Thread by @MForstater

This new guidance from @GEOgovuk and @EqualiTeach for primary schools is shockingly bad, irresponsible, inaccurate.

Under the banner of equality, inclusion and anti-bullying it tells children that they can not have boundaries and undermines safeguarding. #EduTwitter

The resource is designed to provide a "step-by-step guide to implement whole school change", including to challenge "cisnormativity" in schools.

What is "cisnormativity" you may ask?

Basically the idea that most people don't try to live as the opposite sex

And perhaps that we should stop obsessing about 'gender identity' & 'gender expression' - men and women can dress and act how they like

You could call it anti-sexism, feminism, or reality if you like.

The guide says it is based on the Equality Act and mainly concerned with the three protected characteristics of sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

It says "When referring to protected characteristics, where possible, use the language of the Equality Act"

But then it does a bait-and-switch and says to use "gender" to encompass sex and "gender reassignment".

Its own glossary does not include the key terms sex, man, woman, girl, boy.

It almost never says sex, always 'gender'

Being a man or a woman comes under "gender identity" according to the guide.

@GEOgovuk do you know what the protected characteristics are??

Also there is "gender" aka stereotypes - roles, clothes, behaviours.

"boys will be boys" etc...

Beware of @Transgendertrd the guide warns. They criticise policies based on subjective idea of ‘gender’
rather than biological reality of sex

"This group has been heavily criticised by LGBT+
campaign groups such as Stonewall & Mermaids"

At this point they should have added

Beware of the Equality Act.

It has protected characteristic: sex - which is based on biological reality.

Pronouns should always be used to match a person's gender identity....

At the same time speculating about what someone's gender identity is should be strictly prohibited....

(how do you know what pronouns to use?)

There is heavy emphasis on confidentiality in the safeguarding section - and almost no emphasis on what might be reasons for concern around sexualisation & gender issues

The guide tells schools to transition children at primary school without informing parents

Young people have the right to use the toilet "that corresponds with their gender identity" the guidance says.

Also changing rooms and dorms

This comes from the Equality Act it says

Definitely don't listen to anyone who tells you that the Equality Act says sex, not 'gender identity' and that there should be separate toilet provision for boys and girls.

Bodily privacy? Consent? .....

Refusal to "accept someones gender" should be recorded as a transphobic incident.

So girls who do not want to undress with males = "transphobic"

Parents who do not agree that their child should be fast tracked to social transition = "transphobic"

If in doubt consult 'reputable groups'.... Stonewall, Mermaids, Gendered Intelligence, the CPS project (oops! that guidance just got pulled for review)

If parents disagree they are wrong. The school has a 'moral and legal' duty to push on with this work.

This is utterly chilling and irresponsible from @GEOgovuk

The @EHRC guidance for schools is now two years late, presumably because they have had the sense to realise that the dictation they had taken from Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence was not in line with the Equality Act

Forgetting about (and outlawing talk of) the protected characteristic of sex risks falling into discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

I hope there is a judicial review.

(quick response by the Minster)