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Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Jan 2024

Transgender guidance for schools, published this December, does not require teachers or pupils to address a child, who wants to change gender, by their preferred pronoun.

As the guidance was being drafted, The Times said children would be able to socially transition with parental consent, but only in limited circumstances; and teachers would not be forced to use a child’s chosen pronoun if they have a ‘good faith’ exception.

Luke Randall

Date posted: 1 Dec 2023

Pupils and teachers in UK schools are under pressure to conform to radical educational material on sex and relationships because there is not enough clear guidance from the Government, according to the Christian Institute’s (CI) Autumn newsletter.

While Christians were given some reassurance by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s recent letter to English schools, which said that parents have a ‘fundamental right’ to know what their children are taught in health, relationships and sex education, the publication says there are several challenges ahead.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Dec 2022

‘Distraught’ parents are reportedly contacting campaigning groups every week about the social gender transitioning of children in schools.

This has prompted calls for the new Education Secretary to commission a review into gender identity policies in school, similar to that carried out at the Tavistock Clinic.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Feb 2023

A Christian couple, who took their three children out of a Church of England school in Kent, said the church’s transgender policy document Valuing All God’s Children is being used against Christian parents.

Calvin and Nicola Watts removed their children after it emerged that a video featuring radical gender ideology had been shown to a class of eight-year-olds. However, following several complaints by parents, St Michael’s Cof E Primary School in Tenterden justified its gender ideology teaching, citing the CofE controversial guidance.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Mar 2023

After a short-lived delay, a conversion therapy ban now looks set to be pushed through the commons. The Government confirmed its plans in the wake of a failed attempt to amend the Online Safety Bill, which had raised concerns that online evangelism could be banned.

A draft bill is expected to be published shortly, but pre-legislative scrutiny could be limited. The culture secretary Michelle Donelan said it would be completed by the end of this parliamentary term, despite acknowledging that it is a complex area. The government said a ban would also cover conversion therapy for those who are transgender.

Iain Taylor

Date posted: 1 Jan 2023

The Charity Commission has instigated a statutory inquiry into transgender youth support charity Mermaids. The regulatory body began investigating Mermaids in September, after reports about the supply of chest-binding devices to teenagers.

A formal inquiry has now been launched because of ‘newly identified issues’ with Mermaids’ governance and management, the Commission says. Mermaids offers support around gender and identity to children and young people up to age 25.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Nov 2022

The Church of England has been urged to abandon its transgender guidance for children, which is believed to be influenced by Mermaids – the transgender charity now under investigation by the Charities Commission.

According to the guidance, teachers should affirm children as young as five wanting to identify as the opposite gender. Justin Welby wrote the Foreword and explicitly commended it.

James Mildred

Date posted: 1 Oct 2022

What should we make of Liz Truss?

I’m always struck by the apostle Paul’s command in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, where he says God wants us to pray for all kinds of people. He then immediately gives the examples of kings, emperors, and those in authority over us, and draws a connection between prayers for these people and the freedom we enjoy to live quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Recognising our human weakness and tendency to ignore commands, he adds a further reason to this duty: it pleases God who wants all kinds of people to be saved.

The Christian Medical Fellowship has launched gender identity and trans identification ‘quick guides’ aimed at parents, youth workers, professionals and pastors.

They are resources for Christians which explain the terms used and some of the complex gender-related issues in the world of medicine, bioethics, and healthcare.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 May 2022

An experienced A&E doctor has appealed a ruling that Christian Biblical beliefs on gender are not worthy of respect in a democratic society and are ‘incompatible with human dignity’.

Dr David Mackereth, 58, was sacked in 2018 from his role as a medical assessor for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) after refusing to identify clients by their chosen gender instead of their biological sex.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Apr 2022

The Gender Recognition Reform Bill in Scotland, which would allow individuals to change the sex on their birth certificate without a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, has now been published.

The Scottish Government’s stated aim is to streamline the process allowing transgender people to self-identify in a less invasive way. The current requirement for evidence that an applicant has lived in their acquired gender for at least two years will be reduced to six months and the lower age limit cut to 16 instead of 18 years.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Feb 2022

Religious groups have been excluded from talks over proposed gender reform in Scotland, it has been claimed.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is continuing its push for reforms to the Gender Recognition Act to allow individuals aged 16+ to change gender without a doctor’s certificate confirming gender dysphoria. Under the proposals, individuals will only have to live as the ‘acquired’ gender for three months instead of the current two years.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Dec 2021

The consultation on a conversion therapy ban in England and Wales has been published, but raises many questions that have yet to be clarified.

The government has proposed a two-pronged approach to a ban. Firstly, giving sentencing courts power to impose tougher sentences for physically violent criminal acts that are motivated by conversion therapy.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Jan 2022

Stonewall, the militant LGBT+ campaign group, is being sued by a prominent lesbian barrister who co-founded the LGB Alliance.

Allison Bailey (see photo), a criminal lawyer, is bringing employment proceedings against Stonewall and her barristers’ chambers, Garden Court Chambers, after Stonewall allegedly tried to persuade them to discipline her for expressing gender-critical views around transgender issues.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Nov 2021

The Christian parents of two boys are seeking a judicial review in connection with the Cornwall Schools Transgender Guidelines, which encourage children to dress as they choose to reflect their 'true gender'.

The document – first published in 2015 – defines 'true gender' as 'the gender that a person truly feels they are inside'.

The extent of Stonewall’s influence on judicial training in England and Wales could become clearer, following a case brought by Maya Forstater (see photo), the tax specialist who won an appeal against an employment tribunal after she posted gender-critical beliefs online.

There has been mounting concern that Stonewall is exerting far-reaching influence on the training of judges. A number of recent rulings have revealed a growing boldness to issue rulings reflecting a judicial view that people who hold gender-critical beliefs do not deserve protection under equality law.

Nicola Laver

Date posted: 1 Sep 2021

An ex-barrister turned trainee therapist who publicly expressed his gender critical beliefs – that sex is biological and immutable – has been expelled by the Metanoia Institute three years into a five-year university degree.

James Esses was attempting to safeguard therapy and counselling for vulnerable children with gender dysphoria, lodging a public petition which has garnered more than 10,000 signatures. Speaking out also cost him his role as a Childline volunteer.

The companies behind controversial puberty blockers at the centre of a landmark transgender ruling have seen their share prices dip.

The firms, AbbVie Inc and Takeda, saw the value of their shares fall in the aftermath of the Kiera Bell case.

A controversial hate crime law in Scotland has been passed. The legislation had attracted a wide coalition in opposition to it, including evangelicals.

During the debate at Holyrood, Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, accepted one amendment from the Tory MSP Adam Tomkins which restated rights under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which emphasises the right ‘to offend, shock or disturb’, in relation to a reasonableness defence.

Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order Bill is undergoing more revisions to protect plays and public performances from prosecution, and there may even be further protections inserted for freedom of religious expression.

Scottish Justice Secretary, Humza Yousaf said: ‘Mere expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule and insult are not on their own criminal behaviour. I’m committed to work with parliament to ensure hate crime law is effective, while protecting freedom of expression.’