Press Release

Petition launched to keep trans lobby group Mermaids out of primary schools

A petition has been launched calling for the Secretary of State for Education to urgently hold an inquiry into the activities of controversial trans lobby group, Mermaids, in schools across the UK.

The petition, which can be accessed here on CitizenGo, comes after Rev. John Parker, a governor at a Church of England primary school, resigned after Mermaids was brought into the school to train staff and governors. Mermaids was invited in after a child in the school was allowed to transition from a boy to a girl without other parents in the school being told until it was too late to raise any concerns. Furthermore, the school failed to put in place proper procedures, such as whether the child in question would be allowed to use the girls’ toilets or share changing rooms and accommodation with female pupils during trips away.

A recording of the training session at the school by Mr Parker has revealed that Mermaids are spreading misinformation and that their teaching has no founding in science, law or theology.

You can listen to the recording and read the full transcript which exposes how Mermaids use bullying tactics to silence intelligent, reasonable questioning of their ideological position by governors and others (including parents).

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “This is not an isolated case and we are going to see more and more like it if nothing is done. Just look at what action the Scouts have had to take this week in response to this damaging and dangerous ideology. Parents have a right to know if and when this ideological movement is in their schools and being taught as fact. 

“I believe that a real threat is posed to schools from organisations such as Mermaids. They implement a new ideological tyranny – and any disagreement is at best silenced and at worst, punished. The number of children confused about their sex and gender and seeking treatment is escalating and it is our children that are suffering and are bewildered. In imposing this ideology, we are not being kind to our children but cruel. It is time for this to stop.”

The story highlights a national escalation of cases, noticeably since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, where statistics released by the NHS have revealed that the number of children referred for hormone treatment to the Tavistock Centre has gone up from 97 cases in 2009 to 2,519 in 2018 – a 2,500% increase in just nine years.

Notes for editors

CitizenGo petition

Click here for the petition calling for the Secretary of State for Education to urgently hold an inquiry into the activities of controversial trans lobby group, Mermaids

Transcript and recording

You can listen to the recording and read the full transcript.