Understand the LGBTQIA+ news: New school guidance is floor - not ceiling - on support that teachers can give Trans+ children

What a difficult week. A lot of us have, quite rightly, been filled with worry, concern and anxiety about what another court ruling means for Trans+ rights in the UK.

And in classic fashion, right-wing media tried to obscure and further muddy the water on the result - in an attempt to smother the small wins that were contained within. Those wins may feel small in the big picture, but ultimately, they allow the fight to continue. To start with, QueerAF understands that plans for appealing that judgment are already well underway.

But something else curious happened last week that, frankly, was an oddity.

The Equalities Minister, who got a copy of the judgement ahead of its release, is also the Education Minister. And the night before the judgment, the Department of Education released guidance that could only be justified by last week's ruling.

It’s curious timing for a number of reasons. Firstly, it gave a pretty clear indication of how the judgment would rule before it actually came out. That’s usually a big no-no for government. Being released the night before also meant the LGBTQIA+ sector - and outlets like us - faced a choice: Which of two vastly significant stories to focus on?

Well, if the government thought they could hamper our coverage – they can think again.

We've spent the week working with Sasha Baker, who has produced an explainer on the new schools guidance, with insights from 19 Trans+ young people on what it will mean. And though the guidance got mixed responses initially, with some time to digest the details, it’s becoming clear how punishing it could be.

I'm sharing this insight into our editorial thinking this week, because we're in the third of four weeks of our annual crowdfunder, which is all about improving access to journalism - and helping you understand the LGBTQIA+ news.

And I have some great news. We're 56% towards our goal, which is an incredible achievement in itself. But with only one week to go - we need your help to get over the line.

That’s why I'm pleased to announce that every donation from here until the end of the campaign will be matchfunded! Yes, that means for every £1 you give us, we get double.

So donate £10? We get £20. Support with £50? It's doubled to £100. Give generously with £250? That's £500 for us.

The support has come from one of our long-term supporters Christian Schulz-Quach, MD, MSc, MA, MRCPsych, MDPAC(C). He is joining me in encouraging you to donate because of Simone de Beauvoir’s reminder that “a freedom which is interested only in denying freedom must be denied.”

"In 2026 more than ever, we need to stand with each other, seek out spaces of positive belonging, and remain vigilant in championing high‑quality queer journalism like QueerAF."

Please support us now 👇

Help us expose the anti-trans machine, uncover Trans+ healthcare inequalities, work with a dedicated Trans+ journalist and produce a queer joy digest so you can see where we're winning and, crucially, how - support QueerAF's annual crowdfunder now.

Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. The QueerAF newsletter is written by Jamie Wareham and a different queer creative each week.

💬 This week:

• Schools' guidance: New draft schools guidance sets out what schools must and should do when it comes to Trans+ kids - but how much will teachers feel able to go above and beyond? Sasha Baker explores.
• Women's Institute: Following the ban on trans women by the Women's Institute amid legal threats, at least 12 branches have said they've been left with no choice but to close. We look at why.
• We can't be erased: Thirty years on from a pivotal documentary about Trans masc communities in Tokyo, we look back and explore the legacy of the Shinjuku Boys. Another look at our ultimate toolkit to shut down lies about Trans+ people with Trans+ History Week.

Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.

What Trans+ kids say about Schools' guidance that could force schools to segregate them

TL;DR: Draft safeguarding guidance for schools threatens to make it compulsory for schools to segregate Trans+ children in toilets and changing rooms, and recommends creating barriers to social transition at school. Trans+ young people already face an epidemic of bullying and frequent discriminatory policies in school. If this guidance becomes law, it will only compound that harm.