The Conservative government in the UK is drawing up new guidance for schools that will force teachers to inform parents if their child is trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming. The new rules also include a ban on these children using changing and shower facilities that align with their gender identity. According to sources, the guidelines, currently being drawn up by the Department for Education, will apply to all state and independent schools in England.
The guidance provides an exception for children believed to be at risk of “significant harm” at home. However, young people exploring their gender will be informed on to parents against their will, which could have devastating consequences – whether or not the school has marked these children at risk of harm in their family setting.
The new guidance will also prohibit trans girls from taking part in contact and competitive school sports on girls’ teams. The rules on non-contact sports will reportedly be “more relaxed.”
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is reportedly “concerned about parental consent.” The guidelines will provide detailed rules about when schools “must inform parents about their children questioning their gender.” A number of “triggers” for schools being compelled to inform parents are mentioned, including a child changing their name or changes to their uniform, including “a boy wearing a skirt.”
Conservative and Labour Party Leaders Echo Anti-Trans Rhetoric
This new policy comes after the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, was heavily criticized for “throwing trans people under the bus” in an interview with The Sunday Times on 1 April, where he appeared to show support for schools ‘outing’ trans and non-binary children to their parents. It is unclear which party LGBTQ+ people and allies in the UK can now vote for, due to both the Tories and Labour appearing to sing from the same regressive hymn sheet when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights – and particularly the rights of trans people.
Stonewall, Europe’s leading LGBTQ+ rights organization, told PinkNews that the government should avoid “stoking a politically motivated culture war.” A spokesperson said that any moves to shut trans people out of common spaces represent an appalling rollback on trans people’s well-established rights.
Department for Education Responds
The Department for Education told PinkNews that the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, is “deeply concerned by reports of inappropriate relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) lessons.” The RSHE review will give the UK government the opportunity to consider the evidence and provide clarity on what is appropriate to be taught in schools, alongside ensuring that schools know they must be transparent with parents. However, the Department for Education provided no information on how trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming children could be impacted – or safeguarded – in the event that schools are directed to inform their parents about their gender identity in the interest of “transparency.”
