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Original poster

Being taught in school gay and trans people have mental illness

68 replies

SomeonTookMyAnonymousUserName · 05/06/2024 16:05

I know I am not BU!

Scottish school, P7 kids, age 11/12.

DS is getting sexual health lessons at the moment and, apart from this one comment, it's going reasonably well.

We chat at home about what's being learned and this was said in class by a teacher 'who has form' (climate change isn't real, Donald trump is a cool guy, etc)

Before setting hares running, I did a bit of digging, ensured DS wasn't mistaken, asked some mum friends if their DCs can corroborate and, yes, that is what was said.

Apparently if you are gay, trans (or, I assume, part of the LGBTI community), you must be mentally ill!

I am incandescent and need to calm down before I make a formal complaint. Can anyone help with wording so I don't spew out a rant of expletives?

This is a man who was a Tory election candidate until he was thrown out for homophobia. So yes, please come and teach your twisted beliefs to our impressionable children! 😡

OP posts:
mycatisanarcissist · 05/06/2024 16:26

verdibird · 05/06/2024 16:20

Being gay or trans is not a mental illness. They are protected characteristics. The teacher is violating the law, namely the Equality Act 2010. I would raise this with the head and the school governors immediately. If you corroborate his statements, he can be sacked. If students are discriminated against due to his actions, the school can be sued.

Here is a helpful link: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/your-rights-under-equality-act-2010/gender-reassignment-discrimination

Here is legislation: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39007.htm

Trans may be a protected characteristic but doesn't mean it doesn't involve mental illness.

Mrsjayy · 05/06/2024 16:25

Ah non denomination yeah speak to the head, the teacher sounds unprofessional

saltinesandcoffeecups · 05/06/2024 16:24

If are adding Trans people then yes the teacher isn’t necessarily wrong with the statement. it gets even murkier when you add the overlap of gay and trans…

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7557385/

Findings indicate incredibly high rates of mental health concerns; 72.2% had been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime and 73.0% had been diagnosed with anxiety in their lifetime. In the past year, 49.9% had had non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) thoughts, 45.4% had suicidal thoughts, 26.3% engaged in NSSI, and 7.7% had attempted suicide

Now I’m sure there is some nuance to be found in this and I’m making no claims on the study… methods… peer review status. But this isn’t the only study that indicates similar findings.

ExtraOnions · 05/06/2024 16:24

Simple thing to do next, report it to the school, they will have a process.

I’m quite suprised, as the curriculum is fairly prescriptive on what gets taught. Why would the school put someone who “has form” on thus topic? What’s the subject area he normally teaches ?

Original poster
SomeonTookMyAnonymousUserName · 05/06/2024 16:23

@DinaofCloud9 I have stated what I am hoping for; to get support in wording a complaint. I'm not sure what point you are trying to make.

@Beezknees Absolutely! Whatever our opinions, this is not appropriate to teach kids. There are ways of being balanced.

@Mrsjayy non-denominator, not faith school

@verdibird Perfect, thank you

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 05/06/2024 16:21

Pretty sure he will be struck off if true

verdibird · 05/06/2024 16:20

Being gay or trans is not a mental illness. They are protected characteristics. The teacher is violating the law, namely the Equality Act 2010. I would raise this with the head and the school governors immediately. If you corroborate his statements, he can be sacked. If students are discriminated against due to his actions, the school can be sued.

Here is a helpful link: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/your-rights-under-equality-act-2010/gender-reassignment-discrimination

Here is legislation: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/39007.htm

Gender reassignment discrimination | EHRC

What is gender reassignment discrimination? We explain its definition, areas covered and what constitutes discrimination.

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010/your-rights-under-equality-act-2010/gender-reassignment-discrimination

lifeturnsonadime · 05/06/2024 16:14

Isn't this a problem with teaming T with LGB.

T is not based in material reality. LBG is.

I would speak with the school leadership team to see what was actually said though as sometimes kids get muddled in reporting what's actually been said.

Mrsjayy · 05/06/2024 16:12

This teacher sounds ill informed and should be teaching the curriculum and probably you needto speak to the head is it a faith school or just a non denom primary school because I don't know if RC schools have the same sex ed for P7 or not .

Beezknees · 05/06/2024 16:11

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Teachers shouldn't be saying this to children though.

DinaofCloud9 · 05/06/2024 16:10

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Gettingbysomehow · 05/06/2024 16:10

I get your drift OP znd this man should not be teaching children. Id omplain for sure.

footgoldcycle · 05/06/2024 16:10

I would ring the head and arrange a meeting. I would get as many parents together as possible for the meeting. Stay calm and ask them how they will deal with it

WantToMakeWorldSilkySmooth · 05/06/2024 16:10

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mycatisanarcissist · 05/06/2024 16:09

The comments about gay people are disgusting though.

mycatisanarcissist · 05/06/2024 16:08

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/06/2024 16:08

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Totally!

WittiestUsernameEver · 05/06/2024 16:07

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