The NSPCC caused some confusion over the reported appointment of the first LGBT ambassador for Childline. The day after the announcement on 6 June, they were denying Munroe Bergdorf had ever being given such a role. The NSPCC issued a further statement saying they dropped Bergdorf due to statements which had been made which were ‘in breach of their own risk assessments and ... are specific to safeguarding and equality’.
The model who physically transitioned to look female when Bergdorf was in their mid-20s, had expressed delight at being chosen to champion the charity which led more than 6,000 counselling sessions on gender issues in 2018.
Childline interviewed Bergdorf about bullying and insecurity which the model had experienced as a child. Bergdorf said that identifying as a female began during teenage years, after the time that at school ‘severe bullying’ began. Being the only black child in school, feelings of isolation set in. Bergdorf said there was a need to ‘hide my blackness’ and at one point ‘I didn’t have any friends, at all’. As an adult, during transition, the model was raped.
This heartbreaking story of isolation is the reason why Childline exists. But how can the answer to racism, rape, isolation, or bullying, be ‘change your gender’? Munroe Bergdorf is a fragile character who has found strength in taking on a new identity. As one reads the story, one can only be deeply moved to pray that the new identity that is really needed in Jesus will somehow be found and embraced by Bergdorf.
