Petition to: Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP - Secretary of State for Education
Challenge government over primary school 'transgender policy'
Challenge government over primary school 'transgender policy'
(Please also see this petition to the Diocesan Director of Education)
A church primary school in the UK has suggested that if a six-year-old child is unable to “believe a transgender person is actually a 'real' female or male" he could be guilty of “transphobic behaviour”.
The six-year-old in question is the son of Nigel and Sally Rowe who have reluctantly removed him from the Church of England school while they challenge the school’s ‘transgender policy’.
Nigel and Sally Rowe raised concerns with the school on the Isle of Wight when another boy in their six-year-old son's class started coming to school on some days dressed as girl.
The situation confused and upset their son. But the school defended its approach.
In a letter, the school implied that the Rowe's six-year-old could be guilty of "transphobic behaviour" if he was unable to "believe a transgender person is actually a 'real' female or male" or if he failed to refer to the other boy as 'she' if that is what 'she' wanted.
Given the school's response, Nigel and Sally have reluctantly decided to remove their son from the school, and to bring a legal challenge so that the policy can be scrutinised.
They are taking action to challenge "the aggressive new gender ideology that is being rolled out across the education system to the detriment of children's best interests," they explain.
The case has attracted widespread media attention in the UK. Nigel and Sally have experienced a lot of hostility, as they explain in these articles in the Mail and the Sun.
Watch Nigel and Sally explain why they are taking action, or read more of their story.
If a school allows a six-year-old boy to be recognised as a ‘girl’, it is teaching other six-year-old children that gender is not fixed by biological reality but is fluid.
If a school requires other six-year-olds to recognise a boy as a ‘girl’, it is coercing children to say things that are untrue and that may conflict with their beliefs or those of their family.
This is an attack on freedom of thought, religion and speech, as well as parental freedom.
The school cited this guidance from East Sussex County Council. The Department for Education also highlights this guidance created in conjunction with Devon and Cornwall Police.
Please sign this petition to the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP.
Please also sign this second petition to the Diocesan Director of Education.