Irish politicians echo ‘serious concerns’ over pro-trans sex ed curriculum

Irish politicians are calling for a “full review” of the sex education curriculum, after parents raised concern that it is promoting radical gender ideology.

Following a backlash over a Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) textbook’s depiction of a traditional Irish family, parents told Gript Media that they also found trans-affirming content.

The book, ‘Health and Wellbeing SPHE 1’, claimed that a “person’s sex is assigned at birth”, and directed pupils to the discredited Genderbread Person graphic, which claims there are an infinite number of gender identity “options” and that sex ‘exists on a continuum’.

‘Ideological colonisation’

Carol Nolan TD told Gript: “There are other very serious concerns being expressed by parents in regard to unscientific claims based on gender ideology, for example, being presented as fact to students from first year onwards”.

She warned: “The recent controversy has served to throw a much needed spotlight on the relentless and radical ideological colonisation of our school curriculum by fringe perspectives that have no support or appeal outside the academic echo chamber”.

Charles Flanagan TD also urged ministers to “review the entire programme”, while Senator Sharon Keogan called for action over “a recurring pattern” of “ideological indoctrination”.

Teachers

Earlier this month, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) said that teachers should not be forced to deliver sex education classes.

The teaching union wrote to school officials to say teaching staff should not be made to take SPHE or Relationships and Sexual Education lessons without “full and comprehensive training”.

From 2027, SPHE will be mandatory for 15 to 18 year olds for the first time, and will cover gender, pornography, relationships and sexual consent. The curriculum says LGBTQ+ relationships and identities should be “fully integrated” into the teaching.