Brighton family threatens to sue council over ‘classroom to clinic’ school trans advice

A family from Brighton recently shared some guidance from a prominent legal professional. They stated that they plan to take legal action against the city council if it doesn't retract its directives to schools regarding transgender matters.

The kin contends that the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit created by the Brighton and Hove City Council has hastened the process of children leaving classrooms to receive medical treatment.

Renowned human rights lawyer Karon Monaghan KC has produced a comprehensive 75-page legal analysis that highlights numerous ways in which the toolkit could be illegal and negatively affect both transgender and non-transgender children.

The family has submitted a letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) requesting an official examination of the matter.

Today, the Brighton and Hove City Council announced that they received a letter from the family's legal team. They have stated that they will reply to the letter and also review the toolkit taking into account the recently released Cass Report regarding gender care for children.

The family has alleged that their daughter's school went through social transition - which involved the usage of different pronouns - despite an earlier agreement with the head to not do so. They further claim that they discovered later that the school had aided in binding their daughter's breasts.

According to their complaints, the council used the toolkit as a basis to justify the actions taken by the school.

Ms. Monaghan suggests that it's important to focus on helping children during their social transition without drawing attention to any potential dangers that may be involved.

The Cass Review's initial findings state that social transition can have an impact on a young individual's mental well-being, making it an active intervention.

The suggestion explains that the toolkit doesn't provide any instruction on whether certain "key milestones" in social transitioning, like pronouns, using gender-specific restrooms, locker rooms, and housing accommodations, are suitable or not.

The article doesn't expect that parents will always be involved in determining how children who identify as transgender are treated.

The piece of guidance moreover implies that there exists an unequal distribution of rights between children questioning their gender who use facilities designated for a specific sex or those who engage in activities reserved for one sex, versus the rights of other children. This includes those who hold views critical of certain gender identities or those who practice a religion.

The family stated that Brighton and Hove City Council has been expediting the process of taking children from school to the clinic for more than ten years now.

According to Dr. Cass's Review, the way we have been approaching this subject lacks enough proof and puts children in danger.

Bella Sankey, the leader of Brighton Council, wrongly dismissed the worries of parents, according to Karon Monaghan KC. Sankey called these concerns "baseless smears," but this has been proven to be an entirely incorrect statement.

The financial situation of Brighton Council is very dangerous. They have a chance to make the correct and secure decision by withdrawing the toolkit right away. If they do not, they will have to use taxpayer’s money to protect something that is wrong in court cases from parents all over the city and even the entire country.

The remarks made by Ms. Sankey regarding unfounded allegations were given as an answer to a query raised by Adrian Hart, who is involved with PHSE Brighton. This is a collective of individuals who are apprehensive about the quality of personal, social, health, and economic education being imparted in educational institutions, which coincides with the subject matter that Ms. Monaghan's guidance deals with.

The blog post inquired about how third party providers like Allsorts, who collaborated on the toolkit, might impact the content they supply, particularly if it contradicts or misrepresents the law.

The Brighton and Hove City Council recently expressed its apprehensions with the preliminary instructions for schools provided by the government when it comes to children who are currently questioning their gender.

On Tuesday, a press release was issued stating that the Cass Report, which was to be published the following day, was unclear and inaccurate in regards to the law. The statement also expressed concern that the report lacked compassion and empathy towards children.

Today, Council Member Lucy Helliwell, who is one of the co-chairs of the Children, Families, and Schools committee, announced that the council will send a response to the family's letter at an appropriate time.

She stated that evidence from both local and national sources has shown that young people who are questioning their gender often face bullying and are at a higher risk of developing mental health issues compared to other young individuals.

We worked together with allies in the city to create the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit in order to provide assistance to schools, teachers, young people who have questions about their gender identity, and their parents or caregivers on an individualized basis.

We've been consistently checking and revising this advice according to the law ever since it was first made in 2013. The latest version was released in 2021. Our objective is to evaluate the guidance anew with the aid of legal experts in light of the Cass review that was announced last week.

It's crucial to keep in mind that this is about the safety and care of kids who are vulnerable. Their well-being should not be influenced by any particular beliefs or ideas. Therefore, we are dismayed with the government's proposal for how schools and colleges should handle gender questioning, as it doesn't do enough to defend the rights of every young person.

As a governing body that strives to guarantee that all of our kids and young individuals lead satisfied, secure, and optimistic lives, we will continue to be dedicated to yielding assistance that defends and propels their well-being.

The set of tools has been used by different educational institutions and government entities throughout the nation.

The Oxford County Council decided to discontinue the use of a particular system in 2020, following a legal review initiated by a 13-year-old girl. The girl stated that the system was unjust and caused her to feel helpless.

Allsorts was asked for an opinion, but their automated reply directed all inquiries about the toolkit to the local council.

Last week, the NHS Sussex announced that it will be carrying out all suggestions made in the Cass Report.