Ok, this might stir up some triggered leftists, but it does need to be said.
I have seen tons of videos of trans folks griping about many things. I will do my best to keep each section on topic.
1. Gender Neutral / Affirming Bathrooms - Now, it doesn't matter to me what a person identifies as, what does matter is if a PARENT does not wish their child exposed to a biological male - with parts still intact - using the female restrooms. Just like trans people have rights, others have rights as well. So, using a simple example - I sent my children to a private Christian School and would not have wanted them exposed to such things in grade school, even though we had discussions about trans issues. One of my daughters was quite the tomboy, but NOT trans. Today, if she had behaved that way in a public school she would have been convinced that she was trans and made to follow trans protocol to gender transition! So, I believe the discussion on trans issues with grade school children belongs in the HOME not the classroom! To have young children exposed to such things screws up their ability to create a healthy self awareness and self worth. Jazz Jennings and many other trans gender youths, who began their transition at such a young age, are perfect examples of this.
I get that a trans male, who desires the female identity, feels it is necessary to use female restrooms to help with their own self identity, but they have zero respect for the fact that a 4 year old girl MIGHT be peeking under a stall and see them. Yes, kids do that shit! Kids also crawl under the stalls in public restrooms. So, while I do stand up for trans rights, I also stand up for children's rights. It is NOT healthy for young children to be forced to be exposed to such things. It is that simple.
Want to be trans, fine with me, but be respectful as well. Not everyone shares your same beliefs and this IS America and we do have the right to our own beliefs. This is where all the friction is happening right now. Whose rights trumps whose? Is there a happy medium where everyone's rights can be fully addressed?
2. Transgender Education - I am of the belief that this should NEVER be introduced to grade school children, EVER! Early education on this matter should begin at home, and NEVER be forced on a child who is still trying to form a sense of self. When transgender ideology is forced on young children, their sense of self is destroyed before it even begins and we end up with children like Jazz, who openly admit that they "never feel like themselves". I do think transgender education has a place, but NOT in grade school and in no way should ANY teacher be permitted to violate a dress code. When a teacher is forcing young children to view them in inappropriate clothing or forcing them to use pronouns that do NOT fit with the visual image it confuses children! Grade school children are barely grasping language arts and transgender ideology only confuses them.
Transgender teachers are all over social media platforms griping and whining about parents pulling kids from their classes. Let's look at a few of the reasons why.
1. Dress code violations committed by the teachers - If you look at ANY school dress code then compare it to the videos being made, it is crystal clear the teacher has zero respect for the printed school dress code. That teaches children they do not have to respect rules. Teachers are supposed to be an example and if they are setting a BAD example then they do not need the job!
2. Forcing pronouns - So many teachers are on social media whining about pronouns and students / parents refusal to use their chosen pronouns. Let's look at this logically. Does the actual definition of the pronoun apply to the given situation? Not likely. For example, using They / Them pronouns. Those particular pronouns indicate multiple people, not one. It is confusing to a child of grade school age to try to apply pronouns in contrast to their defined meaning. It if it one person then appropriate pronouns should be applied. He / him, she / her and so on. Using They / Them could indicate a mental illness such as schizophrenia - to define all the multiple personalities. If a teacher has these disorders they do not belong in a classroom full of grade school kids! Also, making up words that do not exists is also confusing to such young children! We are supposed to guide children to be able to function in this world, not make their path harder! Just like a trans person desires for others to respect the pronouns, the other person has a right to not be forced to use them. Once again, we face the dilemma of whose rights trump whose? But, a simple answer to this is the trans person seeking self validation from such pronouns is seeking external validation when what they really need is internal validation!
3. Transgender children's shows - On this topic I am speaking only of cartoons and children's shows on broadcast TV. This has zero place being forced on children grade school age! Children must never be forced to be subjected to ANY material that will confuse them on their sense of self before it even forms properly! Creating cartoons that target preschool kids with transgender ideology is violating the children on so many levels!
4. Gender affirming care - I have split views on this one so I will address them separately.
A) I do believe some children ARE transgender and should receive therapeutic care until the age of 18, when they are capable of making permanent life altering choices. I believe that we should respect their path while undergoing such care and allow them to travel the path with every option open to them. I believe that we should stop the bullying, stop pushing medical procedures and stop PUSHING them into things that may not be right for them in the long run. I do believe we should support them along this journey and when the time is right, also support whatever decision they make!
