EPISODE 5: JULIE GOES TO GENDERLAND

Julie Bindel, a long-time feminist and activist against men's violence toward women, discusses her concerns regarding extreme transgender ideology, particularly its impact on children. She argues that this ideology promotes the idea that anyone can change their sex based solely on self-identification. This issue gains urgency with alarming incidents in Brighton, such as a refugee child being questioned about whether her trauma was due to being "born in the wrong body."

Bindel meets with local parents and activists in Brighton, where they express worries regarding the local authority's self-identification policies and the safeguarding of children. One key figure in the conversation is Rachel Cashman, a member of a community collective called P.S.H.E Brighton. This group comprises parents, teachers, and social workers, all concerned about gender ideology's prevalence in schools. Cashman recounts experiences from her time as a school governor, raising alarms about issues like gender-neutral toilets and mixed-gender facilities in primary schools that overlook the nuanced needs of children and families.

Another participant, Helen Saxby, shares her journey into this debate, prompted by media representations of transgender youth and women’s rights being threatened. Saxby highlights the emergence of groups like Gendered Intelligence and Press for Change, which promote transgender rights but create tensions with feminist perspectives. She reflects on her involvement with the 2015 Women and Equalities Committee's trans inquiry, in which feminist voices felt systematically silenced.

The discussion sheds light on Brighton's entrenched trans ideology, manifested in its schools and services. As Cashman explains, the local framework deeply integrates transgender ideology, with even nursery-age children being asked about their gender identity. The conversation unveils the disturbing practice of encouraging very young children to explore whether they believe they are in the "right body," which researchers and activists identify as risky.

Bindel and her guests express concerns over the influence of the Brighton toolkit, which guides schools on inclusion policies. They describe it as being created with a strong ideological bias, prioritizing the affirmation of a child’s claimed gender identity over sex-based rights and safeguarding. They argue that this toolkit misinterprets the Equality Act, effectively sidelining the rights of girls and women.

Participants point out that the toolkit has been adopted by other local authorities, spreading its controversial policies across the UK. Despite parental and community pushback, local authorities dismiss concerns, perpetuating a balance that they see as favorable to trans ideology. Critics argue that children are increasingly subjected to pressure in schools regarding their gender identity without careful consideration of the implications.

The guests discuss the challenges parents face when questioning these policies, often facing accusations of bigotry or transphobia. They emphasize that the fight is not against the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals but against the narrow ideological framework that dominates discussions around gender in education.

Several examples highlight how schools implement the toolkit, often disregarding parental rights and the safeguarding of children—especially girls—leading to a culture of fear around dissent. The guests emphasize the urgent need for a balanced, evidence-based approach in education that respects all children’s rights.

They express hope that collective action from concerned parents, teachers, and community members can reform the approach taken by local authorities. Ultimately, they stress the importance of discussion—balancing various viewpoints while safeguarding the vulnerabilities of children in an increasingly ideological educational landscape.

Julie Bindel heads to Brighton to meet parents and campaigners in conflict with their local authority over its policies on single sex spaces. They’re asking “what now?” following a change of government and the landmark Cass report which blew apart the scandal of an unwarranted social and medical experiment on children. Writer: Julie Bindel Producer: Samantha Smith Artwork: Nicole Jones Actor: Joe Fattorini Animations: Sarah Vaci (Lordy) SOURCES OF INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND SUPPORT The final report of the Cass Independent Review is referenced throughout the series. You can read it here. The LGB Alliance has a support line if you are 13 – 24 and want to explore your feelings and discuss your experiences in a warm, judgment-free space. The live-chat service is open between 3pm and 6pm on Tuesdays and between 4pm and 7pm on Thursdays. Send them an email at any other time and they’ll get back to you within 48 hours. Our Duty is an international support network for parents who wish to protect their children from gender ideology. They’ll put you in touch with other parents who want to protect their children from harm.

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