New sports club at DC’s high school only open to LGBTQ+ pupils and their allies

[SirChenjins]

Are they legally allowed to exclude GC pupils? Or pupils who are not one of the special alphabet children?

This is a really great club - nothing like the school has offered before. Seems a shame to limit attendance based on sexuality/gender ideology rather than interest/ability.

We’re in Scotland if that makes a difference.

What makes it a great club?

What is the activity?

AFAIK its legal to have a sports club for a specific group who are underrepresented in sports; or as an activity club for that group. So an LGB sports club is legal.
But the bit where they say 'and allies' undermines their argument, because it implies they'll exclude GC children. I don't think that's legal. It also puts pressure on children to be allies, and that goes against advertising standards.

How old are the kids?

I imagine it's about creating a safe space for the children, away from prejudice, phobia and bullying. It just happens to be wrapped up in the form of a club to make it fun and hey, why not?

Oh, @SirChenjins "special alphabet children" - what do you mean by this precisely, I wonder?

How does anyone really know if the criteria is is being met at entrance? Just tell your daughter to say she is non-binary and let her sign up if she likes the sound of it.

The allies part is so stupid in real terms, but the rhetoric says that allies need to be in things to mean that those questioning themselves don't feel outed - much like us all having to give pronouns.

There is probably a correlation between the kids that go to the LGBTQ++ clubs and those who don't do any sports, so anything that gets them exercising in a way that they are comfortable is a good thing. I feel like kids are victims in this and if a club aimed at them encourages a better relationship with their bodies (sports can) then I'd be happy for it to run.

Obviously there should be adequate sports clubs for everyone else and safeguarded changing room etiquette. Would your DD honestly choose this club over the non-LGBTQ+ one?

Including allies makes it descriminatory. They are clearly excluding on the grounds of belief. Would they welcome a gender critical lesbian?

Who's running/funding it? And who will supervise it?

This is essentially a third space, so if there is male football, female football and the LGBTQ+ football - then surely this is a good thing. It would surely make it more likely the female team remains so?

I wonder what they would say if you started a club for children with GC beliefs.

Including allies allows DCs who are not quite ready to come out to go. It also allows others to bring along a friend for support.

This would be fine with me if there was a "standard" club for everyone and this one was just separate.

Singling one group of children out for special, better treatment never ends well, in my experience. It could make the kids who don't qualify very resentful, which can lead to huge problems and actually be counter-productive in terms of the group who are supposed to be helped.

Also, the allies part is just plain wrong. Who gets to decide who is a good enough ally? What happens if they fall victim to a purity spiral and who makes sure that nobody is bullied because they aren't ally-ing sufficiently? If otherwise sporty kids don't want to sign up, will they be vilified for not being allies?

The general culture around these issues in Scotland is worrying enough at the moment for me to be profoundly wary of anything like this.

Oh, @SirChenjins"special alphabet children" - what do you mean by this precisely, I wonder?

Interested in this as well.

It’s being run at lunchtime in the high school. My DS would like to attend but doesn’t want to align himself with any gender ideological group, he would just like the chance to try the sport.

There is no class for GC pupils or for those who are not allied to any ideology.

There is no class for GC pupils or for those who are not allied to any ideology.

That's discriminatory, and the school should know better.

@SunflowersAndSmellyTrainers I imagine it's about creating a safe space for the children, away from prejudice, phobia and bullying. It just happens to be wrapped up in the form of a club to make it fun and hey, why not?
Oh,@SirChenjins"special alphabet children" - what do you mean by this precisely, I wonder

Exactly - I'd see it as somewhere for anyone LGBT to go, hang out, have a 'safe' hang out for want of a better word.
Think the sneery "special alphabet children " says it all really about the intention of "but can "GC" people go, and if not, why not? 🙄

The space is not safe is if it discriminates or requires pupils to lie to gain access.

If it is the only sports club the school is running, that is, not an additional club on top of other clubs, then surely it's discriminatory as it is excluding anyone who doesn't 'fit'?

@SirChenjins - you still haven't explained your "special alphabet children" comment. What do you mean by this?

LGB pupils can still attend the club's corresponding with their natal sex.

T pupils (so far as children are trans, which is highly debatable) can as well. But if it stops female children from being ousted by trans-identifying male pupils, then fine.

Q+ doesn't even exist in law so no need for it to be tacked on. Especially when it involves minors.

The main risk with a T/TQ+ club in any school is that of ROGD. As well as forcing other minors to go along with individuals' mind's eye of themselves in order to affirm what's in other children's heads.

The space is not safe is if it discriminates
I'd say it was more likely to be a safe space if they didnt want people there who called them "special alphabet people."
or requires pupils to lie to gain access.
There's the risk of that in any club sadly, not just LGBT ones.

No, it’s not the only club but it’s the only club that runs that particular sport.

Actually, as a GC advocate, I think an ‘open category’ for sports , alongside girls / women and boys/ men’s categories, is the way forwards.

IMO it would be better if this club was presented as such with ‘this club welcomes…’.

Socialising around sport and social groupings isn’t wrong per se in my book. I know if a gay men’s water polo team, a lesbian women’s water polo club, gay choirs, a Trans In-line skating club. Sometimes, just like women, people of different groupings like to socialise as such.

OK, so this club isn't for him. That's ok, I'm sure there are other places he can try elsewhere. Not every club is for everyone.