I spoke up during a faculty meeting with our school’s lawyer when she told us we had to affirm everybody and keep parents in the dark. Incredibly, I didn’t get fired, although some young teachers kept their distance for a while. The following year, at the same meeting, a few more teachers expressed concern with the policy.
Thanks for this! Yes, I’m in the choir now! I’ve been doing what I can to bring the message to others.
I will share a technique I picked up recently from another choir member, in case it’s helpful for anyone reading this (it’s been working well for me):
As a way to broach the topic, I say:
- - -
I’m interested in advocacy for people who are detransitioners who never thought they'd detransition.
(Depending on their reaction, I may ask: Do you know what the word "detransitioner" refers to?
Or I may proceed directly to this…)
These are people who believed they were transgender, who took medical steps to transition, and then realized it wasn't the right path for them, and now they're left with the sometimes devastating effects of those drugs or surgeries. They often can't get insurance coverage for the counseling and medical care they now need.
- - -
I’ve also committed the following to memory:
NO ONE - neither children nor adults - can give *informed* consent to a medical treatment if their doctor is *misinforming* them about the nature of their condition.
Cori, your letter to your younger self is one of the links I keep handy to share. I explain that an abridged version was published in the Washington Post, and this is the original:
And I got the excellent line about informed consent from Christina Buttons.
I also want to share two additional resources:
1. “The Reappearing Lesbian” is a new project. Listen to the first 20 minutes of Ep. 1. It’s five women who have physically and/or “ideologically” detransitioned, sharing their stories.
2. This video of Sinèad Watson is < 10 minutes. I find her testimony compelling—and I’m impressed with the “Sex Reality Bites” YouTube creator who’s doing the video-editing:
The Reappearing Lesbian Podcast blew my mind. If this is a harbinger of things to come, it gives me hope for the resurgence of lesbian community free of the trans strait jacket. I came out 50 years ago and had no idea that trans had become the expected next step in the personal evolution of butch lesbians. What a travesty.
Brilliant. It’s hard for people to claim they’re only looking out for oppressed minorities while turning a blind eye to detransitioners. Thanks for sharing.
Also, thanks to RJNZ. I had not seen your letter to your 19-year-old self. I wish my 18-year-old daughter could read it and understand it, but she would just shove it away if I offered it to her. Your unique perspective should be heard by everyone wanting to transition. I wish you could do a tour of every middle school and high school and children could hear your thoughts first-hand.
Thank you for your public protest in a way I wish I could. I go "door to door" so as not to damage my relationship with my kid. I wrote senators and the governor. I submit and comment on PITT anonymously. Yes, I have sat across from every HS teacher my child had for 4 years in the same district where I teach HS and asked them not to use he/him pronouns for her and why. Nothing in writing and I tell them how I handle my HS classroom. I have met with principals. I am not on social media but talk to anyone who will listen face-to-face. Most people want to change the subject. Most have not thought it through because it is uncomfortable. Some day when my daughter wakes up, maybe we can stand with you in the midwest. God bless you for speaking truth because you didn't have to
Americans do not want to fight about "transgender." Transgenderism will not stop pushing itself on Americans. When -- not if -- the silent majority speaks, they will be too loud to ignore and likely too angry to listen anymore. State bans are a preview IMO. Thanks again for your tireless voice.
Amen! And I’m not religious but you nailed it. Thank you. That woman did voice the key. I have said it to many friends and family and they don’t care but I will keep saying it and to strangers too. Thank u for the simple phrase. It’s such a complicated issue- b/c it’s destroying my life and my daughters -that it’s hard to know what to say to people to get them thinking.
I honor you so much for your thoughtful writing and speaking, your gentle but firm opposition to the madness, and your friendship with Nina Paley (and your podcast).
The madness is everywhere. I fear for my 12 year old daughter, who is on the ASD spectrum and is currently homeschooled. We dare not send her to NoVA’s public schools, where she will be exposed to the pressure to go along with the insanity, and we’ve already had to fight off an instance of someone trying to persuade her (at! 10! years! of age!) to adopt a sexual identity. My skip boss at work has a similarly aged daughter who is succumbing to this, and she supports it!
You’re right in that the choir needs to go out and spread the Good News (of the reality of sexed bodies). I’m definitely guilty of remaining silent in the face of the Kindness Brigades.
Children can no more "consent" to have their healthy breasts and genitalia removed or take puberty blockers than they can
"consent" to have sex with an adult.
Similarly, parents and doctors can no more approve such permanent mutilation simply because a minor child desires it than they can approve pedophilia.
Ultimately society will see the truth and ban the practice as we have banned female genital mutilation. Do people support that practice if the parents consent? I truly hope not
It is monstrous to believe otherwise and those who do will ultimately be held to account for their actions.
God bless you and thank you for being there! You rightly understand that the choir needs to hear your message just as much, if not more. I have a relative attending whose young goddaughter is transitioning. I’m not sure what conversations she’s had with her friend, but I imagine it has been difficult. I pray she sees you.
Brilliant piece. So many families are suffering with the gender cult. Supporting them by affirming that sex is real and that this phrase can be uttered aloud, is so important.
I spoke up during a faculty meeting with our school’s lawyer when she told us we had to affirm everybody and keep parents in the dark. Incredibly, I didn’t get fired, although some young teachers kept their distance for a while. The following year, at the same meeting, a few more teachers expressed concern with the policy.
This whole "don't tell the parents" crap makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and my blood boil.
Do not, I repeat DO NOT, come between Papa Bear and my cub.
DO NOT.
Thanks for this! Yes, I’m in the choir now! I’ve been doing what I can to bring the message to others.
