TRANS YOUTH ARE LATEST TARGET OF PARENTAL ANGST

The ongoing culture war that’s being waged in our schools has a new battleground. It’s spelled LGBTQ — and the “T” (which stands for transgender) is getting the most attention now. (The other letters stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer.)

We heard it in the recent Senate confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn began her questioning by telling Jackson that her constituents are worried about parental rights and “want to rear their children as they see fit.”

Blackburn talked about transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and her recent victory in the NCAA championships, expressing concern that a “biological male was allowed to compete and beat a biological female.” She asked Jackson to define “woman” and whether schools should teach children that they can choose their gender. Jackson declined to answer, saying she is not a biologist.

Then on Monday, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis signed into law the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, called “Don’t Say Gay” by its opponents. The law prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for children in kindergarten through third grade. It also bars teaching that is not “age or developmentally appropriate” for students in other grades.

Critics say the law will curb instruction on gender and sexuality across grades and that its language is vague and subject to interpretation. Even so, parents will be allowed to sue school districts they believe to be in violation.

The first part of the Florida law applies to kids who are roughly ages 5-9. To most of us, it sounds reasonable. After all, sex education instruction doesn’t typically begin until middle school.

But Kathie Moehlig has a different point of view. Moehlig is executive director at San Diegobased Transfamily Support Services. She says that some children begin their transition at a young age. If it can’t be talked about in schools — using curriculum that has been vetted — bullying and harassment may increase. Often, it can’t or won’t be talked about at home, either, as many parents are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with what it means to be transgender (and may hope it’s something their child will outgrow). Moehlig also points out that we are apt to ask small children about their “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” — who they like or have a crush on.

But as much as Moehlig dislikes the new Florida law, she’s more concerned about legislation that’s passed (or is being considered) in other states. Some of the legislation is focused on school sports, requiring teams to be designated for boys, girls or co-ed based on a student’s birth-assigned gender. In at least two states, there is language specifically prohibiting male student participation on a female team (again, based on sex at birth) while female participation on male teams is left unaddressed.

The legislation is packaged with clever names that seem hard to object to, like the “Save Women’s Sports Act.”

In addition, 15 states have enacted or are considering laws that would restrict access to gender-affirming care for trans youth, according to a recent NPR story. That includes medically vetted treatments like hormone therapy and blockers that delay the onset of puberty.

Idaho was considering the most extreme measure, making it a felony for doctors or parents to give hormones or puberty blockers to trans minors — or to take them across state lines in search of such care. Senate leaders recently decided not to take up the bill.

NPR cited a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, which estimates that the restrictions will impact more than 54,000 transitioning transgender youth ages 13 through 17 — even in cases where doctors, therapists and parents concur with the need for treatment. About 150,000 American youth identify as transgender, according to the institute’s 2017 report — less than 1 percent of students in the 13-17 age group.

The idea of parental rights that Blackburn talked about isn’t a new one. Back in 1954, some parents objected to the racial desegregation of public schools. Then there were objections to books and curricula that were inclusive of the Black experience, including their achievements. Books were burned and teachers threatened. There was opposition to sex education, leading 36 states to give parents the right to opt out of sex ed on behalf of their kids.

But the battle du jour seems more fierce, with untenable consequences. Knowing that half of trans teens contemplate suicide, how do we prioritize parental rights?

Dinkin is president of the National Conflict Resolution Center, a San Diego-based group working to create solutions to challenging issues, including intolerance and incivility. To learn about NCRC’S programming, visit ncrconline.com