Re: “Out-of-state-haters: Keep out of N.M. schools,” by Daniel Brown, Letters to the Editor, June 17.
To the Editor:
It’s true we should protect all children, but protecting children begins with honesty. Parents and educators have documented cases of schools facilitating gender identity changes without parental knowledge or consent. The reality that eight school districts in New Mexico right now have policies that allow our schools to socially transition children without parents knowing is dangerous and wrong. Raising concerns about these policies is not “fearmongering” but advocating for transparency.
The evidence shows that, even after transitioning, transgender individuals experience high rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Social transition is not a cure-all for mental-health challenges, especially when it excludes parents from the conversation. Respecting every student does not mean excluding families from important decisions about their children.