Trans campaigners slam ‘deeply transphobic’ school resources Crowdfunder
Owl (left) and Fox.
Trans rights campaigners have rebuked a “deeply transphobic” Crowdfunder page set up by a group of parents concerned by “the current trend to diagnose ‘gender non-conforming’ children as transgender.”
The activists are calling on the Department of Education to condemn the fundraising page, which is raising money towards providing schools with hard copies of so-called “Transgender Trend” resource packs and guidance on the subject.
These resource packs, the Transgender Trend groups says, will include “testimonies from young people who have desisted or detransitioned,” alongside comments from one teacher “who has witnessed the increase in the number of young people identifying as ‘trans’ in their school.”
This guidance, the fundraiser page adds, also includes a statement from the Lesbian Rights Alliance, which is known for its trans-exclusionary views. A recent event by the Lesbian Rights Alliance on Eventbrite was called “Transgenderism and Lesbian Erasure.”
The group behind the resource packs, which it says were developed “in consultation with teachers, child protection and welfare professionals and lawyers,” also states that it is “concerned about legislation which places transgender rights above the right to safety for girls and young women in public bathrooms and changing rooms.”
But trans rights campaigners have strongly criticised the Crowdfunder, which has so far raised £4,767 of its £10,000 target.
Speaking to PinkNews, Owl, a non-binary trans activist and filmmaker, said: “The guide is deeply transphobic and isn’t meant to support or help anyone at all. The fact that it is dressed up as a reliable resource for school is incredibly disingenuous and deceitful, as it isn’t based in research or factual evidence.
“It advocates against supporting trans kids, and is incredibly harmful and full of misinformation and misguided concerns.
“Trans kids experience high rates of bullying, self harm and suicide and a resource of this kind will only affect the lives of young trans kids negatively.”
Fox (left) and Owl. (theFoxFisher/Twitter)
Meanwhile, Fox Fisher, a non-binary trans activist and filmmaker, described the fundraiser as “deeply troubling” and made a “plea to the Department of Education to have this fundraiser rebuked, as it will only cause serious harm to a vulnerable group of students that require support now more than ever.”
They told PinkNews: “It is frankly disgusting and the creators of this should be ashamed of themselves and the harm this will have on the lives of innocent kids that just want to live their lives free from prejudice and discrimination.
Sarah Brown said the organisers behind the fundraiser were “a hate group trying to spread discredited ideas.”
“What they are doing is dangerous and reminiscent of the sort of thing that happened under Section 28,” Brown added.
“I hope the Department of Education steps in.”
The Crowdfunder, called ‘Transgender Trend Schools Resource Pack’, states: “Our aim is to arm schools with all the relevant facts so that teachers feel more informed and confident in creating a safe school for all pupils, including non-conforming children and those who identify as ‘transgender’.”
(Transgendertrd/Twitter)
“Our resource pack covers advice for school leaders, tips on how to create a school culture of acceptance of gender non-conformity without denying biological sex, communication, primary schools and secondary schools, existing safeguarding policies and guidance, the legal situation for schools, and a glossary of terms.”
The Crowdfunder has 22 days left to reach its £10,000 target.
