IoW Christian parents defend taking son out of school

A Christian couple taking legal action against their six-year-old son’s Church of England primary school because his male classmate was allowed to wear a dress have been branded ‘transphobic’ by This Morning viewers.

Nigel, 44, and Sally Rowe, 42, from the Isle of Wight, who came under fire when they announced they had removed their son from the school, appeared on the show today to defend their decision. 

But This Morning host Phillip Schofield took the pair to task on screen, and suggested it was the couple who had a ‘problem’ with children who identify as transgender, while insisting that other youngsters had a remarkable ability to adapt to changes.

Many viewers of the show tweet their outrage over the couple’s views, after they insisted it was ‘wrong’ for six-year-olds to be confronted with the complex issue of transgenderism – with Mr Rowe stating: ‘A child that young can’t make an informed decision.’

Nigel, 44, and Sally Rowe, 42, from the Isle of Wight, came under fire when they announced they had removed their son from the school because a fellow male pupil wore a dress

Phillip Schofield (left) took the pair to task, suggesting it was the couple who had a 'problem' and said children were adaptable

Phillip Schofield (left) took the pair to task, suggesting it was the couple who had a ‘problem’ and said children were adaptable

Viewers watching the segment were angry at the couple's attitudes and branded them 'transphobic' and 'bullying'

Viewers watching the segment were angry at the couple’s attitudes and branded them ‘transphobic’ and ‘bullying’

The Rowes previously withdrew their son’s eight-year-old older brother from the school over a similar incident.  

‘My blood is boiling! How dare they sit there with their prejudice opinion about how children should think & feel?!’ fumed one viewer.

‘These people are so transphobic… Terrible attitude toward transgender,’ said another. 

‘Kids aren’t born hating other people, it’s taught by the parents,’ a third wrote.

Parents come under fire

Presenters Phillip and Holly Willoughby, meanwhile, were praised by viewers for their ‘open-minded’ and ‘understanding’ attitude towards transgender children.

They both pointed out they had had several guests on the show in the past who have bravely opened up about overcoming their own struggle with their identities.

Phillip said: ‘Children can adapt remarkably well. If things are explained to them then they understand very clearly.

‘It’s not an issue with the children, it’s an issue with you. You are the ones with the problem,’ he told the pair, after they complained it was confusing for children to understand a change in pronoun.

But Mr and Mrs Rowe, who took action after their six-year-old son came home ‘confused as to why a boy was now a girl’, and now home school both their children, claimed that it was wrong for children to be allowed to identify as a gender of their choice because it was too early for them to understand.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were praised for their 'open-minded' discussion while talking about transgender children

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were praised for their ‘open-minded’ discussion while talking about transgender children

The Christian couple took action after their six-year-old son came home 'confused as to why a boy was now a girl' and now home school both their children

The Christian couple took action after their six-year-old son came home ‘confused as to why a boy was now a girl’ and now home school both their children

Some viewers agreed with the pair, claiming that it was their right to 'protect' their child and take action

Some viewers agreed with the pair, claiming that it was their right to ‘protect’ their child and take action

‘Children are too young to understand’ 

Mr Rowe said: ‘A child that young can’t make an informed decision. The statistic is that 98% of people who felt like that when they were younger, turn out not to be like that at all. I feel like it could be damaging.

‘It’s a very social complex issue. For such young children, we feel it isn’t right. The reason we wanted to make a stand is that we believe a lot of parents throughout the UK would agree. We have got to think about the whole picture.’

Mrs Rowe explained that she had ‘love and compassion’ for any family with children coping with gender dysphoria, but repeatedly quoted a statistic from an unknown study claiming that after youngsters go through puberty ’98 per cent’ of them often ‘change their mind and they’re sorted’.

Some viewers were in agreement with the parents, claiming that they were just ‘protecting’ their child and that it was every bit of ‘their business’ to take action.

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were not impressed with the couple's views and suggested they had a 'problem'

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were not impressed with the couple’s views and suggested they had a ‘problem’

Legal action 

Lawyers for the couple will argue in a tribunal that the school is discriminating against them by implying that their Christian faith makes them transphobic. 

They will also suggest the school is wrong to rely on Labour’s Equality Act because legal recognition of gender reassignment only applies to people over the age of 18. 

Mr and Mrs Rowe believe that it is wrong for children as young as six to be confronted with the complex issue of transgenderism

Mr and Mrs Rowe believe that it is wrong for children as young as six to be confronted with the complex issue of transgenderism

The school has said it is following Church of England guidance and rules laid out in the Equality Act, which encourages respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. 

Teachers are briefed on how to tackle transphobic behaviour, which includes ‘gender inappropriate pronouns,’ an inability to accept a transgender person is a ‘real’ male or female and a refusal to use a transgender person’s adopted name. 

‘Hostile interrogation’ 

The couple previously appeared on the BBC on the Victoria Derbyshire show to defend their position.

One viewer told MailOnline they felt the Rowes were ‘interrogated’ by the host in a ‘hostile’ interview, and questioned the presenter for ‘giving the distinct impression that she disapproved of their actions’.   

‘This was in the presence of a transgender LGBT activist guest in the studio. When the host completed the “interview” instead of questioning the studio guest in the same manner, she allowed the studio guest to interrogate the couple.’

The viewer, who remained anonymous, was upset that the couple were ‘excluded’ from the concluding part of the segment further claiming that the studio guest had ‘attacked them’. 

But others were in agreement with Victoria, praising her for supporting non-gender conforming children.

‘That is what is happening, letting children be children and expressing themselves how they want, glad you support gender non-conforming kids,’ said one.

Another added: ‘They’re missing an opportunity here to teach their children the most importance lessons: to be tolerant, kind, compassionate, open-minded.’ 

This Morning airs weekdays, on ITV at 10.30am 

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