British school alters uniform code for transgender pupils

An independent school in Brighton, south England, broke its 170 years traditional uniform rules to accommodate transgender pupils, local media reported Wednesday.

According to a new rule being introduced to the top independent school, Brighton College, dysphoric or transgender pupils will be able to choose a "trouser uniform" or a "skirt uniform".

The school said at least one person with gender dysphoria had taken up the option, while a small number of families had also made inquiries for their gender dysphoric children.

The school said the move was "reacting to a changing society which recognises that some children have gender dysphoria and do not wish to lose their emotional gender identities at school."

"It ties in with my strong personal belief that youngsters should be respected for who they are. If some boys and girls are happier identifying with a different gender from that in which they were born, then my job is to make sure that we accommodate that," said Richard Cairns, headteacher of Brighton College.

"The college's approach is different from most other schools that have tended to give transgender children personal leeway with uniform. Brighton College has instead decided to abolish the notion of boys' and girl' schools altogether," he added.

Gender dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity, different from transvestism or cross-dressing.

Statistics from a Pace, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender mental health charity, showed that 48 percent of young people with gender issues had attempted suicide, while 58 percent had self-harmed. Endit