B) Puberty blocking hormones, dialators and other surgical procedures should NEVER be performed or forced on a child who is not capable of making such a life altering decision. Not one child is capable of making the decision to have their reproductive organs removed before they even know if they want children of their own or not! Most children have not even made this decision in their 20's, let alone before the age of 5 when many parents are making these decisions for them! It is NOTour place as parents to force our child into the opposite gender because it makes us feel better. It is our place to guide them on THEIR path, not to choose for them to permanently alter their bodies in ways that can never be repaired!
Not popular beliefs, I know, but they are MY beliefs and it does not make me transphobic!
5. Drag Queen Story Hours and shows for under age children - This one I also have 2 views on...
A) Because I know several drag queens and my lifestyle is quite open, I would trust them to dress up in front of my kids. I trust them because I know them and I also know they are NOT trying to groom the children into anything. I trust them because they are my friends. But, I would not permit a stranger to do this. My friends also know there is a line that you do not cross when in costume in front of children. The clothing must be discreet, not sexually explicit and there must be ZERO sexual insinuations. Doing drag can be fun, educational and therapeutic for children of the right age, but it must never be presented to them in a sexual manner!
B) Some of the drag queen shows for kids I have seen online are disgusting! The parents have no rights to subject their children to a grown man doing sex shows in front of children! Nor should the child be encouraged to stuff cash into the g-strings of the drag queen that is basically sexually assaulting every child who is in attendance! It is NOT ok for a grown man to dress so scantily in front of such young children, showing their parts quite clearly and shaking those for the children!
6. Gender Dysphoria - All of the above can cause a child to develop this condition. It is real. IT can be inherited or developed. Our job is to make sure a child with this mental health issue gets supportive care, not be pushed into permanent life altering body mutilation.
"Gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.
This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead
to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life."
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria
What is Gender Dysphoria?
The term “transgender” refers to a person
whose sex assigned at birth (i.e. the sex assigned at birth, usually
based on external genitalia) does not align their gender identity (i.e.,
one’s psychological sense of their gender). Some people who are
transgender will experience “gender dysphoria,” which
refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence
between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity. Though
gender dysphoria often begins in childhood, some people may not
experience it until after puberty or much later.
People who are transgender may pursue multiple domains of gender
affirmation, including social affirmation (e.g., changing one’s name and
pronouns), legal affirmation (e.g., changing gender markers on one’s
government-issued documents), medical affirmation (e.g., pubertal
suppression or gender-affirming hormones), and/or surgical affirmation
(e.g., vaginoplasty, facial feminization surgery, breast augmentation,
masculine chest reconstruction, etc.). Of note, not all people who are
transgender will desire all domains of gender affirmation, as these are
highly personal and individual decisions.
It is important to note that gender identity is different from gender
expression. Whereas gender identity refers to one’s psychological sense
of their gender, gender expression refers to the way in which one
presents to the world in a gendered way. For example, in much of the
U.S., wearing a dress is considered a “feminine” gender expression, and
wearing a tuxedo is considered a “masculine” gender expression. Such
expectations are culturally defined and vary across time and culture.
One’s gender expression does not necessarily align with their gender
identity. Diverse gender expressions, much like diverse gender
identities, are not indications of a mental disorder.
Gender identity is also different from sexual orientation. Sexual
orientation refers to the types of people towards which one is sexually
attracted. As with people who are cisgender (people whose sex assigned at birth aligns with their gender identity), people who are transgender have a diverse range of sexual orientations.
Diagnosis
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)1
provides for one overarching diagnosis of gender dysphoria with
separate specific criteria for children and for adolescents and adults.
The DSM-5-TR defines gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults as a
marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and their
assigned gender, lasting at least 6 months, as manifested by at least
two of the following:
- A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender
and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or in young
adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics)
- A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex
characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s
experienced/expressed gender (or in young adolescents, a desire to
prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex
characteristics)
- A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender
- A strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
- A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
- A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions
of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s
assigned gender)
In order to meet criteria for the diagnosis, the condition must also
be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The DSM-5-TR defines gender dysphoria in children as a marked
incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned
gender, lasting at least 6 months, as manifested by at least six of the
following (one of which must be the first criterion):
- A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one
is the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s
assigned gender)
- In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for cross-dressing
or simulating female attire; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong
preference for wearing only typical masculine clothing and a strong
resistance to the wearing of typical feminine clothing
- A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
- A strong preference for the toys, games or activities stereotypically used or engaged in by the other gender
- A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
- In boys (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically
masculine toys, games, and activities and a strong avoidance of
rough-and-tumble play; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong rejection
of typically feminine toys, games, and activities
- A strong dislike of one’s sexual anatomy
- A strong desire for the physical sex characteristics that match one’s experienced gender
As with the diagnostic criteria for adolescents and adults, the
condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress
or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of
functioning.
