Celebrities and advocates unite against government's transphobic school guidance

A coalition of celebrities, educators, parents, and young people are speaking out against the Department for Education's (DfE) recently updated Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education statutory guidance, with over 200 signatories, including prominent figures such as Stephen Fry, Daniel Lismore, Kate Nash, and Ant Lexa, backing an open letter demanding revisions.

The letter, addressed to the DfE, expresses deep concern that the updated guidance, slated for implementation in 2026, fails to adequately protect and reflect the lived realities of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those who are trans, non-binary, intersex, asexual, and gender non-conforming.

Signatories are calling for the government to prioritize the well-being of these students and ensure that the new RSHE policy is inclusive, evidence-based, and rooted in respect for all young people. The letter emphasizes the need for the guidance to actively affirm and include trans, non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals, remove exclusionary language that silences discussions of gender identity, and embed asexual and aromantic identities in discussions about sexual orientation.

"We stand together to insist that the RSHE 2026 guidance must be revised to centre the voices and experiences of all students, including those whose identities have too often been marginalised or erased," said Laila El-Metoui, Founder of Pride in Education.

The open letter also urges the government to engage meaningfully with the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans, non-binary, and intersex young people, in redrafting the guidance. Advocates fear that the current proposals risk further harm to the mental health, well-being, and safety of LGBTQ+ youth.

Members of the public are encouraged to read, sign, and share the letter to make their voices heard and stand in solidarity with all communities affected.