Children as young as four should select what sex they most identify with before starting school, according to Brighton and Hove City Council.
In a letter sent to parents ahead of the new school term in September, the local authority has urged parents to ‘support their child’ in their choice.
The move comes just three months after the council was slammed for asking schoolchildren to fill in a 25-option gender survey.
Dangerous
The letter, sent to thousands of parents, states: “We recognise that not all children and young people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or may identify as a gender other than male or female”.
It continues: “Please support your child to choose the gender they most identify with. Or if they have another gender identity please leave this blank and discuss with your child’s school.”
In response, one mother warned that it is “dangerous” to treat children as if they are adults.
Gender swaps
She added: “They are not adults – let them enjoy the innocence and creativity of their childhood.”
They are not adults – let them enjoy the innocence and creativity of their childhood.
Concerned mother
Lead member for equalities at Brighton and Hove City Council Emma Daniel said that the “additional text about gender identity” is intended to “show an inclusive approach to gender”.
At the end of January, the council was heavily criticised for asking teenagers to fill out a “bizarre” survey, produced by the Government-sponsored Children’s Commissioner for England.
Survey
Question 13 of the survey asked: “How do you define your gender?” and gave 25 options including “gender fluid”, “agender”, “genderqueer”, and “in the middle of boy and girl”.
Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute, responded by stressing that there are simply two sexes, rather than more than 20 genders.
Mr Calvert said: “We feel for people who struggle with gender dysphoria but we must not let our sympathy for them outweigh our sympathy for the great mass of children who need to feel safe and protected in school.
Boundaries
“To feel safe, children need to know there are some simple boundaries in life. The basic biological categories of male and female are amongst the most simple and fundamental boundaries of all.
“We must not intrude on childhood by deliberately confusing schoolchildren about what makes a boy a boy or a girl a girl just to satisfy adult political agendas.”