A group of conservative Pennsylvania state lawmakers on Thursday voiced outrage at the Greater Johnstown School District’s “Gender Transition Plan” and “Gender Support Plan.”
Particularly troubling to members of the Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus (PAFC) are provisions in the district policies to circumvent parents’ involvement in how their gender-dysphoric student may address his or her condition.
“Are guardian(s) of this student aware and supportive of their child’s gender transition?” the support plan asks. “If not, what considerations must be accounted for by implementing this plan?”
The plans amplify the district’s Gender Expansive and Transgender Students Policy which states that “school personnel should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s gender expansive or transgender status presentation to others, including the student’s parents/guardians.”
The district instructs school teachers and officials to keep students’ gender-related concerns a secret from parents by using the child’s or teen’s given name and biologically appropriate pronouns when speaking to a mother, father or other guardian. But district personnel are nonetheless permitted to use the student’s preferred pronouns including the plural “they/them” or newfangled terms like “ze,” “hir,” “ey” or “em.”
Greater Johnstown’s gender support and transition guidances came into existence roughly a year ago but have drawn renewed reproach after the national nonprofit Parents Defending Education posted criticism of them late last month.
In a statement, PAFC expressed concern that the Greater Johnstown policy will inspire imitators in liberal-run jurisdictions elsewhere in the state if the southwestern district’s plans don’t get adequate scrutiny.
“We need to shine a light on this so parents can understand what’s coming,” PAFC Chair Dawn Keefer (R-Dillsburg) said.
Keefer and her colleagues lamented what they characterized as grave harms resulting from gender-transition advocates encouraging minors to consider hormone-affecting drugs or sex-change surgery. The legislators suggested that Pennsylvanians wondering about the consequences of such “healthcare” visit the website www.detransawareness.org to hear the stories of those who regret taking steps to accommodate their gender dysphoria.
Greater Johnstown Superintendent Amy Arcurio denied that her district intends to exclude parents from discussing these topics involving students.
“We also feel very strongly that any situation involving our students is best served when we come at it from a whole-systems approach, be it the school district, families, any outside agency,” she told the press this week.
Arcurio nonetheless asserted that the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act might prevent the disclosure of a student’s transgender identity to parents. A recent statement from school directors insists that Greater Johnstown “strives to ensure that its policies, handbook and actual practices are all implemented consistently and in compliance with state and federal law.”
Keystone State lawmakers from both parties have lately offered copious legislation dealing with youth gender and sexualization issues. This week, State Representative Aaron Bernstine (R-Ellwood City) proposed a bill to ensure drag performances are deemed adult-oriented events which cannot take place on public property or in spaces in view of children. In a memorandum describing his legislation, he alerted colleagues to an “alarming uptick” in shows of this nature put on for minors to witness, including in Lancaster County and Bucks County last year.
“Parents should have peace of mind that their children won’t be exposed to minor-marketed or sexually suggestive drag shows without their consent,” Bernstine said. “In no world should we be allowing these types of shows to occur in public libraries, schools or other public property where minors could see it.”
State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg) announced earlier this year he is introducing similar legislation in his chamber. The senator also advocates for prohibiting pediatric gender-transition surgeries, proposing a bill last September.
On the other side of the aisle, State Representative Dan Frankel (D-Pittsburgh) announced he will soon introduce a bill to shield parents or guardians from legal consequence if they acquire hormone-affecting substances or other “gender-affirming” services for their kids.
“Empirical evidence has well established that trans and non-binary gender identities are normal variations of human identity and expression,” he wrote in a note asking colleagues to cosponsor his measure.
– – –
Bradley Vasoli is managing editor of The Pennsylvania Daily Star. Follow Brad on Twitter at @BVasoli. Email tips to [email protected].
