By Jayne McCormack
Copyright bbc
The minister said all politicians needed to “watch our language and measure our tone”.
The detailed guidance from the Education Authority was first published in 2019, but a recent Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex appears to have led to a review.
The ruling has implications for the provision of single-sex spaces like changing rooms and toilets.
Givan has been criticised by other political parties for moving ahead while the Northern Ireland Equality Commission seeks a declaration from the High Court to address “uncertainties” over how to apply the UK Supreme Court ruling.
O’Dowd was asked during questions in the assembly if his department was also planning to uphold the ruling and apply it to its services.
The minister replied: “I will await the outcome of the Equality Commission’s review and then I think it’s best the executive discusses these matters before any individual moves forward.
“Always remember that within these discussions there are young people and children, who I’ve no doubt as a result of yesterday’s announcement, may and do feel isolated and hurt.”
