Church of England schools have been told that children should be allowed to experiment with gender.
The church’s first guidance for teachers on transgender issues says that children should not be restricted by their gender when dressing up.
The guidance specifies that girls should be allowed to wear a fireman’s helmet, tool belt and superhero cloak, while boys should be allowed to wear tutus and tiaras, if they so choose.
The guidelines stated, “Pupils need to be able to play with many cloaks of identity (sometimes quite literally with the dressing up box).”
“Children should be at liberty to explore the possibilities of who they might bw without judgement or derision.”
“For example, a child may choose the tutu, princess’s tiara and heels and/or the fireman’s helmet, tool belt and superhero cloak without expectation or comment.”
The new guidance aims to eradicate homophobic and transphobic bullying, across the 4,700 Church of England schools in the UK.
It states that teachers should not make any assumptions about a child’s gender and “avoid labels.” It also discourages children from using terms such as “gay” in a negative way, such as “you’re so gay.”
The guidelines clarify that while there is a range of beliefs on LGBT identities within the church, there “can be no justification” for anti-LGBT bullying based on Christian faith.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said, “All bullying, including homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying causes profound damage, leading to higher levels of mental health disorders, self-harm, depression and suicide.”
“Central to Christian theology is the truth that every single one of us is made in the image of God.”
“Every one of us is loved unconditionally by God.”
“This guidance helps schools to offer the Christian message of love, joy and the celebration of our humanity without exception or exclusion.”
