Statement:
We are an alliance of charities, human rights organisations and education practitioners who strongly oppose the Government's exclusionary and unhelpful proposed "Guidance for Schools and Colleges on Gender Questioning Children" for England.
We believe all children and young people have the right to education free from discrimination, and LGBT+ young people are no exception.
The proposed guidance, which remains in draft, seeks to deny the existence of transgender pupils, discouraging them from coming out and being their authentic selves, and could lead to young people being forcibly outed to parents and teachers.
This approach will erase decades of progress in making schools places that value difference and reject discrimination. It hampers teachers' ability to tackle bullying and ultimately risks causing more harm and exclusion of trans young people.
Schools desperately need guidance that offers practical advice on creating school environments that support trans pupils to thrive.
We are calling on the Government to listen to LGBT+ youth and inclusive educators, withdraw the guidance and rethink their approach.
Consortium
Liberty
LGBT Foundation
Gendered Intelligence
Oasis Waterloo Open House
Allsorts Youth Project
Trans Radio UK
METRO Charity
Cumbria Pride
Intercom Trust
Schools OUT
SAYiT (Sheena Amos Youth Trust)
Labour for Trans Rights
Good Law Project
EOTAS Matters
Norfolk LGBT+ Project
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE)
GAEd Training and Consultancy
Gateacre School
Specialist Speech Therapist Services
Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition
Education Blocks Ignorance
New Road Parents Support Group
Mind Matters for Education
GW Laboratories
Mermaids
Free2B Alliance
EqualiTeach
OUTpatients
Space Youth Project
London Friend
TRUK United FC
Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons' Trust
The Kite Trust
GIRES
TNB Education Network
Traveller Pride
Pride Sports
Trans Learning Partnership
LGBT+ Socialists
Just Like Us
Manchester Institute of Education
SEND Support
TAW EPS
Queer Education Consultancy
Split Banana CIC
LGBT Youth Scotland
CFCA
Rudheath Primary Academy
LGBTQIA+ Little Free Library
Plus Importance Project
Surrey Maths School
Stonewall
Pride & Progress
Autistic and Living the Dream
TransActual
Manchester Pride
Diversity Role Models
TRUK Listens
Galop
OutREACH Cumbria
Proud2Be CIC
The Proud Trust
Amnesty International UK
Sports Media LGBT+
Football Beyond Borders
City of London Academy Southwark
Young Person’s Advisory Service
Rainbow Migration
Bury College
FFLAG
Colours Youth Network
Young Enigma
The Advocacy Academy
Spectra CIC
Pride in Gloucestershire
Gender Identity Development Service
TNB Education