Parents Nigel and Sally Rowe have removed their child from a Church of England school on the Isle of Wight because of another pupil’s request to be accepted as transgender.
The Christian couple say they believe there is a “political agenda” at play, so have decided to educate their six-year-old son alongside his eight-year-old brother at home.
“We feel that there’s a political agenda that’s driving and pushing this.
“Remember we’re talking children that are six years of age. A six-year-old is not really able to, does not have the mental capacity to work out those kind of things. It’s such a young age and we’re concerned about that.”
The couple have had to defend their views, as many people have reacted with outrage at their decision. They say they’re “worried about the effect that can have on the other children and how they have to deal with that.”
Speaking on The Victoria Derbyshire Show, the couple explained how their son had come home from school one day and said, “Daddy, I’m confused” because a boy in his class sometimes dresses like a boy and sometimes as a girl.
However LGBT rights campaigner Jane Fae challenged the parents as to how they know both their sons are boys.
Sally responded: “Because they have the genitals to show they were born as boys,” but they agreed gender is not just about genitals.
The issue has divided the public. Whilst many have responded with disbelief that the couple have taken such drastic measures, others support the decision.
