Local News
7th July 2022
Issue 1225
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MP wants sex education changed By ELEANOR HARDING and JULIE HENRY FOR THE DAILY MAIL Sex education is fuelling the huge rise in the number of children who think they are transgender, an MP has claimed. In a Westminster Hall debate last week, fears were raised that material pushing 'extreme gender ideology' is indoctrinating children. MPs heard how some parents said their child showed no sign of questioning their gender until they attended relationships and sex education (RSE) classes or school assemblies about gender identity. The debate was secured by Miriam Cates, Tory MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge and a former biology teacher. She claimed the rise in the number of children wanting to transition was a 'social contagion, driven by the internet and reinforced in schools'. A recent YouGov poll found 79 per cent of secondary school teachers had pupils who were trans or non-binary. RSE lessons have been compulsory in English secondary schools since 2020. Department for Education guidance states that children should not be taught they are in the wrong body if they do not conform to gender stereotypes. But Mrs Cates said children are being exposed to 'a plethora of deeply inappropriate, wildly inaccurate, sexually explicit and damaging materials in the name of sex education'.
The MP cited materials from the Sex Education Forum that divided children into 'menstruators and non-menstruators' and said this would lead to confusion for a teenage girl whose periods did not start. Mrs Cates also quoted sex education provider Bish, which states that 'many people' are in the middle of the spectrum in terms of their genitals. RSE is often contracted out to unregulated organisations with their own political agendas, creating a 'Wild West' scenario, she added. Mrs Cates claimed that in some cases teachers have been treating pupils as the opposite sex without telling parents, who are effectively 'cut out'. MPs heard one primary school teacher left her job after staff were asked to be 'complicit' in the 'social transitioning' of a seven-yearold boy. The incident followed a visit to the school by Gendered Intelligence, which runs workshops that aim to 'increase understandings of gender diversity'. Mrs Cates, who sits on the Commons education committee, told the debate gender ideology 'has no basis in science'. She added: 'And yet it is being pushed on children in some schools under the guise of RSE with what can only be described as a religious fervour.' In response, schools minister Robin Walker said RSE guidance would be reviewed regularly but schools should be 'trusted' to design their own curriculum on the subject.
LGBTQ+ café set to launch in the city thanks to vital funding from NHS Sheffield Thanks to funding from NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Sheffield Mind are set to launch a wellbeing café specifically for LGBTQ+ called Kaleidoscope for Sheffielders who may need additional support – coinciding with Pride Month. The café will support those who are lonely, just need a friendly face to talk to, or need a bit more support with their mental health. It’s part of offer to LGBTQ+ support around mental health needs as part of the wider community mental health transformation work in the city. Margaret Lewis, the Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Mind, said: “Sheffield Mind is absolutely thrilled to be launching our Kaleidoscope LGBTQ+ café, funded by the CCG. “During lockdown, we got phone calls from members
of the community who were feeling isolated, lonely or were struggling with mental health issues. This café is in response to that need, a safe space where people aged 18+ from the LGBTQ+ community can come together and socialise, with support. “We hope to launch in the next few weeks, but we’re still looking for volunteers who can commit three hours a fortnight, so if you’re interested, email job@sheffieldmind.co.uk.” This news coincides with Pride Month, which takes place annually every June to stand with LGBTQ+ staff and people. Dr Terry Hudsen, GP and Chair of NHS Sheffield CCG, said: “This café will be a vital asset to our LGBTQ+ residents across the city. We are proud to help this become a reality thanks to the brilliant efforts from Sheffield Mind.
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“We know LGBTQ+ people face significant inequalities in physical and mental health, and hopefully having this cafe will improve access to support that so many LGBTQ+ people struggle to access. “We fight to support inclusion and equal access to LGBTQ+ staff, patients and service users across Sheffield and want to show our support to those in the community we serve, and members of our staff who are celebrating Pride Month.” If you are 18 or over, identify as LGBTQ+, have mental health issues or feel lonely or socially isolated, then the Kaleidoscope could be just the place for you. The café will run fortnightly at the Wellbeing Centre (110 Sharrow Lane) on Wednesday evenings from 5pm - 7pm.
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