be on display in the National Museum of American History in the first place?\u201d Miller asked.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hartig defended the material.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe encourage parents and caregivers to engage with content and topics they feel appropriate for their children, and all children under 18 who come to the museum need to be accompanied by an adult,\u201d Hartig said as Miller accused her of not answering the question.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou actually welcomed children to an exhibit with sexually explicit material, and so, along those lines, can you tell us what a crotch harness is?\u201d Miller asked, pointing to an image. \u201cWe brought a picture. Tell the audience what a crotch harness is.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hartig began addressing a prior question until Miller pressed her: \u201cNo, just tell us now. I\u2019m moving on. What is a crotch harness? You chose to make a display of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Donald <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/03\/restoring-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history\/\">Trump directed Vice President JD Vance<\/a> and the White House\u2019s Domestic Policy in March to \u201cremove improper ideology\u201d from Smithsonian museums and suggest \u201cactions necessary to fully effectuate such policies.\u201d Republican lawmakers say they are conducting needed oversight of the federally funded institutions by holding hearings on the exhibits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Miller remained unsatisfied with Hartig\u2019s responses throughout the dialogue, pointing out other past LGBT material mentioned in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\">White House<\/a> report, such as the diary of a young girl saying she asks God for a penis.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4628676\/planned-parenthood-accused-possible-fraud-over-sex-change-care\/\"><strong>PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACCUSED OF POSSIBLE FRAUD OVER SEX-CHANGE \u2018CARE\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou chose to display the fetish attire of a very small subset of Americans with weird sexual proclivities, and you welcome children to these exhibits,\u201d Miller said about the harness. \u201cMillions of American families and school children visit your taxpayer-funded museum every year, coming to learn about the nation\u2019s history. They deserve as straightforward explanation for why they are being exposed to this kind of garbage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hartig eventually answered, \u201cIn that small exhibit that closed in 2021, where that two-piece garment was presented \u2026 all the people who came by that display case, no one complained.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Miller questions Smithsonian over LGBT exhibit with crotch harness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1239,"featured_media":2633747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26202568290143-e1784741112165.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83035,50410,5894,3756,17565],"class_list":["post-2633745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-art-exhibit","tag-controversy-2","tag-politics","tag-republicans","tag-smithsonian"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26202568290143-e1784741112165.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1239"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633745"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633749,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633745\/revisions\/2633749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}