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Education is the key to preventing prejudiced views gaining strength, say members of Liberate following a recent debate that unfolded on social media.
That debate was sparked by an article shared on the Bailiwick Express Facebook page regarding an LGBTQ+ author coming to Guernsey to offer creative writing lessons to children.
The post prompted hundreds of comments on the social media site.
Pictured: Sarah Hagger-Holt came to Guernsey shortly after the 2024 CI Pride celebrations.
Liberate were invited to respond to the comments and Ellie Jones, Tina Bury, and Joni Nettleship all agreed to share their views on the topic.
Express also invited one of the people who had concerns about the author's visit but they were unable to attend.
A statement provided by Amelia Carlson is below:
"Parents have voiced their concerns about an author advertised as being a LGBTQ+ children's fiction author visiting Guernsey schools. It's important to remember the meaning of the acronym LGBTQ and specifically the adult concepts it represents; sexual orientations, and further, Transexualism and Queerness which are elements of Gender Theory ideology.
"Gender Theory is facing more scrutiny than ever after the revelations of harm caused to thousands of children by often sterilizing use of hormone therapy and surgical intervention in order to treat them for a discrepancy between their purported "gender" and their biological body. Hormone therapy for "transgender" minors is a therapy explicitly endorsed by Liberate, which they are campaigning to make available in Guernsey according to statements on their website.
"We parents who are concerned about this wish for all children to be embraced as they are without being suggested repeatedly that they may have a specially labeled gender identity based on their personalities and preferences, nor creating the association of "gender" with a divisive special status.
"An otherwise totally innocuous fiction writing event can be a source of great concern when Gender Theory is entangled with it (as it was advertised in the Bailiwick Express headline). We will continue to push for Gender Theory to be removed from Guernsey schools so that children can have a neutral and fully inclusive academic environment where all are treated equally and respectfully, protecting ALL of the children's and parent's well-being and their lawful rights.
"Response to argument that the author did not teach gender theory:
"Why this author was selected to visit and advertised as LGBTQ. Importantly she is a winner of a "radical" children's fiction writing award (given to those who radically push boundaries with the themes and topics in their work), and the topic of the workshop included inclusivity and representation, which are Gender Theory keywords relating to gender identities and their need to be specially recognized. She was one of two separate authors both advertised for their LGBTQ status both serving our schools.
"Neutrality and refraining from hotly controversial positions is necessary in all of public schooling to be truly inclusive to people of ALL faiths, ALL ideologies, and ALL family backgrounds.
"Response to the argument that Gender Critical views are homophobic or transphobic:
"Many homosexuals do not subscribe to Gender Theory and conflating sexuality and sexual preferences with Gender Theory is an inaccuracy. No element of the Gender Critical position ascribes any negative attribute to any sexualities, preferences or personalities. We simply reject the concept of self identified "gender", and believe its application to children is harmful and confusing for them. We also do not support explicitly discussing sexualities and sexual behaviour with pre-pubescent children and consider it an intolerable safeguarding risk.
"Response to proposition that schools are responsible to make sure students learn about "gender identities" and "gender" inclusivity:
"Please reference the Parental Rights and Responsibilities law of Guernsey for evidence that parents are not just encouraged but required to oversee all aspects of their child's well being and upbringing. This includes those who believe in AND those who do not believe in Gender Theory."
Ellie Jones CEO of Liberate added an additional comment:
"Sadly I feel the need to correct Amelia Carlson’s statement that Liberate’s website ‘explicitly endorses’ hormone therapy for minors and the assertion that we are campaigning to make that available.
"Liberate’s website does no such thing with regard to either. It provides factual information only on what is or isn’t available for young trans people via the healthcare system."
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