Trans-inclusive RSE is under threat: What can you do?
RSE in the headlines
In case you haven’t been following, a lot has been going on in the world of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). We’ve experienced media backlash, seen misinformation being shared and are witnessing a total politicisation of the subject.
We love - and are proud of - the work we do at SB. But we’ve been operating amidst an extremely challenging backdrop. To be totally honest, it’s been quite an overwhelming time for our team.
The topics we cover - things like relationships, identity, sex, body image, consent to name a few - are emotive and personal. To have our work and approach be criticised, when young people’s lives are at risk, has been a rollercoaster mixture of emotions: frustration, anger and motivation to keep fighting.
To give you a brief overview of recent events:
March 2023: SB was named in a report commissioned by the New Social Covenant Unit, a socially conservative campaign group that Miriam Cates - Conservative MP - co-established. The report claimed RSE lessons were “age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate” and a “safeguarding scandal” that was now happening “across the country”. Cates claimed that RSE lessons were “promoting” trans identification and gave a “disproportionately dominant” place to LGBTQIA+ topics. Much of the report was misinformed and false (there has still been no recognition of this, or any kind of apology). Following this, Rishi Sunak called for a “review of RSE” (even though this was already due to happen in a 3-year cycle). And at the end of March, Gillian Keegan - Conservative Secretary of State for Education - called on schools to share all RSE teaching resources with parents (does this happen in any other subject?).
March - April 2023: SB experiences a mixture of media backlash and positive interest in our work.
June - July 2023: SB witnesses a rise in misogyny in schools (influenced by misogynist influencers targeting young men) and a mixture of backlash and support for LGBTQIA+ education.
July 2023: Guidance for schools on pupils questioning their gender identity was due to be released in the summer term, but it has been delayed as the suggestions on it were deemed ‘unlawful’ by experts and went against the Equality Act 2010 (including things like outing pupils who want to socially transition and banning trans pupils from PE classes). We also await the RSE review.
The history of sex education in Britain
In order to understand what’s going on right now, we need to take a step back and explore the history of sex education and the challenges it has faced in the past:
Early 20th century: Pamphlets and films framed sex as dangerous and only to be undertaken when strictly necessary. There was no formal sex education in schools.
1950s-60s: This period saw positive shifts in reproductive and identity rights, including the introduction of the pill, decriminalisation of homosexuality and legalisation of abortion.
1986: This was the height of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. During this year, there was a moral panic created by the media which was not only linking AIDS to homosexuality, but also condemning sex education materials that represented same-sex relationships.
1987: The Sex Education Forum was established amidst an era of great negativity towards sex education, with a mission to influence policy, utilise research evidence and support educators with resources and advice.
1988: The Prime Minister at this time, Margaret Thatcher, introduced Section 28. This was legislation which prohibited schools and colleges from talking about homosexuality as they deemed this ‘promoting homosexuality’. This deprived generations of LGBTQIA+ young people from seeing themselves represented in stories, plays, books or films that they’d be shown in school.
1992: This year, the Health of the Nation strategy is launched, with the reduction of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being targets.
1993: This year, the 1993 Education Act stated that only the biological aspects of HIV, AIDS, STIs and human sexual behaviour could be included in the National Curriculum.
2000: This year, national non-statutory guidance was published, which encouraged schools to deliver Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), but didn’t make it mandatory.
2000-10: During these years, Section 28 was finally repealed in 2000 in Scotland, 2003 in England and 2010 in the county of Kent.
2017: The government acts on pressure from some MPs (including Sarah Champion, Labour MP), citizens and lobbying groups to finally made RSE statutory in all secondary schools and RE in all primary schools.
2019: There is an open consultation and the RSE guidance is updated to include education around online safety and ‘LGBT+ issues’. It was the first time that secondary schools were required to provide "clear, sensitive and respectful" teaching on gender identification and sexual orientation.
2020-2022: During these years, the Covid-19 pandemic affected implementation of RSE, with vast numbers of pupils still not being able to access it.
2023: And this year, we’re experiencing pushback which takes issue mainly with the inclusivity of the current RSE curriculum.
It hasn’t been an easy ride for RSE. And we get parts of it. These are emotive subjects, most adults haven’t received adequate RSE themselves and some might have experienced trauma connected to relationships and sex.
