'EqualiTeach Statement on GEO and Free To Be Resource.' Need for scrutiny of Government Equalities Office, primary school LGBT+ resources & training providers.

[R0wantrees]

Revised online version with government logo removed as demanded by Liz Truss MP (Minister for Women & Equalities) still contains concerning false allegations about women's & parent groups with Safeguarding focus. (p6 see picture)
equaliteach.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/FREE-TO-BE-rev4.pdf

'EqualiTeach Statement on GEO and Free To Be Resource
by EqualiTeach1|Published 6th May 2020
(extract)
"EqualiTeach is proud to stand up for the rights of LGBT+ children and families and support schools to create equal and inclusive settings. From January 2019 to March 2020 EqualiTeach received funding to run a programme called Free to Be with 27 primary schools in London as part of the Government Equalities Office Anti-HBT Bullying Programme.

This allowed us to work with schools to:

Undertake baseline audits and consult and communicate with key stakeholders
Improve policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the Equality Act 2010 and effectively embed LGBT+ equality and tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying
Deliver staff training
Implement changes to the curriculum and school environment to embed LGBT+ equality
Working with Government Equalities Office on the project was a very positive experience, and the regular monitoring and evaluation reports shared with GEO showed that the work was extremely needed and well received. In the final evaluation questionnaire, one school wrote:

“We have been so impressed by and grateful for EqualiTeach’s support and guidance. They have clarified, galvanised and accelerated the progress of the good steps we have been making and, most importantly, inspired reality- and action-based conversations amongst our staff… We consider ourselves to be very fortunate to have been able to participate in and benefit from the Free to Be programme.”

The grant included production of a resource which will allow other schools across the country to learn from the experiences of the participating schools and implement their own changes to embed LGBT+ equality and tackle HBT bullying. You can access the resource here: www.equaliteach.co.uk/free-to-be

EqualiTeach were provided with the GEO logo for use for communications related to the programme. The resource was sent to GEO for approval prior to publication and in conversations on the 26th March EqualiTeach was told that the GEO was happy for the logo to be on the resource. On the 24th April 2020 we were contacted and told that organisations who were involved in the Anti-HBT Bullying programme were being asked to remove the GEO logo from their resources as part of a wider branding review, and we complied as soon as possible. The logo was removed on Monday 27th April.

We were therefore surprised and saddened to see the below Tweets from Liz Truss and the GEO and are contacting them to try to clear up any misunderstandings and ask which part of the document does not reflect government policy." (continues)

equaliteach.co.uk/equaliteach-statement-on-geo-and-free-to-be/

threads:

1st May 2020
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3896543-GEO-logo-falsely-used-on-teaching-resource

Parents of primary school children raising concerns about the Equaliteach company's work in their child's school:
January 2020
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3804164-Primary-school-Equaliteach

June 2019
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3612814-EqualiTeach-FreeToBe-primary-school-programme

see also:
October 2018
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3401337-Attitudes-to-Gender-a-survey-being-used-to-write-a-new-gender-bill-in-the-UK

Really hope Liz Truss deals with this effectively and doesn't fudge it.

This is quite interesting:

"The resource was sent to GEO for approval prior to publication and in conversations on the 26th March EqualiTeach was told that the GEO was happy for the logo to be on the resource."

I'd like to know who at the GEO approved the document for publication, given that it had clearly libellous content. I doubt very much whether Liz Truss saw it.

I'd like to know who at the GEO approved the document for publication, given that it had clearly libellous content.

Indeed. And presumably that question will be asked. Not only have they approved libellous content, they have made the government look incompetent at best and complicit at worst.

Use their comments section to thank them for highlighting the excellent transgender trend resources and assuring them that your school will be using it.

So the GEO is then liable for the slanderous statements. If Transgender Trend and others wish to sue I would be more than happy to find my shovel...

Have the GEO funded an equal number of anti bullying programmes for schools about racist bullying, sexism, sexual harassment , relational aggression, bullying of SEN children, bullying of Traveller children, cyber bullying etc??
Where is the data evidencing that biphobic and transphobic bullying in primary schools is a significant problem that justifies such an excessive amount of time and resources??

Asking for a friend.

Where is the data evidencing that biphobic and transphobic bullying in primary schools is a significant problem that justifies such an excessive amount of time and resources??

Another interesting question, and the answer should not be taken from a self-selecting survey.

But from actual reports to schools, which they have investigated and recorded.

But from actual reports to schools, which they have investigated and recorded.

But consider the campaigns to have any such incidents reported versus sexual harassment/assaults

this reminds me health ministry's twitter.

"...certain gender..."
matt hancock had to yell "men! men! men!" on the radio.

But consider the campaigns to have any such incidents reported versus sexual harassment/assaults

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean there aesop?

my worry is us-uk trade negotiation soon to be started,( read news, i'm not from uk so maybe wrong)

so liz can't fully focus on this...

when education minister come back/?( i heard she's on maternity leave)

It is extremely concerning that this got past whoever approved this within the GEO:

• This allowed us to work with schools to: Undertake baseline audits and consult and communicate with key stakeholders Improve policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the Equality Act 2010*

Datun sorry I meant there have been campaigns to report T ‘hate incidents’ and bullying In schools but not sexual harassment (which of course is not a hate incident). So even if you rely on reported statistics you might still be given a biased view.

Shovel is primed and ready.

Oh, I see, yes. I agree Aesopfable.

In terms of using the word equality from the equality act, they should, obviously, be looking at instances of inequality across all the protected characteristics that apply. And not just using self-selected surveys, where there is no verification whatsoever.

Hopefully, Liz Truss will start to put that in motion.

Just reporting from twitter if others haven't seen it - Transgender Trend said they consulted with lawyers immediately they saw it and a letter was sent a week ago (I'm presuming this means a "letter before action"). Which is great.

Good. I will keep an eye out for a hole.

We... are contacting them to try to clear up any misunderstandings and ask which part of the document does not reflect government policy

I look forward to GEO spelling this out. It'll be very interesting how this plays out.

And yet we still have lobby groups going into schools (well virtually these days) to speak to the kids teaching sexuality and relationships. No no no.

And yet we still have lobby groups going into schools (well virtually these days) to speak to the kids teaching sexuality and relationships. No no no.

Like this person:

twitter.com/resistersu/status/1258496113784623110?s=21

Upcoming speaking engagements with youth under 18

10 May..Wimbledon High School....London, England (Online)
14 May...Putney High School...Putney, London England (Online)
23 June..NewcastleHigh School for Girls...Newcastle, England (Online)

Here's a commentary on the Youtube video posted on the ReSisters Twitter thread.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1258654843813625856.html

Thanks to Sarah Stuart who does a lot of this kind of stuff, meaning we don't have to sit through it smile Much appreciated.

The narcissism shines through. Is this someone who should be talking to 10 year olds?!