Hello, I am new to all of this feminism / transgender debate, and still have a lot to learn. The JKR debate raised a lot of uncomfortable feelings for me, and the way she has been treated has really opened my eyes to the misogyny women are facing today. Something I had previously thought of as "yesterday's fight." So I apologise if I am asking naive questions, as I said I am new.
My facebook today Popped up the NEU (Teaching Union)'s advice on Transgender rights. I just wanted to check whether the following claim is correct:
"What are the legal obligations on schools/colleges?
Not only is there a moral obligation to support young trans and gender-questioning students in education, but there is a legal one too. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination of anyone with a protected characteristic. The protected characteristic of gender reassignment covers trans people.
To be protected from gender reassignment discrimination, you do not need to have undergone any specific treatment or surgery. This is because changing your physiological or other gender attributes can be an entirely personal process rather than a medical one. You can be at any stage or part of a stage in the transition process – from proposing to reassign your gender to undergoing a process to reassign your gender or having completed it.
This means that students who want to use a new name, wear new clothes or ask for a new pronoun to be used are protected under the law, regardless of whether they have, or want to have, any medical treatment.
Schools and colleges must also consider gender reassignment when looking at their responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty. This duty asks schools to proactively promote equality by thinking about their practice and changing it."
Thanks.
Their guidance is here, if you want to read it in full: neu.org.uk/advice/supporting-trans-and-gender-questioning-students