Of course, these topics need to be treated with a high level of safeguarding, sensitivity and care. But the only way to do that is to educate, not censor. And to include and represent everyone, so that all people know how to recognise and experience things like safety, trust, respect and joy in their sex and relationships.
How anti-RSE rhetoric has been repackaged through the years
When we look back, we can see that the same genre of arguments are made against RSE:
‘RSE sexualises young people’
Some people claim that talking about sex with young people is going to make them have it. This is completely untrue. Evidence shows that early intervention of RSE actually increases the age of first sex and decreases unwanted pregnancies and STIs. And we know that the average age of exposure to pornography is 13 years old. Providing educational spaces for young people to learn about what healthy sex and relationships are isn’t sexualising them, it’s keeping them safe.‘RSE promotes LGBTQIA+ identities’
Firstly, this is a hugely problematic argument, which positions LGBTQIA+ identities as something inherently wrong and shameful that should not be ‘promoted’. It’s a form of discrimination that goes against the Equality Act 2010. Furthermore, RSE does not promote one lifestyle or identity, but encourages respect and empathy for the multiplicity and diversity of people’s experiences and selves.
People who claim either of these arguments are totally out of touch with what young people are experiencing today and the necessity of non-judgemental, inclusive RSE. Any person who sits in on an SB session would see this.
Although Section 28 is no longer enforceable, its ripple effects are seismic. Teachers tell us they still don’t feel comfortable being open with their orientation in school. We still see anti-LGBTQIA+ behaviour and language commonplace in classrooms.
And the current threat to trans-inclusive RSE only exacerbates these issues.
Lives are at risk when RSE is used as a political tool. All young people need safe, respectful spaces to explore topics like sex, relationships and identity without fear of being shamed or ‘outed’. If they do not have access to these spaces, they will likely seek misinformation online, or go without any support at all. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: lives are at risk.
What can schools do to support inclusive RSE?
The vast majority of the teachers we work with are passionate, open people who are committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment. They want the best outcomes for all their students, no matter their background, identity or experience.
Here are some things teachers and schools can do:
Get acquainted with the Equality Act (2010) principle, which gives protection based on association and perception already applicable to race, sexual orientation and religion or belief to include age, disability, gender reassignment, sex and pregnancy and maternity. The more we are clued up on the law, the better able we are able to protect all students.
Access training in inclusive RSE and commit to ongoing learning.
Ensure there is an accepting and affirming approach embedded in the values of the school. How are you including LGBTQIA+ young people within these? Where are these values represented and practised? Is there a physical space for them?
Consider a wellbeing support and safe space room - do you have a space you can offer for young people to retreat to when feeling at risk or overwhelmed?
Represent LGBTQIA+ stories in all subjects - across your school, where can you be amplifying voices and stories of the community? And showing positive representations and role models?
Have a clear policy around discrimination - if there is bullying, what is your process and policy and do you know how to follow it?
Support an LGBTQIA+ student club. Maybe you already have one at your school - if not, would you be able to support with a space / some teacher guidance?
Promote inclusive teacher and parent attitudes - how are you communicating your policy with parents and others? How can you include them and bring them on board?
What can individuals do?
It’s not only schools who have a responsibility to stand up for inclusive RSE. All individuals have the power to stand up and speak out.
You might try:
Speaking to friends, family, colleagues, parent / carer groups about the importance of RSE and how it must include all young people and their varied experiences and identities. There is lots of information to back this up in this UNESCO report.
Joining the pledge for high-quality, inclusive RSE.
Signing the petition for the Make It Mandatory campaign, calling on the government to extend and mandate RSE to KS5 students.
Supporting the work of Stonewall and their #HearQueerYouth campaign.
Writing to a school you’re connected with (maybe you’re a young person, a parent / caregiver or someone who works with young people at the school) pledging your support for LGBTQIA+ inclusive education.
Writing to your MP to show your support for inclusive RSE.
We hear testimonies from young people every week who are yearning to have respectful spaces to speak about relationships and sex.
And representation really matters, hear from the young people who benefit from our work:
“It was great I loved it. I love that you're talking about people like me (I'm pansexual and non-binary).”
“As a young queer kid trying to navigate through traditional sex ed, this is definitely the best presentation I've experienced, focussing so much more on the fact that sex and intimacy should empower and make you feel good rather than just the stereotypical 'sex is for making babies' so thank you so much!”
“I like how it highlight all types of relationships - it was very inclusive.”