I see John James dropped by a local school board meeting the other day to spew more nonsense and lies about schools and LGBTQ issues.
Please understand that when people make trans folks an "issue" in education and political discussions their goal is to insinuate that anyone who is not cisgender is to be feared, ostracized, and not trusted with your child, or students, or around other adults.
It's a stealth campaign of slurs and "dirty tricks," and says a whole lot more about the persons making the argument than it does about the supposed targets of their ire.
Let’s talk some facts for a change.
About 1.6 million adults and children identify as transgender in the United States, or 0.6% of those ages 13 and older, representing less than one percent of the population.
Now, let's put ourselves in the shoes of a trans student in a public school. We're talking about kids who are doing what all of us do at their age and developmental stage: trying to figure out who we are, and how we want to “be” in the world.
Struggling with establishing an identity—how we want to see ourselves, and how we want others to see us. And in so doing, as they work through a dizzying array of questions and challenges, some of those children and their families may seek medical guidance, or see a social worker or family counselor.
Social conservatives want to make that impossible—to be clear, they want to deny health care to persons who need it.
And let’s talk about trans students playing sports…
If you think kids benefit from playing sports...that it "builds character", and "healthy habits", and "discipline", and "time management", and "learning to work with others"...
...then wouldn't we want ALL children to be able to participate in athletics?
And if your concerns are about "safety issues", and "competitive advantage", then shouldn't you also be demanding height and weight and speed limits in scholastic sports for all athletes?
Or insisting that all teams institute "no cut" policies, or having multiple teams for sports with a plethora of kids wanting to participate, so any kid who wants to play a sport has that opportunity?
Let's not even bother with the fact that only 2 trans kids played a sport in Michigan in the fall of 2025 (both in cross country), and none in the winter or spring seasons.
None.
In addition to the fact that there's little chance of a cross country runner injuring another runner--many cross country teams also have coed practices, and lots of cross country squads accept any kid who wants to participate.
Because these trans bans have nothing to do with safety issues or competitive advantage problems.
It's all about targeting a tiny number of children who are already dealing with more challenges in their lives than most of us will ever encounter, and are only looking for a way to fit in, and be part of something bigger than themselves. And to have a little fun with their friends by playing a sport.
They aren’t lurking in bathrooms hoping to get a glimpse of some other child’s body parts.
It's about manufacturing fear, and anger, and rage by demonizing schoolchildren.
And what about parents of trans kids who support their children's desire to play a sport? Don't they have "parental rights"? Or are those rights only reserved for parents who want to deny "other" kids from having access to school athletics?
What's next?
Limiting who can participate in band, or chorus, or orchestra classes?
How about restricting the right to take an AP course based on a child's sex or gender?
Where does this all end?
We need serious people talking about serious issues. Enough with the distractions and deflections--all of our children deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and care.
And *all* means *all*.
SOURCE
www.erininthemorning.com
