Supportive Schools Campaign

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.

Signatories:

• 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

• 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

• 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