Stonewall rows back tweet saying two-year-olds can recognise trans ID

Stonewall rows back on tweet which said children as young as two could be transgender

• LGBT+ charity issues statement explaining ‘unclear’ tweet which divided Twitter
• Tory MPs lambasted Stonewall after it said two-year-olds can know they’re trans 
• Public bodies have dropped their support for the charity over its trans advocacy
• Stonewall: ‘Young children should play, explore and learn about who they are’

Stephanie Davies-Arai said: ‘There needs to be an urgent inquiry into how an organisation with this extreme ideology has been allowed to influence schools’

LGBT+ charity Stonewall tonight clarified a tweet posted over the weekend in which it claimed children as young as two can recognise they’re transgender.

The pro-trans group shared a Metro article about a ‘non-conforming’ four-year-old whose nursery doesn’t respect their attitudes.

Stonewall wrote: ‘Research suggests that children as young as 2 recognise their trans identity. 

‘Yet, many nurseries and schools teach a binary understanding of pre-assigned gender. 

‘LGBTQ-inclusive and affirming education is crucial for the wellbeing of all young people!’

That divided Twitter, with campaigners claiming the tweet was evidence of Stonewall’s ‘extreme ideological belief’ that biological sex doesn’t matter. 

Stonewall wrote: ‘Research suggests children as young as 2 recognise their trans identity’ (file)

 Transgender Trend director Stephanie Davies-Arai said: ‘There needs to be an urgent inquiry into how an organisation with this extreme ideology has been allowed to influence schools.’

But Stonewall responded tonight with a statement clarifying the original tweet, The Telegraph reported.

They wrote: ‘We were commenting on an article written by a parent reflecting on how their child was being cared for at nursery. The parent was worried that their child was being pressured to fit in with stereotypes about boys and girls.

‘While we don’t actively work on nursery education, we believe that young children should be able to play, explore and learn about who they are, and the world around them, without having adults’ ideas imposed upon them.

‘We support existing provisions to ensure primary and secondary school pupils learn about LGBTQ+ identities in an age-appropriate and timely manner.’

The news came as Government departments and public institutions have pulled out of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme to promote workplace equality.

Stonewall chair Sheldon Mills is a frontrunner to lead the Competition and Markets Authority

Tory MPs and Cabinet ministers have expressed concerns over the group’s pro-trans agenda.

Its chairman, Sheldon Mills, is a frontrunner to become head of markets commission the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

But Mr Mills faces opposition among ministers, who must sign off on his appointment to the £195,000-a-year post.

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