''The government needs to put safeguarding first'' - outstanding article by Stephanie Davies-Arai

[Thelnebriati]

''The confusion over whether children have the legal right to be “affirmed” in schools by their teachers and peers is largely the result of work by transgender activists, who have misrepresented both the function of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act and their application to children.''

''The second key point is that no protected characteristic in the Equality Act overrides the safeguarding of children. ''
''Any child proposing to “reassign their sex” does so as a child, at a child’s level of development and understanding.
If you are using a protected characteristic in a way that treats children as if they have adult levels of maturity and understanding, you are doing it wrong.''
https://thecritic.co.uk/the-government-needs-to-put-safeguarding-first/

[Whatsnewpussyhat]

Great stuff.

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

Fantastic article. The continued repetitive attempts to treat children as mini adults by trans extremists has done incalculable harm to children. Along with the deskilling of teachers in persuading them that the fundamental principles of safeguarding do not apply to this very vulnerable group of children so prone to social contagion.

I hope that Stephanie's wise words are heard in the corridors of power.

[Beowulfa]

As we all know, safeguarding is another transphobic dog whistle.

[Igmum]

Excellent article thank you and a very good principle for guiding action

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

This is perfect for copying and sharing with anyone who's a parent, an educator or involved in education - and especially if they're involved in safeguarding.

[rogdmum]

It’s a fantastic piece. So clear.

[Leafstamp]

It really is an excellent piece.

When will Gillian Keegan listen and issue the guidance?

[Froodwithatowel]

Excellent article.

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

There's obviously a lot of work going on "behind the scenes". But with the civil service totally in thrall to the trans lobby & the government trying to conceal the fact that on their watch all these dodgy groups have been funded and given access to schools & children, rolling back the activist line and prioritising safeguarding & a school's requirements to be politically impartial is a challenge.

The article is a real challenge to the government to finally prioritise safeguarding children over the demands of trans extremism - it remains to be seen how important children's safety is deemed to be.

[ArabellaScott]

Bump!

[ArabellaScott]

'...the government must separate ideology from the law and be clear about which is which. Concepts and terms that fall under the banner of ideology include: gender identity, gender affirmation, misgendering, transgender child, cisgender, non-binary, preferred pronouns, deadnaming, gender assigned at birth. None of these concepts appear in the Equality Act.'

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

@ArabellaScott

'...the government must separate ideology from the law and be clear about which is which. Concepts and terms that fall under the banner of ideology include: gender identity, gender affirmation, misgendering, transgender child, cisgender, non-binary, preferred pronouns, deadnaming, gender assigned at birth. None of these concepts appear in the Equality Act.'

Isn't that interesting? That what is being sold to children is unadulterated ideology, divorced from the actual law

[ArabellaScott]

Yes, and worth repeating!

'To spell it out: “affirming a child’s gender identity” is ideology, not law. Social transition of one child is adultification not just of that child but of all children in the school, a complete failure of safeguarding.'

[GailBlancheViola]

Excellent article.

Those who are responsible for the failures of safeguarding cannot say they weren't warned and they damn well need to be held accountable when it all crashes as it will.

[BonfireLady]

@Leafstamp

It really is an excellent piece.

When will Gillian Keegan listen and issue the guidance?

Exactly this.
When you've got something as clear as Stephanie Davies-Arai lays out here, there is no excuse. All the leg-work has already been done by the EHRC, Kemi Badenoch, Miriam Cates and others. She either needs to get it done or be moved aside.

[ArabellaScott]

What has Keegan actually done so far, other than a swear on camera?

[Musomama1]

I love reading Stephanie Davies Arai's writing. I wish she was more widely read as she is just so good on schools, arguably one of the most important places to address as we're talking about children here.

I love her back story too, saying she would've been diagnosed as majorly dysphoric as a child.

[ArabellaScott]

I've raised this article/question with the webchat with the Shadow Home Secretary for education, hoping to get a response.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_live_events/4906840-zoomchat-with-bridget-phillipson-thursday-28th-september-11-12

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

@ArabellaScott

I've raised this article/question with the webchat with the Shadow Home Secretary for education, hoping to get a response.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_live_events/4906840-zoomchat-with-bridget-phillipson-thursday-28th-september-11-12

That's great. Safeguarding children seems to be a low priority from labour given their complete silence about it, so good to remind them of what governments are meant to be concerned about.

[Froodwithatowel]

@ArabellaScott

I've raised this article/question with the webchat with the Shadow Home Secretary for education, hoping to get a response.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_live_events/4906840-zoomchat-with-bridget-phillipson-thursday-28th-september-11-12

It will be very helpful to hear the response.

But I'm afraid I will either expect a lot of fence sitting, nothingy fudge written by a SPAD or enthusiastic endorsement of hurling safeguarding away with both hands.

[ArabellaScott]

God, it's depressing when you don't even have any HOPE that politicians might do something useful.

[IcakethereforeIam]

More labour sex fudge 🙁

I wonder if MN would allow that as a question?

[ArePidgeonsReallyBirds]

Bump!

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

Here's a positive piece from an exhausted parent who finally got an apology from their child's school for their safeguarding failures in taking Stonewall's advice that resulted in the school failing to adhere to UK legislation & safeguarding protocols:

https://twitter.com/CarolynKant/status/1706980511497769378

Schools need to wise up to all this now.

[IcakethereforeIam]

@MrsOvertonsWindow that's a good start, probably hiding horrors. Is there a thread unroll?