UK: Girls, you can take the skirts off

Subject: UK: Girls, you can take the skirts off Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:52 am

EQUALITY and human rights law may make it illegal for schools to force girls to wear skirts — because uniforms discriminate against transsexuals.

Official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission warns schools that insisting that girls wear skirts may breach the rights of those who feel compelled to live as boys.

The watchdog, which has enforcement powers against public bodies that break equality law, says “requiring pupils to wear gender-specific clothes is potentially unlawful”.

It notes that “pupils born female with gender dysphoria experienced great discomfort being forced to wear stereotypical girls’ clothes — for example a skirt”.

The guidance has been produced in expectation of the government’s Equality Bill coming into force this autumn. The bill, masterminded by Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, makes it a legal requirement for public authorities, including schools, to consider the impact on minority groups of all their policies — including how school uniforms might affect transsexual people.

They must do all they can to ensure transsexual children do not suffer discrimination, or face potential legal sanctions.

The bill extends new rights to people who believe they were born into the wrong gender. They gain this protection “regardless of whether or not they intend to undergo, are undergoing or have undergone gender reassignment”.

Previously they had to be under medical supervision or to have had a sex change to be covered by discrimination rules. There are an estimated 5,000 adult transsexuals in Britain.

The equality commission’s official guidance, entitled Provision of Goods, Facilities and Services to Trans People — Guidance for Public Authorities in Meeting your Equality Duties and Human Rights Obligations, says schools have a duty to be “proactive” in ensuring transsexual students are not discriminated against.

It also cites existing human rights and sex discrimination laws. The guidelines state: “Uniform is a key issue for young trans people at schools. Many schools have strict uniform codes where boys and girls are required to wear particular clothes, for example, girls cannot wear trousers.”

A commission spokesman said: “This is all about giving schools information which will help them interpret the law.”

Elspeth Insch, the head teacher of King Edward VI Handsworth school in Birmingham, said: “The message is: not in my school — we’re sticking with our skirts.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7034961.ece

UK: Girls, you can take the skirts off

UK: Girls, you can take the skirts off

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