Normalizing is not Glorifying

Recently, a friend forwarded me an email. According to the signature, it had been written by the vice-chair of the Oakmont Republican Committee. I don’t know anything about the committee or that person. I don’t know the people who signed the email. I am both a mom and a therapist. What I do know is that the language is dangerous and harmful.

Here is the body of the email with the harmful or incorrect language in bold.

“Fellow Republicans,

Last week an assignment was given to our Riverview students at 10th St Elementary and Verner Elementary schools to read an article that glorified a young transgender and LGBTQ activist, and no traditional viewpoint of sexual orientation was provided.  This article is part of the Time for Kids “Current Events” curriculum that Riverview purchased.  Click the link, read the article, and soak in what is happening here: 

TIME for Kids | Meet an Activist

This is a curriculum issue.  This is not a teacher issue, we have awesome teachers in Riverview.  As such, I have had multiple emails and phone calls with Dr. English (Riverview superintendent) asking that Riverview take a NEUTRAL policy and position on sexual orientation, just like its neutral policy on other topics like religion.  Unfortunately, Dr. English was NOT willing to make changes to the curriculum, nor was he willing to direct teachers to adjust assignments to include a traditional viewpoint of sexual orientation when only a one-sided viewpoint is provided by Time for Kids.
The Riverview School Board reviews school curriculum and works with school leadership to establish school policies, so it is critical to have conservative candidates on the school board to implement neutral policies and purchase curriculum with balanced viewpoints.  Unfortunately, I am aware of only 1 school board member (9 total on school board) who would advocate for a Neutral policy for sexual orientation.
We desperately need 3 more Conservative Oakmont / Verona residents to run for Riverview School Board this year.  Please prayerfully consider if you are able to run for this position.  Also, please forward this email to any individual that you think may be a good candidate and encourage them to run.Remember, time is of the essence, candidates must file their petitions by March 9.
The Biden administration is currently pushing the “Equality Act” Legislation which will put even more pressure on sexual orientation curriculum in our schools.  We desperately need good conservative candidates on our school board NOW.
Thanks,
Lee Huffman, Vice-Chair
— 
The Oakmont Republican Committee
Veronica Steinkirchner, Chair
Lee Huffman, Vice-Chair
Bryan O’Malley, Treasurer

First of all, learning about someone is NOT the same as glorifying them. That language is intentionally trying to skew the reader’s opinion and strike fear. What the article linked does is it normalizes an issue (a child being transgender) that many see as a problem. I’ll get to that later.

Then the author uses the word “traditional.” They also like the word “neutral.” What do those words mean to you? As someone who grew up in Oakmont and has been surrounded by its traditions, those words are loaded. From my experience here, traditional generally means, cis-gender, heterosexual, white, middle or upper class. Traditional means privilege.

The author’s use of the word ‘neutral’ is interesting and manipulative. In fact, by teaching children that some kids are transgender, the district is being neutral. Gender is not an opinion. It is not up for debate. Just as teaching that some people are born with blue eyes when learning about genetics in biology, some kids are born in a body that does not match their gender identity. Riverview is being neutral because it is teaching actual science. If they refused to use the content in question, THAT would be something besides neutral.

There is also incorrect information implied in the email. The activist of note is a transgender 14 year old. Did you know that gender and sexuality are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT? The author of this email is extremely concerned about the district’s views of sexual orientation (gay, straight, bisexual, etc). The gender that you identify as is not the same as who you want to have sex with. If you need informaton on that, do some research. Or email me. I’ll catch you up.

Aside from an analysis of the language, there is a harmful meaning here. Ignoring the call for school board members (because hey, we always need dedicated and caring people to run), the over-all meaning is that a 14 year old transgender girl is not ‘traditional’ or ‘neutral.’

People, listen to me. As someone who has sat with both my own child and countless clients who struggle with depression, suicidality, self-harm, fear, isolation, and anxiety, transgender children need most to feel like they are just like every other kid. They need parents, teachers, staff and SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS to see them as kids who deserve to be taught and to be represented.

This email is a problem. There is a complete lack of understanding of gender identity. It uses language that is intentional to cause fear. It implies that children in our district who are transgender are something besides normal.

I am THRILLED that Dr. English has stood his ground. When my own child, August, came out as transgender while a junior at Riverview High School, the staff and administration were wonderful. Through my kid’s senior year, the teachers were careful to use the name and pronouns my kid requested. Since they graduated, I have had parents reach out to let me know, that my kid was a trailblazer for many other kids at Riverview who watched August come out and transition and so felt safe to come out too.

We need to make our schools a safe place for all kids, not just ‘traditional’ ones. We need to acknowledge, as I read recently, that 1 in 6 members of Gen Z are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. As I stated at the beginning, I don’t know the authors of this email. I would love to sit down with them and have a conversation, but in the meantime, I had to say something.

Guys, our queer kids are dying. They need to know they are allowed to exist in the same spaces as ‘traditional’ kids. They never need to doubt that.