Northern Ireland Education Authority Removes Transgender School Guidance After UK Supreme Court Ruling

The Education Authority (EA) in Northern Ireland has temporarily removed its 2019 guidance for schools on supporting transgender pupils from its website following a UK Supreme Court ruling that defines 'sex' by biological sex. The withdrawn guidance had recommended allowing transgender pupils to use toilets and changing rooms aligned with their gender identity and advised staff to respect chosen names and pronouns. Education Minister Paul Givan criticized the guidance as inconsistent with the law and issued a new policy stating that access to facilities and the use of pronouns should align with biological sex, emphasizing that education policy must be legally grounded and not ideologically driven. Givan also reiterated opposition to transgender girls participating in girls' sports or using girls' changing rooms, citing legal advice following the Supreme Court decision. Although the Equality Act applies to Great Britain but not Northern Ireland, the ruling has influenced local policy reviews, including an upcoming evaluation of gender identity services led by Dr. Hilary Cass. The EA has not confirmed whether the guidance will be reinstated or revised, and concerns remain among LGBTQ+ campaigners about the implications for transgender pupils' rights and inclusion.