West Dunbartonshire Council backs support for transgender school pupils

West Dunbartonshire Council asserted that its transgender and non-binary young people deserved the "best possible educational experience", aided by guidance from the Scottish Government.

They condemned homophobic language reminiscent of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and similarities to Section 28 that banned any mention of LGBT in schools.

And council leader Jonathan McColl made an impassioned plea to support pupils as he wished he could have been supported himself, announcing he had come out as bisexual at the weekend ahead of the council debate.

He moved an amendment that won near unanimous cross-party support from the SNP, Labour and Conservatives.

Alba Party councillor Caroline McAllister, who announced she was not standing for re-election in May, had lodged a motion which was heavily critical of the national LGBT guidance.

Councillor McColl said a number of points in Cllr McAllister's motion were untrue or had no relation to the transgender guidance published by the government last summer.

He said claims were "incorrect" that teachers would have to affirm a child's gender identity "as young as four years of age" and without telling parents.

Councillor McColl's amendment read as follows:

"Council notes that guidance for schools, including the ‘Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools’ guidance has the aim of ensuring that every child and young person feels happy, safe, respected and included in their learning environment.

"Council agrees that these aims and principles apply to all pupils and in creating our policies, we must be aware and take account of everyone’s rights, particularly in relation to all protected characteristics.

"The guidance is intended to help school staff to provide transgender and non-binary young people with the best possible educational experiences."

The non-statutory guidance is currently being looked at by West Dunbartonshire's education staff and a local handbook will be produced for review in due course.

LGBT+ flag

The motion by Cllr McAllister, who represents the Leven ward, made reference to puberty blockers, which is not part of the government document, and called for outside groups to be considered.

The motion was condemned on social media ahead of the meeting by charities such as the Equality Network and LGBT and equalities campaigners.

Cllr McColl told the meeting: "I would also caution against supporting or promoting the organisations mentioned at the end of [Cllr McAllister's] motion.

"The language used by these organisations is at best uncomfortable and is akin to that used by anti-LGB rhetoric in years gone by.

"If we are to make our schools a place where everyone feels safe, we cannot associate ourselves with such views."

Councillor John Mooney seconded Cllr McColl's amendment. He condemned the motion that referred to gender identity only in quote marks, saying there was more than a century of research backing it up.

He said: "I'm a bit disturbed by some of the language used in the motion.

"It's now accepted by researchers that gender identity is something distinct from biological sex.

"I'm also concerned that some of the language used is similar to the homophobic language I heard when I was growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s - it's the Section 28 language. It's quite horrifying.

"I think we can now say gender identity is a fact. I don't think we're still in an era of coming up with this sort of hateful language."

Backing Cllr McAllister's motion, Councillor Diane Docherty (SNP, Clydebank Central) said she was "disturbed" by the opposition by her colleagues.

She said: "I'm a lesbian and I think lesbianphobia is rampant in our society at the moment.

"We are fighting for the right to even call ourselves lesbians."

Cllr Docherty said the SNP group had had long discussions on the subject in the run up to the meeting.

Group and council leader Cllr McColl then said he understood, on a personal level, why it was necessary to support pupils.

He said: "I would say to Diane, as a bisexual man who only had the courage to come out over the weekend, as a result of the discussions I had on this item with Caroline and Diane, I understand exactly what she's talking about.

"But this guidance may actually help with the abuse she's seen online.

"We really need to create safe spaces in schools so that children and young people can be who they are without being pushed down a certain line.

"I've known I was bisexual since I was 10 years old. If it's taken me till I'm 39 to have the courage to to be able to come out [and] how difficult I found that - how difficult must it be for a child in a school environment, when their body is changing, when they're at the height of peer pressure? How difficult must it be for that child or young person?

"We have an absolute responsibility to do the right thing here.

"We have to implement this guidance in an appropriate way for West Dunbartonshire, so that no child, regardless of whether they believe they're trans or gay or straight or anything, that no child feels uncomfortable and unsafe in school."

The vote was 14 for Cllr McColl's amendment and three for Cllr McAllister's motion.