A Christian's Response to Gender Choice in Michigan Public Schools

Posted September 18, 2016

***Click here to see why we should vote for Nikki Snyder and Tom McMillin on November 8th, 2016.

The Michigan State Board of Education just passed a policy on September 14, 2016, which allows school districts to make accommodations for students K-12 who consider themselves to be "transgendering" to the sex opposite their birth gender. The policy states that children may do this without their parents knowledge or consent in some cases. (Read the revised policy here). It was passed 6-2 despite an overwhelming response from the public opposing this policy, and without consulting Michigan legislatures. In addition, the board members voting for this policy have done so with complete disregard to health professionals and clergy who state transgendering among children is detrimental to their health. (Read American College of Pediatricians report here or ACP Summary Statement here and The Mayer Report).

"The Mayer report is an exhaustive review of the scientific literature concerning gender identity and sexual orientation. It is significant in that over 500 scientific articles were reviewed by two notable scholars: Dr. Lawrence Mayer, professor of statistics and biostatistics at Arizona State University and a self-described liberal citizen who supports LGBQT rights, and Dr. Paul McHugh who was the psychiatrist-in-chief at John Hopkins from 1975 to 2001. Among the many significant findings is that both doctors concur that neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is innate or immutable (no one is born gay or transgender, and both are fluid). Additionally, both doctors find no evidence to support encouraging children to identify as transgender."1 

The board members voted as follows:

 In favor of the policy:

John Austin (term expires 1-1-17)

Michelle Fecteau (term expires 1-1-21)

Lupe Ramos-Montigny (term expires 1-1-21)

Pamela Pugh (term expires 1-1-23)

Kathleen N. Straus (term expires 1-1-17)

Cassandra E. Ulbrich (term expires 1-1-23)

Voted against the policy:

Eileen Weiser  (term expires 1-1-19)

Richard Zeile (term expires 1-1-19)

For a list of all State Board of Education names and addresses click here. 

If John Austin and Kathleen Straus can be replaced with some sensible board members in the election this November, there would be at least a 50/50 chance of preventing policies which are harmful to children from being passed in the near future. However, I don't know at this time whether those running this November are any better.

State Legislatures Respond to the Policy

Legislation was introduced in the Senate (SB993) which, if passed, would not allow transgender students to use a restroom or locker room of the sex opposite their birth gender. However, this legislation still calls for accommodating transgender students with parent's permission, so in that sense it also disregards the warnings of clergy and health professionals who advise of the ill effects of allowing children to transgender. This bill was sponsored by Thomas Casperson. 

There are several Representatives who have spoken out against the Board of Education's policy when it was first released in early 2016, (Article link here).  Rep. Ray Franz, Rep. Lana Theis, and Rep. Gary Glenn have expressed opposition to the policy. Interestingly enough, this policy was released within a couple days of a bill being introduced to ban Common Core in Michigan (SB826). SB826 is a bill that is good for Michigan students, and teachers, as it allows local control of curriculum and keeps the federal government out of education, as it should be. 

The transgender guidance policy is bad because:

1. It distresses the many students who are uncomfortable with being exposed to transgender students in restrooms and locker rooms.

2. It leans towards the opinion that the less parental knowledge or involvement the better.

3. It completely disregards the detrimental results of allowing children to transgender.

4. It ignores the environment this creates for those who wish to pervert the policy. (Read about the Minnesota lawsuit here).

Of course these four points do not include the fact that the practice itself is against God's commands. Read A Christian's Response to Transgender Children and The Bible and Same Sex Love.

What the church needs to do:

• Contact your state legislatures to express your views. Include the 4 reasons why this policy is bad. Especially reference The Mayer Report and the American College of Pediatricians Report noted in the first paragraph above, stating that transgendering is harmful to children. Ask that SB993 be supported, but modified to exclude accommodations for transgender students, and then passed into law. (While you're at it, you might mention support for SB826 as well).
  Link to Michigan Representatives    Link to Michigan Senators  
• Write the members of the State Board of Education to voice your opposition to the transgender policy they passed. Not only write those who are in favor of it, but write those who opposed it and express your gratitude for their courage.
  For a list of all State Board of Education names and addresses click here.
• Contact the superintendent of your local school district to find out his/her opinion and voice yours.
• Write down the names of all of the elected officials in your region, and their position on this issue. Then be sure to refer to your list when voting.
• Write to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and thank him for joining the lawsuit challenging Obama's federal guidance policy on Title IX. (Article here).
  Contact information for his office is here.
• Consider writing to any lawmakers who oppose this policy and thank them for having the courage to stand up for what is right.

Please feel free to use the following links to copy, paste and edit letters to your elected officials:

Letter to your State Legislators (Use for your Michigan Rep and Michigan Senator)
Letter to the State Board of Education Members who voted for the transgender policy
Letter to the State Board of Education Members who voted against the transgender policy
Letter to your local School District Superintendent
Letter to the Attorney General
List of Elected Officials and their stance on the policy (Print for your own use)

1 Child Healing: Strengthening Families from Institute for Marital Healing | 101 W. Elm Street | Suite 320 | Conshohocken, PA 19428. Retrieved 9/18/2016