Former supporters of gay rights charity Stonewall are launching a new organisation which will only fight for the rights of gay, lesbian and bi-sexual people – but not transgender people.

LGB Alliance claims Europe’s biggest lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) rights group no longer represents LGB people.

The alliance, which will launch in January, says Stonewall’s trans policy is detrimental to the fight for LGB rights.

The group, who have around 9,000 followers on Twitter and 3,000 on Facebook, say they are “not anti-trans” and describes its mission as “asserting the right of lesbians, bisexuals and gay men to define themselves as same-sex attracted”. They say: “Gender is a social construct.”

Stonewall, founded in 1989, says it aims “to create inclusive and accepting cultures” and in 2015 trans rights were added to the charity’s causes. It works along with the government to carry out work with public bodies, including schools, the police and the NHS, on LGBT rights.

But Stonewall co-founder Simon Fanshawe and former fundraiser Kate Harris say the organisation’s trans policy contradicts LGB rights.

One of their criticisms is they believe the advice Stonewall gives to schools discriminates against same-sex attraction. LGB Alliance says children may be led into thinking they are a different gender to their sex rather than being gay, lesbian or bi.

From September 2020, schools will be expected to teach pupils about LGBT in a “sensitive” and “age appropriate” approach, according to government guidance.

This includes considering “that young people may be discovering or understanding their sexual orientation or gender identity. There should be an equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships”.

However, Mr Fanshawe fears children may be “forced” in one direction.

Mr Fanshawe told Sky News: “I have a friend who has a little girl who looks so like a boy. She behaves like a boy, but if you ask her, she’s a girl. But she’s been asked if she’s trans since she was six years old. The problem with that is not that some people aren’t trans, some people are.”

He continued: “But actually, we don’t want to force kids down one route, when actually we’ve spent – we’re very old – we spent all our lives trying to open up possibilities for us and now for the next generation so that they can explore their identity and be a limp-wristed man or a butch little girl because you may grow up a lesbian or a gay man, you may perhaps grow up trans.”

As a supporter of Stonewall, Ms Harris is credited with having raised tens of thousands of pounds for the charity but is now working to launch LGB Alliance.

She told Sky News: “It’s not a question of not including anybody. It’s a question for particularly lesbians, gays and bisexuals to stand up for protecting our own rights.

“Being gay, lesbian or bisexual is about sexual orientation. We want the world to change to recognise us as full members of society functioning in the same way as everybody else does.”

“Trans people have a very different approach. They want to change themselves,” she adds.

Stonewall rejects the idea that there should be any separation between trans and LGB rights.

Interim CEO Paul Twocock said: “There is no equality for lesbian, gay and bi people without equality for trans people. We are all united in our mission to achieving acceptance without exception for all LGBT people.”

On Saturday a small gathering of trans rights supporters gathered in London’s Soho Square to rally for unity.

Among the speakers is trans woman Jane Fae, who said: “The thing which we should be looking for, throughout the LGBT community, is solidarity.”

Ms Harris and Mr Fanshawe’s opinions are described as out-dated by Stonewall supporters.

Linda Riley, director of US-based LGBT campaign group GLAAD, says taking away trans rights from the LGBT movement will roll back the clock on a campaign that has fought hard to get to where it is today.

She said: “I think the LGB Alliance are totally on the wrong side of equality. You can call them dinosaurs of the LGBT community.”

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