Parents threaten lawsuit against Church of England school over trans student
A family are threatening to launch legal action against a Church of England school over a trans student in their child’s class.
Nigel and Sally Rowe have said that unless a child, who seems to be a trans girl, is stopped from wearing dresses to the Isle of Wight school then they will file a lawsuit.
The parent’s also threatened to begin homeschooling their eight-year-old and six-year old sons.
Talking in a Christian Concern video, Nigel, 44, and Sally, 42, said that the school had acted without “due regard” to their Christian principles.
They claimed that by allowing the student to present how they wish and not notifying the parents then their rights had not been respected.
In the video, Nigel Rowe claimed that a six-year-old child who was in the same class as his son often came to school presenting as both female and male.
“A child aged six would sometimes come to school as a girl or sometimes come to school as a boy.
“Our concerns were raised when our son came back home from school saying he was confused as to why and how a boy was now a girl.”
He added that they felt it was “wrong” to promote trans identities.
“We believe it is wrong to encourage very young children to embrace transgenderism.
“Boys are boys and girls are girls. Gender dysphoria is something we as Christians need to address with love and compassion, but not in the sphere of a primary school environment.”
Sally Rowe claimed to have a good relationship with the parents of the trans child but said that she became increasingly confused about the child after they turned up to a “royal” fancy dress party in a blue velvet dress.
The school have said that any trans students are protected under the Equality Act 2010 and that they have policies to stamp out transphobic behaviour.
The school defined transphobic behaviour as an inability to believe trans person gender identity, refusing to use their name and only using their dead name, using “gender inappropriate pronouns” and feelings of “discomfort” around trans people.
A spokesperson for a Diocese of Portsmouth said: “Our schools are inclusive, safe spaces where pupils learn to respect diversity of all kinds.
“We comply with the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and believe that all should feel welcomed, valued and nurtured as part of a learning community.”
If the couple launches legal action then they will claim that the school is wrong to follow the Equality Act because currently, the Gender Recognition Act stated that legal gender recognition only applies to people over the age of 18.
Lawyers said that they will also claim the school is discriminating against them by deeming their “religious” views as transphobic.
The Christian Legal Centre is representing the family.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the centre, said: “This new transgender ideology is being aggressively imposed on unsuspecting schools, parents and children. It is delusional and abusive.
“School classrooms, which should be one of the safest environments for children, are rapidly becoming dangerous battlefields in a war brought on by a radical transgender ideology. Vulnerable children are being used as pawns and will be harmed the most. We need to call it what it is.”
