Re your article about trans children at school (Attorney general says schools do not have to accommodate children’s gender wishes, 27 May), I am the parent of a teenager who came out to us about being trans. Our local secondary school – both the staff and pupils – have been incredibly supportive for all LGBTQ+ students. They have fostered a welcoming educational environment that puts the wellbeing of students at the heart of what they do.
To suggest that being trans is a type of “wish” shows a lack of empathy and understanding of the difficulties that young LGBTQ+ students face. We accommodate students’ cultural, religious, mental health and physical needs – why are trans children so different?
The positive experiences of our child contrast markedly with those of friends who grew up gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans in the 1980s and 1990s. We must not go back to those dark days. We are facing a mental health crisis in schools and divisive rhetoric suggesting that schools are encouraging gender dysphoria helps no one, least of all vulnerable teens who need our acceptance and support.
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