On the 23 July, the charity and campaign group shared an article in the Metro from a parent about how their four-year-old gender nonconforming daughter is not being supported by her nursery.
Along with sharing the article, it tweeted, ‘Research suggests that children as young as two recognise their trans identity.
‘Yet many nurseries and schools teach a binary understanding of pre-assigned gender. LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming education is crucial for the well-being of all young people!’
The tweet prompted a backlash on Twitter for referencing research that suggests very young children are capable of considering their gender identity and for criticising nurseries for teaching that sex is binary.
Stonewall was subsequently forced to clarify what it meant and put out a statement, which said, ‘On Friday we put out a tweet that was unclear, relating to gender stereotypes and nursery age children, leading some supporters to ask us what we meant.
‘We were commenting on an article written by a parent reflecting on how their child was being cared for at nursery. The parent was worried that their child was being pressured to fit in with stereotypes about boys and girls. We believe that young children should be able to play, explore and learn about who they are, and the world around them, without having adults’ ideas imposed upon them.
‘We support existing provisions to ensure primary and secondary school pupils learn about LGBTQ+ identities in an age-appropriate and timely manner. Primary schools in Scotland and Wales are required to provide LGBTQ+ inclusive approach to relationships and sex education, and primary schools in England are encouraged to do so.’
Within its statement, the charity includes a question and answer section where it explains that the tweet it posted was ‘paraphrasing research mentioned in the article. But studies of trans adults that ask about when they first experienced gender dysphoria find that a significant number have their first memory of this feeling aged between two and four.’
It goes on to admit that saying children as young as two know they are trans was ‘wrong’, and what the tweet should have expressed is that many trans people first experience gender dysphoria at a young age.’
Under a question about whether young children should be taught about trans identities at nursery, Stonewall states, ‘For primary school aged children, this might mean, for example, learning that some children have two mummies, some have two daddies. It might mean not forcing children to conform to stereotypes, and it might mean challenging bullying that relates to perceived difference.’
