Introduction
A charity is encouraging teachers to wear transgender badges at school and to display the LGBT rainbow flag in classrooms, according to recent revelations. This comes as Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch warns of an 'epidemic' of children being told they are transgender.
Controversial Course
The charity, known as Brook, offers a £35 online course on "gender diversity". One module of the course suggests that schools should allow boys to use girls' toilets if they identify as female, and vice versa. The course also includes a lesson plan for 12-year-olds that involves showing them trans or non-binary celebrities to explain the concepts of sex and gender. The material produced by Brook asserts that transitioning is "almost always a positive experience".
Criticism and Legal Concerns
Tory MP Nick Fletcher has criticized the Brook material, stating that it is likely to be unlawful under the Education Act, which prohibits the promotion of partisan and contested ideologies in schools. He specifically called out the section on transitioning as "inaccurate and highly irresponsible". Lucy Marsh from the Family Education Trust also voiced her concerns, stating that schools should not be used as platforms for indoctrinating children. The Government has expressed deep concern about the use of these materials.
Brook's Response
Brook, which received nearly £7 million in funding from local authorities last year, defended its course by stating that it is "informed by the lived experience of young people".
