Parents Accuse BBC Of Harming Kids Through Pro-Trans Bias In Children’s Programming

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

In a mounting controversy, 650 families have accused the BBC of saturating children’s programming with pro-transgender ideology, claiming it has led vulnerable young people toward social and irreversible medical transitions.

The allegations, detailed in a letter from the Bayswater Support Group (BSG) to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, highlight a “constant drip-feed” of biased content that parents say has caused lasting harm. This comes amid broader scrutiny of the BBC’s impartiality.

The BSG, representing parents of primary school-aged children and teenagers who identify as trans, argues that the BBC’s coverage over nearly a decade has promoted trans lifestyles without balance, objectivity, or adequate safeguarding.

🔵 Hundreds of parents have accused the BBC of harming their children through a “constant drip-feed” of pro-trans content

They are now calling on Ofcom to investigate the alleged bias. We break down the broadcaster’s latest controversy below 👇https://t.co/AbrjKJEH75 pic.twitter.com/UwEBDUDiN7

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 19, 2025

A spokesman for the group stated: “For the past decade, the constant stream of propaganda about gender and trans activism the BBC has transmitted has played a significant role in creating a dangerous culture for children.”

The spokesman continued, “Specifically, non-conforming children who have been led to believe simplistic identity labels and extreme medical interventions can resolve complex feelings of adolescent and neurodevelopmental distress. The end result of this is a generation of teens and young adults who have come to severe harm, frequently self-diagnosed and self-medicated, estranged from families.”

Parents claim the BBC ignored their warnings about narratives linking gender questioning to suicide and self-harm, and even smeared concerned families as the problem.

The letter to Ofcom, sent by solicitors Conrathe Gardner, asserts: “Regrettably [we] have faced consistent resistance from the BBC in their unwillingness to amend stories which promote a one-sided perspective on trans issues and incorporate a more critical perspective on promoting transition (social and biological) based on the lived experiences of parents. The BBC has consistently failed to engage with safeguarding concerns raised by Bayswater as to the risk of harm caused by prolific reporting on the alleged connection between gender questioning and suicide/self-harm.”

Specific examples cited include children’s shows and dramas that allegedly push activist perspectives. In the cartoon series Hey Duggee, aimed at five-year-olds, a character named Wren is referred to with “they/them” pronouns, suggesting non-binary identity—though the BBC has denied intent.

An episode of Doctors portrayed a mother recognizing her six-year-old as transgender because she played with mud and had a boy as a best friend, while depicting the skeptical father negatively.

In Casualty, a transgender medic preparing for a double mastectomy says: “I’m just happy that I’ll look like the person I feel on the inside.”

Other complaints involve a 2021 documentary Transitioning Teens for insufficiently covering regrets among those who detransition, and radio segments describing children as “small adults trapped in bodies.”

The group also points to news reports, such as a December 2020 piece on a High Court ruling restricting puberty blockers for under-16s, which they say was biased.

Despite complaints to senior figures like Jonathan Munro (now head of news), Richard Burgess, and Tim Davie, parents report dismissive responses. A parent who flagged a May 2021 article linking trans sports policies to suicidal thoughts received no reply, expressing concern that it “promoted suicide and made an unevidenced connection between this policy and suicidal ideation.”

Solicitor Paul Conrathe, who has previously influenced NHS policies on puberty blockers, argues that many BBC programs breach Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code on impartiality, accuracy, and child protection.

The BSG’s spokesman added: “The lack of action by the regulatory authorities has been in dereliction of their primary duty. Tragically, we can’t undo the damage this has done to our children, but hope this complaint will cause Ofcom to address the years of failure to regulate the grossly irresponsible and politically motivated coverage of the BBC.” 

Ofcom has confirmed receipt of the letter and is considering it.

In response, a BBC spokesman defended their approach: “BBC News has taken a number of actions relating to our reporting of sex and gender including updating the news style guide and sharing new guidance, making our social affairs editor responsible for this coverage, and where there have been concerns about particular stories, we have addressed them. We continually review our coverage to reflect developments such as the recent Supreme Court ruling.” 

They noted changes following complaints and emphasized representing a range of views, with Burgess recently stating: “Have we got everything right on it? No, I don’t think any of us would say that, but I am also pleased with the progress we have made in terms of covering that story.”

This scandal echoes earlier criticisms, including from gender-critical campaigners like Transgender Trend, who accuse the BBC of uncritically presenting trans activism in flagship shows like Waterloo Road. It also aligns with a whistleblower’s internal memo, exposed by The Telegraph, alleging widespread bias at the corporation.

🔴 The Telegraph publishes the dossier that has plunged BBC into crisis

Read it below ⬇️https://t.co/zDj2bg9N18 pic.twitter.com/d7BD5InLnG

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 6, 2025

The BBC is also currently under fire for distorting Trump’s speech on the January 6 Capitol attack, with reports of misleading edits in a Panorama documentary leading to threats of a $1 billion lawsuit from Trump and resignations among BBC leaders.

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