- Conference
- 2023 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 12 July 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference we are disturbed by the current governments intention to introduce new guidance for schools in relation to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse (trans) children.
This suggested guidance reminds us of the terrible section 28 legislation which imposed restrictions on promoting homosexuality or publishing material with the intention of promoting homosexuality. We believe that legislation was clearly put in place to stifle the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender+ (LGBT+) community. It had the effect of making people unsure around being out and encouraged discrimination against our community by making talking about being a member of our community taboo.
However, we believe the new guidance if issued as proposed could be even worse than this as not only does it propose to stifle gender expression and allow ‘deadnaming’ and misgendering, but it also proposes to force schools to inform the parents of children who may be questioning their gender.
The obligation to tell parents may have unintended consequences. If a child isn’t out at home, it is possible that in telling the parents it may cause difficulties at home. Familiar transphobia is a risk and the safeguarding of children should always be the priority.
Over the past few years’ there have been opportunities for schools to provide a safe place for young people to be who they are, and the new guidance may alter this.
Conference we must do all we can to influence positively the introduction of this guidance so that it may provide greater protection and assistance to schools in supporting young trans people.
Conference calls on the National LGBT+ Committee to work with the National executive council and Labour link as appropriate to request to be involved in any consultation around any new guidance and if needed to oppose any guidance that would be detrimental to the rights of trans children.