We’ve likely all heard the line, “Schools are transing our kids.” But are they really? With the latest restrictions on “gender-affirming care on minors,” is this even an issue any longer?

My concern is that making the blanket statement that “schools are transing our kids” can be unhelpful and at times unfair. Though there are ways schools participate in this powerful intervention, it’s not always direct and not always intentional, but it does happen and it does harm kids. Below is my understanding, after a decade of walking alongside families, how schools play a part in the child’s transition.

Online Influence

Though we are talking about schools, it needs to be said that spending excessive time online continues to be the top reported influence. The distress of adolescence makes an escape into the online world inviting where friendship, though superficial, is easy and messaging alluringly powerful. It can soon become dangerous and destructive during this important time of individuation.

Peers

The natural desire to fit in and belong makes our youth vulnerable when feeling lonely and outcast, especially when having unaddressed psychological issues. Those within the LGBTQ+ community provide a very inviting place to make connections where otherwise difficult. Speaking with youth and detransitioners, I’ve been told that a trans identity often starts with subtle suggestions as answers to their distress. The lure is enticing and contagious. It’s been said that entire art clubs identify somewhere on the “spectrum.” It’s been reported that 30% of Gen Z identify within this group.

Clubs

This one has been highly influential while seldom recognized. The organization once known as GLSEN, now renamed “glisten,” has had significantly more influence than most people are aware of. Glisten makes it very clear on their page that their goal is to “transform our nation’s schools.” You can check out their resources at glisten.org where they have long been providing free resources and tools for educators and students to start their own GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) club. At one point students could click the quick escape to help cover their activity. They have been highly funded by organizations such as the familiar Gill Foundation, Ford Foundation, Lego Community, Pfizer Foundation, Fidelity Investments and many more. You can find them all on philanthropy.org.

Teachers

Here is where it can get unfair. I know many good teachers who do the hard work of providing the best education for their students. They are under appreciated and need your support more than ever. That being said, there are teachers, especially those graduating after 2015, who are firm believers and advocates of gender ideology. Back in 2016, an elementary teacher proudly shared with me that the “Genderbread Person” was being used in our local schools. We had toured our high schools the previous year and made note of the posters and “All Are Welcome Here” rainbow signs on some classroom doors. These teachers provide secrecy (especially in our area where keeping parents in the dark is written into the school policy) and “safe spaces” where they will be fully and unquestionably affirmed.

From my experience they are, more often but not limited to, English teachers. A quick search led me to the “National Council of Teachers of English” and their “Statement on Gender and Language” found at ncte.org. The NTCE site says, “As both a product and an engine of human culture, language is inherently dynamic and ever evolving. Regarding the intersection of language, gender, and equity, the English language has been in a period of active shift for several decades.” Without a doubt, the English department has been highly influential in reshaping language and culture.

Counselors

From my knowledge I have heard of school counselors being anywhere from helpful to full on “groomers” where counselors have encouraged students to socially transition. To learn more you can go to the “American School Counselor Association,” schoolcounselor.org, to find out about their guidelines. It’s near to impossible to work in this area without participating in gender affirmation. A good friend, educated in this area, said in order to work as a school counselor in our community he would be required to compromise his faith.

NEA (National Education Association)

The NEA’s website, nea.org, under “edjustice” offers these strong words, “Stand Against Hate and Bias – Pledge to demand supportive schools where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be their authentic selves.” They have had widespread institutional and cultural influence over K-12 policies, teachers professional development, and have continued to offer ample amount of classroom resources regarding gender and LGBTQ+ topics. Activism is in full force here as they are “Advancing LGBTQ+ Justice” and have a partnership with “glisten,” mentioned above.

SBHC’s (School-Based Health Centers)

The Minnesota Department of Health says, “SBHC’s provide students with high quality medical, mental, and behavioral health services from health care providers trained in child, adolescent and young adult care and development…SBHC’s are affordable, accessible, convenient, and uphold all state laws already in place for parent knowledge, consent and student confidentiality.” Depending on your area, students can be accessing gender affirming care “confidentially.”

Sadly, I continue to hear from parents, almost weekly, regarding their sons and daughters – especially those within the vulnerable ages of 18 to 22 who are speedily accessing wrong sex hormones. One mom recently shared while attending her 18 year old daughter’s endocrinology visit, her daughter was given testosterone after a 20 minute visit and asked if she was interested in “an hysterectomy and top surgery.”

With unquestionable affirmation and celebration within schools, young daughters count down the days until they can start “T” and some, in addition, to stop binding and have their breasts cut away. One “transmen” Facebook page provides ample proof as image after image of a young woman announcing their “chest surgery” shows up in the feed. One recent post said, “Away with the lumps!” Such body hatred and harm, unimaginable just over a decade ago, is now seen as normal and good.

Finally, how much of a pipeline do schools become? The answer has been from minimally to a great extent. The school will continue to be a pipeline as it affirms and enables a social transition, especially as it continues to promote and introduce gender ideology curriculum to lower and lower grades. And, no, “transing” does not mean medically and surgically transitioning students, but, the less parents are involved and aware, schools will influence through their unquestionable affirmation in a social transition which helps fast track the students on to medical and surgical interventions as soon as they reach adulthood. Many of these young adults still lack the maturity to make these life altering and permanent decisions.

As detransitioner Elizabeth Edens recently shared, “It made me happy in a very superficial way. The kind of way you think is happiness when you’re 19, but it was a trade-in for long-term well being. It cost me my heath. I could possibly die prematurely because of what it did to my heart and every other system in my body.”