When Students Change Gender Identity, and Parents Don’t Know

[Ferguson97]

Outing someone as gay or trans to their parents is one of the most vile things that you can do, and it's reprehensible that so many on Atlas want to force schools and teachers to do this.

[Ferguson97]

Outing someone as gay or trans to their parents is one of the most vile things that you can do, and it's reprehensible that so many on Atlas want to force schools and teachers to do this.

It's honestly incredibly insulting to gay people to insinuate that their inborn sexual orientation is equivalent to a confused autistic/mentally ill teenager struggling to find her identity. Considering gender dysphoria, unlike homosexuality, is a mental illness, parents should absolutely be in the loop when it comes to how to treat the condition. And that's when it's even an accurate diagnosis, which I am highly skeptical it is in this case.

But you know, to some people virtue signaling to fellow "woke" people online that they are on the "right side of history" (so they -- I believe falsely -- assume anyway) is more important than the actual mental and physical health of children. Clearly.

Did a trans woman burn your house down or something? I honestly don't know what personal experiences led you to hold so much hatred in your heart, but I hope that you can sort it out soon so that you don't radicalize yourself further.

Even if what you're saying about trans people and their mental health is true -- and it's not -- then do you honestly believe that outing them to their parents would be in the child's best interest? Do you believe that their parents are going to have a rational reaction and seek appropriate, professional help for their children? Or are they going to respond with aggression, hatred, and put their own child through hell?

Part of the reason that so many kids (and adults) stay in the closet is because they fear that mom and dad are going to react just like you.

[Ferguson97]

Outing someone as gay or trans to their parents is one of the most vile things that you can do, and it's reprehensible that so many on Atlas want to force schools and teachers to do this.

You cannot compare the two as one doesn't lead to medical treatment.

1) It often does, but does not necessarily lead to medical treatment.

2) You want to ban medical treatment for minors regardless, so what does it matter if they're allowed to remain in the closet? They can't get the treatment anyway.

3) Regardless of what you and Alben want to believe, it is the overwhelming consensus of the medical community that gender-affirming care is beneficial for the mental and psychological well-being of trans people.

[Ferguson97]

This "overwhelming consensus" only exists, not because there is an overwhelming amount evidence, but because there is an overwhelming amount of groupthink in the medical community. Physicians who stray from the consensus are ridiculed and even lose their jobs. People also don't like to be told there's something wrong with them, so there's a big (albeit unethical) monetary incentive for psychiatrists who practice gender affirming care.

The all-time classic conservative strategy—when you don’t have any evidence to support your argument, claim that there’s a conspiracy to silence the truth.

I don’t know where you guys get this idea that the trans community is some powerful, influential group that has significant control over our institutions.

[Ferguson97]

Outing students can be incredibly dangerous to their mental and physical health. Schools should absolutely not reveal a kids gender identity or sexuality or anything that could be dangerous to a kid.

Hell growing up in the south I knew kids who would have been in a decent amount of trouble just for dating a different race if the school told on them to their parents. People can be downright hateful towards their kids

"Outing" is not at issue here.  There is a big difference between a conversation held in confidence between a student and a responsible adult (i.e., teacher, counselor, coach, etc.) and an open secret that the entire school participates in hiding from the student's family.  The latter is inappropriate, dangerous and humiliating for parents.  Schools should neither make nor enforce any official change to a student's record (i.e., name, gender, etc.) without the express written consent of the parents.  Individual teachers should accommodate a student's preferred name/pronouns only within their own discretion, not as a universal policy or requirement.

Why specifically is it different?

If anything, if a kid is comfortable enough to be openly trans at school, but is still in the closest at home, it's probably for a very good reason - it could be a personal safety issue.

[Ferguson97]

Where are the Atlas militant trans activists to explain why this is acceptable?

Where are the Atlas militant child abuse opponents to explain why child abuse is bad?

Also, shame on NYT for publishing this hateful nonsense.

Your and Ferguson’s definition of child abuse is beyond absurd

Question for you, OSR. If you're 15-year-old cousin (I don't know if you have one, just entertain the hypothetical) came out to you as transgender, and asked you not to tell their mom and dad (your aunt and uncle), would you out them or would you respect their wishes?

[Ferguson97]

Where are the Atlas militant trans activists to explain why this is acceptable?

Where are the Atlas militant child abuse opponents to explain why child abuse is bad?

Also, shame on NYT for publishing this hateful nonsense.

Your and Ferguson’s definition of child abuse is beyond absurd

Question for you, OSR. If you're 15-year-old cousin (I don't know if you have one, just entertain the hypothetical) came out to you as transgender, and asked you not to tell their mom and dad (your aunt and uncle), would you out them or would you respect their wishes?

In most cases no , but this is not a good comparison. I don’t have government authority or stature so that’s a whole different story .

I'm trying to get you to understand why we want to protect students by keeping their identities a secret.

So I'll ask you to elaborate. Why wouldn't you out your cousin?

[Ferguson97]

Where are the Atlas militant trans activists to explain why this is acceptable?

Where are the Atlas militant child abuse opponents to explain why child abuse is bad?

Also, shame on NYT for publishing this hateful nonsense.

Your and Ferguson’s definition of child abuse is beyond absurd

Question for you, OSR. If you're 15-year-old cousin (I don't know if you have one, just entertain the hypothetical) came out to you as transgender, and asked you not to tell their mom and dad (your aunt and uncle), would you out them or would you respect their wishes?

In most cases no , but this is not a good comparison. I don’t have government authority or stature so that’s a whole different story .

I'm trying to get you to understand why we want to protect students by keeping their identities a secret.

So I'll ask you to elaborate. Why wouldn't you out your cousin?

I mean when I have friends who have misbehaved in certain ways ,and I didnt  tell their parents lol but schools in certain instances have to. 

You cannot compare an individual to individual relationship to a school to a student .

How should schools act when the best interests of the students are in conflict with the wishes of the parents?