Updated relationships, sex and health curriculum guidance

[umbel]

Updated government guidance, released today!!!

Mermaids and Stonewall statements appear as if they are taking the DfE statement as directed squarely at them, aren't they? Hm.

I don't understand the celebrations. Neither Mermaids of Stonewall run sessions for children so this won't affect them and most LGBT organisations emphasise very strongly the difference between gender non-conforming behaviour based on stereotypes and gender identity based on an internal sense of self. And the new guidance states very clearly that "All pupils should receive teaching on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships during their school years."

I mean I get that they've added to the guidance to address conspiracy theories about transing children but I don't see what's going to change on the ground. All the people you call TRAs seem to have no problems with the new guidelines. In many ways its positive because it means trans kids can should no longer feel pressurised to adopt gender stereotyoes to be recognised in their aquired gender.

Mermaids seem to be in a panic:

twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1309192315467116547

Oops- in their statement, Mermaids says they don't interact directly with schools but just give guidance to adults. But Twitter is FULL of people saying that Mermaids directly got in touch with the school to advise on their trans child, and talked to the kid's teachers. So I guess those parents are lying? Also the response from Mermaids is such pure gaslighting it's unreal - they are actually denying that they have been teaching this regressive shit for years? Someone tweeted that no kids are born in the wrong body, and Mermaids tweeted back "we agree". So kids getting gender reassignment surgery aged 16, and being put on puberty blockers to avoid the 'wrong puberty' was just a messed up fever dream of mine?

@Datun

Mermaids and Stonewall both need to issue a statement to explain what trans is in respect of children now.

How does it manifest itself? How can you tell? Where is the evidence?

They seem to be changing their tune rapidly:

twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1309192315467116547

For years we’ve been supporting hundreds of schools to access the tools, skills & confidence to create inclusive learning environments, providing resources to help teachers ensure their RSE lessons include LGBT people & relationships

Yup. They have done so much damage in the training sessions they've provided to thousands of teachers and the pernicious teaching materials they've created for schools to use with impressionable children.

This is absolutely brilliant news, no doubt about it.

Soooo if mermaids agree children arebt born in the wrong body, gender stereotypes are nothing to do with whether a child is trans and children should be left to develop in their own way without adult influence around gender

What exactly is the point of mermaids??

Wonderful, just wonderful.
It's pushed mermaids another step along the reductio ad absurdam. They are now forced to openly say that a male (sex) who dresses and appears like a stereotypical male (gender presentation) and has stereotypical male interests is a woman (gender identity) if s/he says so. Good luck convincing anyone that toilets, changing rooms and sports should be sorted along "gender identity" lines after that clarification.

Hmmm, and on Twitter we are being told that this was always Mermaid's position, they haven't changed a thing- and yet their replies are filling up asking if they have been hacked, demanding they apologise for tweeting 'TERF' rhetoric, asking why they are sounding so gender critical.

Wow, TRAs in the responses saying what a good thing it is that Mermaids are now backtracking. Reminds me of when Jehovah's Witnesses get their doctrine changed to something completely different by the Governing Body and all the individual Witnesses express their gratitude for such humble leaders who listen to God so closely and block out that they were ever taught anything else.

Haven't read all the posts but having felt a bit flat after the Liz Truss announcement I'm now dancing round the room.
Thank you to everyone involved in achieving this.

@Jintyfer

This in incredible news and very timely for me because I'm due to have a meeting with my Son's new secondary school 2 x Safeguarding Leads (one is the Dept Head) to chin them about why they became a Stonewall Champion School (think it might be a new thing as there is no evidence of this affiliation on the school website) and also persuade them to cut ties - because they are rotten to the core and DON'T have the best interests of ALL the children at heart.

This info will come in handy. I'll send the links to them tomorrow.

Thanks OP for the heads up, much appreciated.

I'm also interested in where this leaves the Stonewall Champion schools award. My kids school is a Stonewall Champion, albeit in Scotland

Thank fuck for that! DD isn't starting school for another 2 years but hopefully when she does she won't have to come across any of the gender identity bollocks of yore. Big big thank you to all who have achieved this ❤

Neither Mermaids of Stonewall run sessions for children so this won't affect them and most LGBT organisations emphasise very strongly the difference between gender non-conforming behaviour based on stereotypes and gender identity based on an internal sense of self

Wasnt the jelly baby mermaids training for teachers?
Also mermaids have only very recently changed their website to remove suggestions that gender non-conforming behaviour based on stereotypes were absolutely signs of being trans.

What does the guidance say about using facilities in line with gender not sex, sports dormitories etc?

Oh it's been a bloody good week. Reading that Nadia Whittome has lost her position in the Labour party is the cherry on the cake.😉

This pic

their replies are filling up asking if they have been hacked, demanding they apologise for tweeting 'TERF' rhetoric, asking why they are sounding so gender critical.

Bwahahahaha!

I use something called Wayback Machine for work.

What does the guidance say about using facilities in line with gender not sex, sports dormitories etc?

Nothing I've seen so far pertaining to this, but very clear statement about legal duty to ensure partisan political points of view and groups not being allowed access to children and balanced views of all arguments being essential if political arguments are presented to children. Which is where the very one sided, politically agendaed instructions on facilities and single sex space use has come from.

This week just gets better 🥰

Hang on a minute, have Mermaids really just said 'no child is born in the wrong body'? I've got Benjamin Button's pantomime gasp ringing in my ears!

@moptophairshop

Hang on a minute, have Mermaids really just said 'no child is born in the wrong body'? I've got Benjamin Button's pantomime gasp ringing in my ears!

They have. I’m struggling to understand what the point of mermaids is?

@PronounssheRa

Neither Mermaids of Stonewall run sessions for children so this won't affect them and most LGBT organisations emphasise very strongly the difference between gender non-conforming behaviour based on stereotypes and gender identity based on an internal sense of self

Wasnt the jelly baby mermaids training for teachers?
Also mermaids have only very recently changed their website to remove suggestions that gender non-conforming behaviour based on stereotypes were absolutely signs of being trans.

They can still go talk to teachers if they want, nothing in this guidance to stop that.

I don't know about the Mermaids website, but if it's changed that's good, I do think they have traditionally been a bit conservative in their approach to gender, although I'm sure they meant that it could be one of several indicators a kid might be trans, but not the only indicator. But perhaps this will open up space for more trans led organisations to be involved, after all the guidance is very clear that education on transgender, and other LGB relationships is mandatory, so there's a clear role for LGBT supportive organisations there.

Really they should step away from twitter!