Cassidy Centre for Educational Justice (CCEJ)’s Post

Over on our blog we have published our response to the non statutory draft guidance for schools and colleges in England and Wales regarding gender-questioning children and young people. This draft guidance was released on 19 December 2023 with a consultation open until 12 March 2024. We sent our own response as an organisation to that consultation back in March and are sharing our response publicly now to record our opposition to it in its entirety. Through our work and lived experience we know the impact on trans and gender expansive people when their right to exist is called into question. Every child and young person should be safe and respected in school or college and their best interests met in an environment that celebrates learning, inclusivity and diversity. The UK government’s draft guidance for schools in England does not respect or serve the interests of trans and gender-expansive children and young people and is at odds with existing children’s rights and equalities legislation in the UK, including both the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The lives of trans and gender-expansive children and young should never be up for debate. We join with many other LGBT+ organisations, youth organisations and schools in urging the government to reconsider the position taken in this guidance and instead to view this as a vital opportunity to implement clear guidance that creates genuine inclusivity and safety for all children and young people, including by listening to children and young people themselves. Head to our website to read our full statement, with links to relevant evidence and research. https://lnkd.in/eNjxA_GV

Welcome to the final video of our Extra Credit series, a deep dive into the fight for dignity for 2SLGBTQ+ students in Canada. As we hear whispers of more transphobic and queerphobic protests to come in Canada, it feels more and more important to talk about the attempted rollback of rights for trans youth in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, and the big ideas of this series. The changes proposed in these provinces invade people’s privacy and take away their agency. Coming out is something a person has the right to do on their own terms, and Canadians deserve healthcare without discrimination. We won’t let hate movements try to redefine things we’ve all known to be true for a long time. 2SLGBTQ+ people have always been here, and we always will. No law, policy, or curriculum will ever change that, and advocates, communities, and supportive families and educators will never stop fighting for dignity for youth in schools. We loved working with Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario and Toronto Pflag on this series that hopes to dispel myths and talk about the history of inclusive education policy in Canada. Check out the full series here: https://ow.ly/MOGL50T2k5N

There is a trend of banning LGBTQI inclusive education across Europe. All students deserve safe and welcoming learning environments. Education is a human right but when you can’t go to school without harassment and hostility then you are being denied that right. Some older LGBTQ people think the kids have it so good these days but try to see that todays children are living through a moral panic. Sure there more visibility but there is also a lot of vocal and state-sponsored hatred and prejudice too. It’s easy to hide behind a “won’t someone think of the children” narrative because children and young people have little to no voice in our societies. Kids are NOT property of their parents or of the state. They are human beings with rights. I’ve been working in LGBTQI Inclusive education for 13 years and I’ve never seen such hostility. Think of the impact on a young queer persons sense of self. Not only is there a lack of representation, representation has been OUTLAWED by their government. These poor kids. 💔

On Human Rights The fight for human rights is incomplete without addressing educational inequalities, particularly for girls and teenagers. Education is not just a privilege; it is a fundamental right that fosters dignity, equality, and empowerment. At Atlanticare Support Initiative, we are committed to ensuring that no child is left behind. Through innovative programs, such as funding for educational resources, we promote equal education rights and empower youth for a brighter future. The global community must unite to #StandUp4HumanRights, making education the pathway to equality and justice. #AtlanticareSupportInitiative #GirlChildEducation #TeenageEmpowerment #HumanRights #EducationForAll #Empowerment #Equality #SocialJustice

Will you join us and wear purple for #SpiritDay? 💜 We're standing alongside GLAAD and wearing purple today in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ youth. This is a cause close to our hearts. Many of us at Proud2Be experienced bullying as young LGBTQIA+ people, and we now work to counter hate and misinformation by spreading awareness and building safe LGBTQIA+ community here in Devon 🧡 Here's why we're wearing purple today: 💜 In 2019, 86% of people in the UK believe LGBTQIA+ people should be accepted by society (2020). 💜 Most young people (84%) are pro-trans (2021). 💜 43% of LGBTQIA+ school pupils were bullied in the past year; double the number of non-LGBTQIA+ pupils (2021). 💜 Just 1 in 5 (19%) LGBTQIA+ parents reported that their child’s school openly discussed LGBTQIA+ families with pupils (2024). 💜 Half of pupils (48%) had little or no positive messaging about being LGBTQIA+ at school in the past year (2021). 💜 Yet strong positive messaging about being LGBTQIA+ in schools helps decrease thoughts and feelings of s**c*de in both LGBTQIA+ AND non-LGBTQIA+ pupils (2021). Every young LGBTQIA+ person deserves hope, joy, access to adequate medical care, and the freedom to be who they are without discrimination! Sources: Just Like Us: Growing Up LGBT+ report (2021) Just Like Us: LGBT+ Parents report (2024) ILGA-Europe Pew Research Center: The Global Divide on Homosexuality Persists (2020)

Read this and then read it again. When someone from a minority background racially insults another from a minority background - in total ignorance - it makes my blood boil. Not only has this happened to me before where I’ve been told to go back to where I belong - uh, I belong here where I was born , thanks - it is still happening in 2024 to young adults and children of diverse backgrounds. When will this change? Organisations have a duty I believe to be part of the change. It may feel as if it isn’t your duty, but if we do not all collectively promote equality and education of differences here on LinkedIn, then young people may well grow up and enter the working world thinking abuse of this kind will go untouched. Please ensure your organisation does not stand for such conscious or unconscious abuse. It’s easy to ignore it, pretend it’s not happening. The answer is not just recruitment of more minorities. It is education and awareness. As a South Asian female, it doesn’t seem like a big ask but when I reflect on the racism I’ve experienced in my life, it really does upset me. I have to accept others - as do my children - yet we have to somehow know that there will be times we will get abused for our heritage. Read that again. Minority people often know that in life, they will get abuse - we live with that. Stand for equality and education. Please share and let us speak of our experiences to ensure our voices are heard. #equality #inclusion #belonging #culturalawareness #corporateculture #linkedin #racialequality

