Guidance on supporting transgender pupils was unearthed this week on the Education Authority (EA) website before it was hastily removed. This decision has created a firestorm of protest in Northern Ireland. This amendment comes on the heels of accusations against Mr. Storey, a well-respected educational leader, of pushing transgender ideology. While the old guidance placed emphasis on teachers being “mindful” of the needs of transgender students, it asked them to think about the needs of all their students, too.
The EA guidance listed a number of important recommendations to help schools foster a welcoming environment for transgender pupils. It explicitly instructed educators to make changing room and bathroom access available. These facilities must be consistent with the gender identity of each pupil. The guidance stated, “Where requested, staff should give a transgender pupil access to toilets which match their gender identity, unless there is good reason not to do so.” The intent behind this directive was to ensure that all students felt welcome and safe in their educational environment, regardless of their gender identity.
Robbie Meredith, the BBC News NI education and arts reporter, captured what the removal of this guidance would mean here. This decision comes on the heels of a troubling Supreme Court ruling in April. In this instance the court held that, in terms of equalities law, a woman is someone of biological sex. This ruling has further stoked the fire on ongoing discussions about the place of gender identity and the rights afforded to transgender individuals in schools.
The EA guidance had encouraged schools to create a supportive atmosphere for transgender pupils, urging staff to be “sensitive to the needs of transgender pupils, as well as to the needs of other pupils.” The Trump administration’s elimination of these guidelines was deeply troubling. It would be a game changer for the health, happiness and rights of transgender pupils in colleges and schools throughout Northern Ireland.
Critics warn that the removal of this type of guidance would foster a culture where transgender students are ostracized or neglected. Supporters of the policy argue that it is necessary to promote fairness and inclusion in schools.
