Originally published September 25, 2023 8:00 pm PDT
An education advocacy group that supports parental rights released a comprehensive list of over 1,000 school districts that support children keeping their gender identity hidden from their parents.
QUICK FACTS:
- ‘Parents Defending Education,’ a group committed to involving parents in education, published a list this month that showed that there are over 1,000 school districts across the country that “openly state that district personnel can or should keep a student’s transgender status hidden from parents.”
- “We are still getting tips that are pouring in every day,” said the group’s president, Nicole Neily. “We actually released this number initially in March, and then we identified about 200 counties.”
- The number “keeps growing across the country,” she added.
- Neily said the main ideas being pushed are from state school board associations and LGBTQ activist groups.
- “These associations are not parents’ friends and we’re really trying to remind families of that as well,” she explained. “So these are policies that are being pushed by activist groups like GLSEN and the Trevor Project that are saying the families are inherently not safe.”
“PARENTS DEFENDING EDUCATION” PRESIDENT NICOLE NEILY ON PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS:
“It’s not a partisan issue,” NEILY stated. “Children do better when families are involved in their lives. You can supplement their education. You can ask questions. You know your child, but we’re being held at arm’s length. We’re being told [by certain teachers unions] ‘We’re with your kids eight hours a day, so we know them better than you do.'”
BACKGROUND:
- Earlier this month, the Orange County Unified School District board passed a transgender notification policy.
- According to the policy, a certified staff member or principal is required to tell parents if their child under 12 years of age is requesting to use different pronouns or requests to participate in activities differing from the student’s “assigned biological sex at birth.”
- Over the age of 12, staff members can decide if its appropriate or not to inform the student’s family.
- Board members voted around 11:30 p.m. after several interruptions and delays during the meeting.
- Board President Rick Ledesma and Trustees John Ortega, Angie Rumsey and Madison Miner were left to vote on the policy, and all were in agreement.
- “This is a vote for the safety of our kids,” said Miner. “Keeping parents aware of what is happening is the only way we can move forward towards safety in our district.”
- In addition to the clauses regarding sexual identity and expression, the policy states that if a child is showing signs of self-harm, suicidal thoughts and actions or has experienced any significant injury, families will immediately be notified by the school.
- Per the policy, the family will be notified by writing as soon as reasonably possible and will have five days to respond.