Treatment
Support for people with gender dysphoria may include open-ended
exploration of their feelings and experiences of gender identity and
expression, without the therapist having any pre-defined gender identity
or expression outcome defined as preferable to another.2
Psychological attempts to force a transgender person to be cisgender
(sometimes referred to as gender identity conversion efforts or
so-called “gender identity conversion therapy”) are considered unethical
and have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes.2,3
Support may also include affirmation in various domains. Social
affirmation may include an individual adopting pronouns, names, and
various aspects of gender expression that match their gender identity.4,5 Legal affirmation may involve changing name and gender markers on various forms of government identification.6
Medical affirmation may include pubertal suppression for adolescents
with gender dysphoria and gender-affirming hormones like estrogen and
testosterone for older adolescents and adults.7, 8,9,10,11,12 Medical affirmation is not recommended for prepubertal children.7, 8 Some adults (and less often adolescents) may undergo various aspects of surgical affirmation.7,8,13
Family and societal rejection of gender identity are some of the
strongest predictors of mental health difficulties among people who are
transgender.14 Family and couples’ therapy
can be important for creating a supportive environment that will allow a
person’s mental health to thrive. Parents of children and adolescents
who are transgender may benefit from support groups. Peer support groups
for transgender people themselves are often helpful for validating and
sharing experiences.
Challenges/Complications
Transgender people suffer from high levels of stigmatization,
discrimination and victimization, contributing to negative self-image
and increased rates of other mental health disorders.15 Transgender
individuals are at higher risk of victimization and hate crimes than
the general public. Suicide rates among transgender people are markedly
higher than the general population.16
Transgender children and adolescents are often victims of bullying
and discrimination at school, which can contribute to serious adverse
mental health outcomes.17 Interventions are often needed to create safe and affirming school environments.
Transgender individuals may also face challenges in accessing
appropriate health care and insurance coverage of related services.
Terminology
Important terms related to Gender Dysphoria:18
- Cisgender: Describes a person whose gender identity aligns in a traditional sense with the sex assigned to them at birth.
- Gender diverse: An umbrella term describing
individuals with gender identities and/or expressions and includes
people who identify as multiple genders or with no gender at all.
- Gender dysphoria: A concept designated in the DSM-5-TR
as clinically significant distress or impairment related to gender
incongruence, which may include desire to change primary and/or
secondary sex characteristics. Not all transgender or gender diverse
people experience gender dysphoria.
- Gender expression: The outward manifestation of a
person’s gender, which may or may not reflect their inner gender
identity based on traditional expectations. Gender expression
incorporates how a person carries themselves, their dress, accessories,
grooming, voice/speech patterns and conversational mannerisms, and
physical characteristics.
- Gender identity: A person’s inner sense of being a
girl/woman, boy/man, some combination of both, or something else,
including having no gender at all. This may or may not correspond to
one's sex assigned at birth.
- Nonbinary: A term used by some individuals whose gender identity is neither girl/woman nor boy/man.
- Sex/gender assigned at birth: Traditional
designation of a person as “female,” “male,” or “intersex” based on
anatomy (e.g., external genitalia and/ or internal reproductive organs)
and/or other biological factors (e.g., sex chromosomes). “Sex” and
“gender” are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct entities.
It is best to distinguish between sex, gender identity, and gender
expression and to avoid making assumptions about a person regarding one
of these characteristics based on knowledge of the others. This is
sometimes abbreviated as AFAB (assigned female at birth) or AMAB
(assigned male at birth).
- Sexual orientation: Describes the types of individuals toward whom a person has emotional, physical, and/or romantic attraction.
- Transgender: An umbrella term describing
individuals whose gender identity does not align in a traditional sense
with the gender they were assigned at birth. It may also be used to
refer to a person whose gender identity is binary and not traditionally
associated with that assigned at birth.
Gender confusion is hard enough on a child without external pressures being put on them from public institutions! It is our ob to raise healthy children - whatever they choose to be! It is our job to support these children on this difficult path of life and make sure they do not self mutilate before they fully understood what that even means!!!
The suicide rate among transgender children is exponentially higher than that of the average child of the same age. Why? Because external pressures are driving them to it!
All adults pressure all children, but in different ways. We want to make sure they grow up with the ability to function in the world and not be victimized by anything. But, all these external pressures at such a young age is creating generations of victimized children who will be emotionally and psychologically damaged for the rest of their lives.
So, how do we move forward with supporting children who have this WITHOUT damaging other children? How can we, as a society, be responsible enough to fulfill the needs without creating more problems?
(more on this in a future article..... I need food!)
