‘The UK government’s draft guidance for trans students is dire – here’s how to help’
Just Like Us ambassador Casey Browne explores the importance of trans allyship in response to the UK government’s school guidance.
WORDS BY CASEY BROWNE HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER I’m trans. I began exploring my gender identity during my A-Levels.
It’s something that, I believe, every young person has the right to explore regardless of what stage they are at in their education.
But according to the UK government’s recent draft guidance for schools, any requests from pupils for social transition, which can include a change of name, pronouns, or gendered uniform, must only be allowed if it is in “the best interests of the child and parents have been fully consulted.” Given that a third of LGBT+ young people are not confident their parents would accept them if they came out, and they are twice as likely to contemplate suicide, this would be incredibly dangerous.
