Young trans people occupy Department for Education for entire week in protest

A week-long occupation of the Department for Education's building by young transgender campaigners is coming to a close.

Those involved, all trans people under the age of 18, are calling for schools and education settings to be "safe and inclusive" for gender-questioning young people.

The group have been camped in the arched recesses of the central-London building since Friday 23 August and have had the support of stars including model and activist Munroe Bergdorf.

Led by the Trans Kids Deserve Better campaign, those involved say the non-statutory draft guidance issued to schools and colleges in England around gender questioning students has led to "confusion" and an "unsafe environment".

The guidance was issued in December 2023 under the previous Conservative government but has not yet been updated or withdrawn by the current Labour government since the consultation c

Campaigners camped at the government offices claimed their rights are being "constantly violated" and their "health and safety put in jeopardy".

One of the occupiers, a 15-year-old, said: “I have never felt safe as a trans person in school. I have been bullied in school for my gender to the point I feared I would be hunted and killed".

They described their schooling as a "a truly torturous experience".

In response to the action outside its building, the Department for Education told ITV News it will respond to Trans Kids Deserve Better's request for a meeting "as soon as possible" adding it is "committed to re- engaging with stakeholders".

A spokesperson added: “It's vitally important that teachers have clear guidance, which is why we are looking carefully at the consultation responses and considering the relevant evidence before setting out next steps to take the RSHE and gender questioning guidance forward.

“The Education Secretary has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of both the RSHE and the gender questioning guidance for schools.”

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The group have also taken aim at the health secretary's decision to extend an emergency ban, brought in by the previous government, on access to puberty blockers for gender-questioning youth.

Wes Streeting said at the time of that announcement: "The evidence should have been established before they were ever prescribed".

The initial ban was announced by NHS England in March, banning under-18s from being prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics. Fewer than 100 young people at the time were on puberty blockers.

The ban did not extend to under-18s who were prescribed puberty blockers for other health conditions, including those who begin puberty too early.

The emergency ban came off the back of the Cass Review into gender identity services for young people in the UK, which pointed to a lack of long-term evidence and data collection on what happens to children and young people who are prescribed the medication.

That review has since faced criticism from trans rights groups, medical professionals and academics who have voiced concerns about weaknesses in methodologies used.

At the end of July, the British Medical Association announced it was undertaking an evaluation of the review.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this report, help is available:

Switchboard is the national LGBTQIA+ support line. Their phone lines are open 10am-10pm every day on 0800 0119 100. There is a livechat function on their website or get in touch on email.

Crisis Support For Young People: Under 35s. Call Papyrus's Hopeline UK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends. 0800 068 41 41. Text 07786 209697 or visit the Papyrus website

Samaritans: Call on 116 123 or visit the website

CALM: The Campaign Against Living Miserably, for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason. Call 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight). Free, anonymous webchat with trained staff or visit the CALM website