Transgender teenager sues Hereford school for discrimination

Feb 2, 2017 by Jill

from BBC News:

A transgender teenager is taking legal action against his former school for discrimination.

Aidan, 16, who was born female, claims he was effectively excluded because Hereford Cathedral School refused to let him wear a boy’s uniform.

This was despite the support of his mother and the family’s GP as he began his transition.

The action is being taken under the 2010 Equality Act. The school said it would defend its position.

Aidan said that when he came out as a boy his mother was “definitely heartbroken”.

“I feel like she had dreams of seeing her daughter getting married and having children,” he said. “She definitely needed time to mourn and I needed to let her have that time.”

The Equality Act: Gender reassignment guidance for schools

It is unlawful for schools to treat pupils less favourably because of their gender reassignment
Schools must factor in gender reassignment when considering their obligations under the Equality Act
To be protected by the Act, a pupil will not necessarily have to be undertaking a medical procedure to change their sex, but must be taking steps to live in the opposite gender, or proposing to do so
Schools need to make sure that all gender variant pupils are not singled out for different and less favourable treatment from that given to other pupils

Source: Department for Education, The Equality Act 2010 and schools

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