"These kids are so much happier now they have been supported to live in the gender they identify with."
Susie Green, chairman of Mermaids
The pupil’s parents want teachers at the state-run school to refer to their child as “he” and to use a male name. Mrs Green, who is backing the request of the eight-year-old’s parents, said: “We are working with [the school], we are trying to resolve that but they are very reluctant.”
She said such stand-offs are now “very common” and added that a legal challenge over the issue could not be ruled out in the near future.
Mrs Green – whose adult daughter, Jackie, was born a boy and first spoke about being the wrong gender at the age of four – said eight years old is now “not particularly early” to begin the process of changing gender.
“We have got four-year-olds, five-year-olds, six-year-olds who are transitioning as parents know more about it and are more aware if they have a child who is struggling and suffering,” she said.
“You wouldn’t necessarily do anything unless it is causing distress [but] these kids are so much happier now they have been supported to live in the gender they identify with.”
She indicated that the charity is now dealing with around 80 cases per year involving children of primary school age.
“In terms of families joining our parents’ group, this year alone we’ve had over 200 families,” said Mrs Green.
“The majority of those – about 60 per cent – are teenagers, but the rest are families of young children. It is a lot more than people realise.”