Government must make LGBT+ relationships classes compulsory in all schools, teachers say

Relationships are not just about lesbians, gays or bisexuals ... why are relationships being presented in schools as an issue within that context?

I filled out the Welsh RSE consultation and boy did I have a lot to say on this. They had a signposting appendix that included Stonewall and Mermaids. 500 words per answer was not enough.

No one, not even TRAs, has a coherent consistent definition of what gender and gender identity are.

This is a huge part of the problem. Here's a definition of gender identity from a report commissioned by the Welsh Government about sex and relationships education in Wales.

‘Gender identity’ is used in this report to refer to a person’s inner sense of self. Gender identity does not necessarily relate to the sex a person is assigned at birth. Feelings about gender identity start early, around the age of 2-3.

www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1030606/informing-the-future-of-the-sex-and-relationships-education-curriculum-in-wales-web.pdf

There's so much wrong with that, I don't know where to start. And even then, it fails to actually define the term in a way that someone who had never come across it would understand what it means.

I wonder if it can be taught in a vague sense as a belief system?

I think this is the only way it can be taught, because that's what it is. A belief that a person's brain (or soul) has a gender which might not 'match' the sex of their body.

Any teaching of gender ideology as fact would conflict with science - people can't change sex. And the idea that we all have a gender identity is a belief, because many of us don't.

Being discussed on LBC live now - Caroline Farrow due soon.

Female in terms of practical steps we all need to watch out for the consultation - it just be due soon. I'm relying on it coming through MN as that's how I found out about the GRA and got me into all this in the first place!

If the parent backlash is strong enough the Ministry if Education will have to reconsider, they won't want a nationwide reaction like the one in Birmingham. I also think we can do a petition nearer the time.

Then we can ask the Headteachers how they will handle this in the lesson plans as the MoE will dump this on them and they will have to figure out how to apply it on practical terms, so we can lobby them. DS isn't even in school yet and I'm getting my arguments together!

I think the problem is that no one really understands this. No one, not even TRAs, has a coherent consistent definition of what gender and gender identity are. If there was a proper understanding of it and teachers could confidently teach it that'd be one thing, but kids are going to ask questions that teachers don't know the answers to and everyone is going to end up confused and stressed. Or it'll be taught in an over simplified way that misrepresents the reality.

To OldCrone I agree but I wonder if it can be taught in a vague sense as a belief system?

I'm not religious and I wouldn't have my child taught a religion as fact but I wonder if it can be "sometimes a man can believe he is a woman. He cannot change his body but it's what he thinks in his head. You can think he is wrong and that's ok. You can always think something different."

I can't really make this work for really young children, and for older children it would encourage them to ask questions which is good, but I worry that it would undermine the teachers and make the kids too confused.

Totally agree with other posts. I am happy for LGB to be taught, but not T. Sexuality is very different from gender identity. Teaching T ultimately confuses biological sex and the role of each sex in making babies. I agree T is not inclusive it is homophobic.

What practical steps can we take to counter this? Interesting how the article says that other things are not compulsory but inclusivity is being made compulsory?

Same. I think this is where the fear lies, with the T.

I do not want my children being taught humans can change sex.

I do want them taught that they do not have to conform to gender stereotypes.

No one bats an eyelid at LGB.

Like PPs I'm totally on board with relationships being taught (gay or straight) and I agree and encourage the teaching of being fair and respectful, tolerant etc but I'm definitely not OK with my child being taught that you can change biological sex. The language on this will need to be very specific, age-appropriate and in no way influenced by the trans lobby.

DS starts school next year, when changes to the curriculum are expected, and if I get one whiff of Mermaids or Stonewall anywhere near this I'm pulling him from lessons and will have to seriously consider homeschooling.

I will not have my child taught lies.

I am very wary of how the T will be taught. As it is very likely to be portrayed in a way that is homophobic, reinforces gender stereotypes and defies science.

Is there any other way to teach it? Since trans ideology is homophobic, reinforces gender stereotypes and defies science.

I am perfectly happy for the LGB to be taught in schools (in an age appropriate way).

I am very wary of how the T will be taught. As it is very likely to be portrayed in a way that is homophobic, reinforces gender stereotypes and defies science.

One of these things is not like the others...

Trans is becoming like spam in that Monty Python sketch:

Well, there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and trans; egg bacon and trans; egg bacon sausage and trans; trans bacon sausage and trans; trans egg trans trans bacon and trans; trans sausage trans trans bacon trans tomato and trans; trans trans trans egg and trans; trans trans trans trans trans trans baked beans trans trans trans...

Trans trans trans trans! Trans trans trans trans! Lovely trans! Lovely trans!