I will share a technique I picked up recently from another choir member, in case it’s helpful for anyone reading this (it’s been working well for me):
As a way to broach the topic, I say:
- - -
I’m interested in advocacy for people who are detransitioners who never thought they'd detransition.
(Depending on their reaction, I may ask: Do you know what the word "detransitioner" refers to?
Or I may proceed directly to this…)
These are people who believed they were transgender, who took medical steps to transition, and then realized it wasn't the right path for them, and now they're left with the sometimes devastating effects of those drugs or surgeries. They often can't get insurance coverage for the counseling and medical care they now need.
- - -
I’ve also committed the following to memory:
NO ONE - neither children nor adults - can give *informed* consent to a medical treatment if their doctor is *misinforming* them about the nature of their condition.
Cori, your letter to your younger self is one of the links I keep handy to share. I explain that an abridged version was published in the Washington Post, and this is the original:
https://paresky.substack.com/p/the-op-ed-that-went-viral-and-the
With much respect and gratitude,
Flicka
Coming back to give credit to “Gen Crit in N. California” for the approach I shared above! https://substack.com/@gencritinncalifornia/note/c-60403935?utm_source=notes-share-action
And I got the excellent line about informed consent from Christina Buttons.
I also want to share two additional resources:
1. “The Reappearing Lesbian” is a new project. Listen to the first 20 minutes of Ep. 1. It’s five women who have physically and/or “ideologically” detransitioned, sharing their stories.
https://open.substack.com/pub/reappearinglesbian/p/the-pressure-on-lesbians-to-trans?
2. This video of Sinèad Watson is < 10 minutes. I find her testimony compelling—and I’m impressed with the “Sex Reality Bites” YouTube creator who’s doing the video-editing:
https://youtu.be/yQdgnkq1WlQ?si=xgUgiqV0Bfv5FHqN
The Reappearing Lesbian Podcast blew my mind. If this is a harbinger of things to come, it gives me hope for the resurgence of lesbian community free of the trans strait jacket. I came out 50 years ago and had no idea that trans had become the expected next step in the personal evolution of butch lesbians. What a travesty.
Brilliant. It’s hard for people to claim they’re only looking out for oppressed minorities while turning a blind eye to detransitioners. Thanks for sharing.
I like these ideas, thanks for sharing, Flicka.
Amen to that. Keep preaching!!
Also, thanks to RJNZ. I had not seen your letter to your 19-year-old self. I wish my 18-year-old daughter could read it and understand it, but she would just shove it away if I offered it to her. Your unique perspective should be heard by everyone wanting to transition. I wish you could do a tour of every middle school and high school and children could hear your thoughts first-hand.
Thank you for your public protest in a way I wish I could. I go "door to door" so as not to damage my relationship with my kid. I wrote senators and the governor. I submit and comment on PITT anonymously. Yes, I have sat across from every HS teacher my child had for 4 years in the same district where I teach HS and asked them not to use he/him pronouns for her and why. Nothing in writing and I tell them how I handle my HS classroom. I have met with principals. I am not on social media but talk to anyone who will listen face-to-face. Most people want to change the subject. Most have not thought it through because it is uncomfortable. Some day when my daughter wakes up, maybe we can stand with you in the midwest. God bless you for speaking truth because you didn't have to
Americans do not want to fight about "transgender." Transgenderism will not stop pushing itself on Americans. When -- not if -- the silent majority speaks, they will be too loud to ignore and likely too angry to listen anymore. State bans are a preview IMO. Thanks again for your tireless voice.
Fantastic essay.
Amen! And I’m not religious but you nailed it. Thank you. That woman did voice the key. I have said it to many friends and family and they don’t care but I will keep saying it and to strangers too. Thank u for the simple phrase. It’s such a complicated issue- b/c it’s destroying my life and my daughters -that it’s hard to know what to say to people to get them thinking.
Your essays are always brilliant!
Brilliantly incisive, I need to up my singing game.
I wholeheartedly agree, thanks for writing this.
Inspired!
Inspiring words and deeds. Thank you Corinna.
I honor you so much for your thoughtful writing and speaking, your gentle but firm opposition to the madness, and your friendship with Nina Paley (and your podcast).
The madness is everywhere. I fear for my 12 year old daughter, who is on the ASD spectrum and is currently homeschooled. We dare not send her to NoVA’s public schools, where she will be exposed to the pressure to go along with the insanity, and we’ve already had to fight off an instance of someone trying to persuade her (at! 10! years! of age!) to adopt a sexual identity. My skip boss at work has a similarly aged daughter who is succumbing to this, and she supports it!
You’re right in that the choir needs to go out and spread the Good News (of the reality of sexed bodies). I’m definitely guilty of remaining silent in the face of the Kindness Brigades.
Children can no more "consent" to have their healthy breasts and genitalia removed or take puberty blockers than they can
"consent" to have sex with an adult.
Similarly, parents and doctors can no more approve such permanent mutilation simply because a minor child desires it than they can approve pedophilia.
Ultimately society will see the truth and ban the practice as we have banned female genital mutilation. Do people support that practice if the parents consent? I truly hope not
It is monstrous to believe otherwise and those who do will ultimately be held to account for their actions.
God bless you and thank you for being there! You rightly understand that the choir needs to hear your message just as much, if not more. I have a relative attending whose young goddaughter is transitioning. I’m not sure what conversations she’s had with her friend, but I imagine it has been difficult. I pray she sees you.
Brilliant piece. So many families are suffering with the gender cult. Supporting them by affirming that sex is real and that this phrase can be uttered aloud, is so important.