Schools are organisations. How is your school embedding equity, diversity & inclusion? An environment that does not support DEI for students & staff is not safe for children. Not physically safe. Not psychologically safe. Not upholding human rights. When a school is branded ‘exclusive’ it usually means ‘noninclusive’. When a school discriminates by enforcing rigid gender stereotypes, it is not equitable. When a school is not actively trying to work toward gender equality, then it is usually actively contributing to gender inequality, & the cycle of gender based violence. When a school discriminates against LGBTQI+ students & staff it denies them their fundamental human rights. When a school denies a child freedom of expression & autonomy over their own bodies, it prevents their freedom of choice & disempowers their sense of self-importance. When a government in one hand claims to care about equity, inclusion, diversity, & human rights, then in the other hand continues to fund sexist, racist, discriminative private schools with taxpayer monies, this is hypocrisy. When you see these things & you say nothing or do nothing, you are part of the problem. The environments we raise our children in, including schools, will shape the future of this country. Do you want an inclusive, equitable, safe Australia? Human Rights Law Centre Australian Human Rights Commission Queensland Human Rights Commission Anna Cody Micaela Cronin Lorraine Finlay Katy Gallagher Independent Schools Victoria Independent Schools Australia Independent Schools Queensland A.B. Paterson College King's Christian College Livingstone Christian College Association of Independent Schools of NSW AISWA - Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia Our Watch Respect Victoria No to Violence Equality Australia Minus18 Foundation Diversity Council Australia Ltd Chief Executive Women (CEW) Champions of Change Coalition CEOs for Gender Equity Australian Government Department of Education Queensland Department of Education Linda Colley Dr Niki Vincent Scott McDougall Aimee McVeigh Steve Roberts Coleen MacKinnon Dr Rachael Jefferson (formerly Jefferson-Buchanan) #humanrightsday #schools #education #equity #inclusion #diversity #safety #discrimination #lgbtqi #tax #humanrights #ethics #values

The safety of 2SLGBTQ+ students in Canada is at risk, with provinces like New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Alberta introducing harmful policies. We’ve also seen hateful protests and dehumanizing, false rhetoric online. Hate groups are using 2SLGBTQ+ students as pawns to score political points in a climate where some are looking to create a more bigoted and prejudiced Canada. Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party of Canada leader, stands a very good chance of being our next Prime Minister, despite spreading hate and misinformation against trans and gender diverse people. The idea that many 2SLGBTQ+ people will have difficult childhoods because of their sexual orientation or gender shouldn’t just be an assumed fact of life. All students and youth — not just the cisgender, heterosexual ones — deserve freedom of expression, protection from bullying, and lives full of love and care. We’ve teamed up with Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario and Toronto Pflag to bring you this series that hopes to dispel myths and talk about the history of inclusive education policy in Canada. Supportive parents have been fighting for rights for a long time — the right their 2SLGBTQ+ kids have to to be treated with respect and dignity at school. Our communities and families won’t back down and let the clock be turned back on our hard-won rights and safety. Stay tuned over the next several weeks for more information and history on this issue, and learn more at https://ow.ly/Rf5150SzPec

A Historic Step for Inclusivity in Bexley Schools In a landmark decision, Bexley Council has unified across party lines to champion LGBT+ inclusive education. This pivotal motion promises a future where every child in Bexley's state schools will learn in an environment that respects and celebrates diverse relationships. It's a response to the stark reality revealed by Just Like Us, which showed nearly half of the UK's LGBT+ students felt unsafe in school just 3 years prior. Coupled with a staggering rise in transphobic hate crimes, the call to action couldn't be more urgent. This isn't political—it's about protecting our youth and fostering communities where difference is not just accepted but welcomed. Schools praised by Ofsted for their teachings on consent are now setting a benchmark for inclusivity that aligns with the very fabric of our society. As Bexley embarks on this journey of support and education, we witness not division but unity in action. It's a message to every young person: You are seen, you are valued, and you belong. #Inclusivity #Education #LGBTQSupport

At EducateHERs, we're passionate about creating a world where every young person has access to quality education, regardless of gender or background. 1. Education is not just about learning facts and figures; it's about empowering individuals to reach their full potential and become agents of positive change in their communities. That's why we're committed to advocating for: 2. Education for All: Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive. We believe in breaking down barriers to education and ensuring that no one is left behind. 3.Gender Equality: We're dedicated to promoting gender equality in education, because when girls and boys have equal access to learning, everyone benefits. Let's empower girls to pursue their dreams and become leaders of tomorrow! Peace Education: Education is a powerful tool for building peace and understanding. By teaching tolerance, empathy, and conflict resolution skills, we can create a more harmonious and inclusive society. Join us in advocating for a brighter future where education is a right, not a privilege. Together, we can make a difference! #EducationForAll #GenderEquality #PeaceEducation #YouthAdvocacy #Empowerment #ChangeMakers Watch: https://lnkd.in/djpK2XHi