Charity rows back on tweet that toddlers can be trans

STONEWALL has been forced to issue a clarification over a tweet which said children as young as two could be transgender.

The LGBT charity faced criticism from Tory MPS on Saturday over the tweet, which suggested nurseries were not doing enough to help children “recognise their trans identity”.

It comes as ministers are preparing to block Sheldon Mills, the chairman of Stonewall, from becoming the head of the competition watchdog after a row over the regulator’s links to the charity.

Stonewall’s tweet said: “Research suggests that children as young as two 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!”

The tweet provoked a backlash from MPS and campaigners, who claimed

‘We were commenting on an article by a parent reflecting on how their child was being cared for at nursery’

children so young should not be forced to question their gender.

Last night, Stonewall published a statement saying: “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.”

A row has erupted in Whitehall as Mr Mills is the frontrunner to become chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, which until recently insisted on continuing its membership of Stonewall’s “diversity champions” programme despite political pressure to quit the scheme over its value for money.

A government source told The Daily Telegraph this weekend that ministers would refuse to sign off on the appointment of Mr Mills to the £195,000-a-year job.

The CMA, Mr Mills and Stonewall declined to comment in response to Telegraph’s report.