My name is Heidi Mavir and my son is trans. We all want our kids - whoever they are - to have the freedom to be themselves. 

This week, the Conservative Government announced new guidelines on trans children which subject every child to surveillance based on the clothes they wear, their haircuts and how they want to be referred to. The guidelines also ban children who use different pronouns from participating in competitive sport, and require teachers to tell parents of any changes to their kids’ uniform or clothing choices. 

I am deeply concerned about what this means for all our children’s rights to express themselves, be treated with respect, feel safe in school and pursue their dreams. 

We all know what it is like to be a young person, awkwardly navigating our place in the world. More attention and judgment on our children’s appearances is the last thing they need. What's more, excluding  young people from leisure activities in school, because their gender expression doesn't "fit" with Conservative Government ideas, is discrimination in its purest form. We all want to make sure our young people are able to live safe, healthy, happy lives.  

This guidance requires teachers to report on children who “question” their gender by flagging something as simple as the choice to wear trousers or a skirt. Girls across the UK have campaigned in their schools to be able to wear trousers.  Whether your child has ever been a “tomboy”, a boy who wears dresses or if they are trans, this guidance should concern us all.  

For children and young people who are different, the world can be incredibly unkind. For young people who don’t fit in or who are trans, these experiences are especially common. Guidance which justifies teachers and other students mistreating anyone who chooses to dress differently, use different pronouns or go by a different name will have horrific consequences. The murder of Brianna Ghey made this crystal clear - our children need support and empathy, not suspicion and hatred. 

I love my son unconditionally - but for a lot of trans children, this sadly isn’t the case. For such children, school might be the only place they feel safe. We must protect our children’s right to their own self expression and their privacy - by resisting guidelines which would demand that teachers report to parents, who unfortunately may harm their children. All I want for my son, his peers, and all young people is to feel safe, supported and seen for who they are. 

My son is a loving, intelligent, marvellous human who deserves to be protected by those in power, not used as a pawn in a political debate. This Conservative Government are using trans children to create division and force all our children into boxes.

Please join me in taking a stand against this hateful, ill-considered guidance, and defend our children’s right to dignity and respect, whoever they are and whatever they look like.