Sarah Holmes is an Irish anti-transgender activist. Holmes is a volunteer with anti-trans group Genspect and has presented at their conferences.
Background
Sarah Holmes is from Wicklow and has three children.
Anti-transgender activism
In 2022, Ireland’s National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)Â proposed a curriculum that aimed to help students “appreciate that sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are core parts of human identity and that each is experienced along a spectrum.” Via The Times:
Sarah Holmes, a mother of three from Wicklow who made a submission objecting to the proposed change during the NCCAâs public consultation, is pleased that the learning outcome has been removed.
She said teaching that gender identity and gender expression were experienced on a spectrum was a ânewâ and âradicalâ concept to introduce to junior cycle students.
The proposed learning outcome risked causing âwidespread confusionâ among pupils, she said, adding: âThis ideology appears to have been taken on in schools without any debate and without parental knowledge.â
In 2023 Holmes appeared on a Genspect panel about how the Irish education system teaches about gender. Participants were Laoise UĂ Aodha de BrĂșn, Stella O’Malley, Iseult White, Estelle Birdy, and Colette Colfer.
References
OâDonoghue, Patrick (February 26 2023). Spectrum idea is dropped from Irelandâs gender learning plan for schools. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/spectrum-idea-is-dropped-from-irelands-gender-learning-plan-for-schools-zcdmwhcf3
O’Sullivan, Jerry (March 10, 2023). Should Gender Identity Be Discussed in Schools? Kerry Today https://www.radiokerry.ie/podcasts/kerry-today/should-gender-identity-be-discussed-in-schools-march-10th-2023-321386
Media
Genspect (un 16, 2023). The Bigger Picture Conference: Gender Ideology in Irish Education Moderated by Stella O’Malley. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNPsZf0fvs8