School to teach boys that they too can have periods in move ‘to be inclusive of all genders’ A council approved the measure in an apparent bid to tackle stigma around menstruation

Teachers in a primary school will give relationship education classes where boys will be told that they too can have periods, in a move to tackle stigma around menstruation described as “insanity”.

Bins used for ‘time of the month’ waste products will also be installed in male toilets on the premises so girls won’t feel “shame” when asking for the disposable items.

The measures approved by officials in Brighton & Hove City Council are broadly in line with calls for more discussion in schools around LGBT issues.

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But Transgender Trend, a group which campaigns against what it calls subjective ideas of gender rather than the biological reality of sex, warned that it is “already difficult” for young girls going through puberty without their bodily issues being dressed up “in politically correct terms”.

Transgender

Brighton & Hove City Council approved the measures in the school as part of wider moves to tackle stigma around menstruation, the Mail on Sunday reported.

“We believe that it’s important for all genders to be able to learn and talk about menstruation together… Our approach recognises the fact that some people who have periods are trans or non-binary.”

It added: “Trans boys and men and non-binary people may have periods”, and says “menstruation must be inclusive of ‘all genders’.”.

A representative for Transgender Trend criticised the council’s decision.

Stephanie Davies-Arai told the Mail on Sunday: “Girls going through puberty are already having a difficult time. What they should be given is clear language to be able to talk about their bodies and their female biological functions without couching it in politically correct terms.”

Tory MP David Davis also hit out at the move by council bosses in Brighton, calling it “insanity”.

Plea to help children

“Learning about periods is already a difficult subject for children that age,” he told the Mail on Sunday, “so to throw in the idea girls who believe they are boys also have periods will leave them completely confused.”

It came after the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH) earlier this year called on ministers to go further in their guidance to schools over sex education.

The Royal College said: “There needs to be a clear statement that LGBT people and relationships are part of teaching about healthy relationships in primary school.

“This can be demonstrated in relation to families – but also it is helpful to children to learn the meaning of terms such as lesbian, gay and bisexual”.