Calls for Education Minister to row back decision to remove trans guidance from website

The Education Minister has defended his decision to remove trans guidance for pupils from the Education Authority’s website.

The decision was made following a Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that a woman is defined by biological sex.

On Thursday, Paul Givan said: "I'm not going to break the law. There was a UK Supreme Court judgement and when we looked at the Education Authority's guidance, it's been deemed to be unlawful.

"So if I'm being asked to break the law, I'm not going to break the law. I'm going to uphold the law."

But the Mental Health Champion in Northern Ireland is calling for the information to be reinstated.

Professor Siobhan O'Neill said: "We're talking about people who often want to disappear. They just want to live their lives, they're not putting themselves out there.

"It's scary and they are very vulnerable to suicidal thoughts. It's a very delicate subject. They're exploring their identity and they need support so they can get on with their education.

"Often they don't want to go to school if the setting is really unsafe for them and that's what will happen."

Meanwhile, the Rainbow Project charity said it will be taking time to consider its next steps in providing Trans guidance.

Its CEO Scott Cuthbertson said: "Trans young people as well as LGBT young people, as well as their straight and non-LGBT counterparts all deserve a good chance at school.

"Everyone should get that chance. His job is to get on with being the Education Minister and make schools in Northern Ireland the places that they should be, for growth and for learning, for every pupil regardless of who they are."

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