We’re dismayed to find out that a number of local authorities have dropped their trans inclusion guidance for schools - not because the guidance is incorrect but because of pressure from a litigious pressure group. (1/n)
Just to be clear, schools still have a duty under the Equality Act (2010) to #SupportTransKids and that won’t change, it’s just that many local authorities don’t have a best practice document that explains how to do it. Thankfully the education unions do. (2/n)
But imagine being so committed to taking support away from one of the most marginalised groups of society that you’d take a local authority to court. Let’s get this straight: it’s possible to #SupportTransKids AND cis girls and young women. (3/n)
Actually a lot of steps taken by schools to be trans inclusive can also help break down gender stereotypes and be supportive for cis children. (4/n)
1. Opening up the school uniform policy so that it acknowledges that children of any gender may wish to wear a skirt or makeup and that children of any gender may wish to wear trousers means that a wide range of children and young people will benefit. (5/n)
2. Gender neutral facilities can help reduce bullying. Furthermore, just because there’s a gender neutral toilet facility doesn’t mean there can’t also be facilities specifically for girls and facilities specifically for boys. (6/n)
3. It’s best practice to offer mixed gender PE. This means that children of all genders have access to a range of sports (and gets away from netball for girls, basketball for boys etc). In Australia they’ve had mixed PE for decades. (7/n)
4. Thoughtful use of language helps schools get away from gender stereotypes and helps teachers to identify the gendered language and stereotypes they didn’t realise they were perpetuating (eg referring to individual boys as “champ” and girls as “poppet”). (8/n)
5. Introductions with pronouns at the start of an academic year can help gender non-conforming cis children as well as trans kids. Plenty of cis girls get mistaken for boys, often just because they have short hair or a more masculine appearance. (9/n)
And also, there is a wealth of peer reviewed research that shows that a supportive environment can improve mental health outcomes for trans children & young people. 92% of trans young people have considered taking their own life & 45% of trans young people have attempted to(10/n)
Imagine being the sort of person that would campaign against guidance that could help schools potentially save someone’s life.
Today and every day we say #SupportTransKids. (12/n)
Today and every day we say #SupportTransKids. (12/n)
If you work in a school, here’s where you’ll find some reliable guidance:
Brighton and Hove City Council:
uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5888a640d61795… (13/13)
National Education Union:
neu.org.uk/advice/support…
Stonewall:
stonewall.org.uk/resources/intr…
Brighton and Hove City Council:
uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5888a640d61795… (13/13)
National Education Union:
neu.org.uk/advice/support…
Stonewall:
stonewall.org.uk/resources/intr…
