The idea of teaching gender diversity in schools is a sensitive subject, especially when it comes to educating elementary school aged children about it.

My daughter, who is in 1^st grade, will soon have a Gender Diversity lesson once per year in her elementary school – a new program that was recently implemented within the Oak Park Unified School District.

A few weeks before school started, we received an email from the district saying they would be introducing lessons about gender diversity in schools. When I got the email, I must admit, I was surprised and not sure how to feel about it. What exactly did this mean? Would they be teaching my child about being transgender in 1^st grade? Really?

I have always been open to others and supportive of the LGBTQ community, but it felt like she was too young to really understand. However, I am not one to make a big deal about nothing – so I read more of the letter to find out that their goal was to teach love, kindness and acceptance of people’s differences from a young age.

How can anyone be opposed to that?

But some parents are protesting allowing their children to take part in these once per year lessons about gender diversity in schools.

From my understanding, per a meeting with the District Superintendent, these lessons are all age appropriate and do not discuss sexual preference at all. Rather, they focus on teaching kids that not everyone is the same. That some people feel different inside and that is OK.

The gender diversity in schools lessons are all age appropriate and do not specifically define the terms transgender or non-binary. Rather, they introduce feelings and diversity. And I am ok with that. But not all parents are.

So, What Do The Lessons Look Like?

For my daughter in first grade, they plan to read her a book called “Red Crayon,” where the premise is that the red crayon says they don’t feel red. But rather, they feel blue.

In speaking with a few parents at school – those who oppose are really against it out of fear. Fear that these lessons will “confuse” their kids. Will lead them down a path or introduce something to them that they wouldn’t have otherwise known.

Others are afraid that it might introduce more bullying and have the exact opposite effect than what the lessons were implemented for in the first place. Some parents are concerned that by pointing out differences in children, will only help to draw lines in the sand that someone is different. And to look out for them.

Kids will be kids. And in my opinion, I think introducing the idea that you should show love and kindness to others – even if theyare different than you – should be embraced.

But lest, these lessons are not even about that. It’s about gender identity. It’s about teaching children that even though they may know whether they are a boy or girl, because that is what they’ve been told – that it’s ok to not “feel” a certain way and that some girls feel like they were supposed to be a boy, or vice versa. It’s also about teaching kids that some people do not feel like a boy or girl at all. They may feel like a little of both and preferred to be called “them.”

I am also of the belief that you do not CHOSE to be gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual or trans. You just are.

There is a spectrum of LGBQT that I think we all fall into on some level.  I know some women, married with kids who see another woman and can appreciate their beauty. Some call it a “woman crush.” There are men, who when they get along with other men well call it a “bro-mance.” It doesn’t mean these people are gay, but I think it’s important we teach kids that not everyone is the same and to not make fun of or exclude people because they are different than us.

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

The fact is, kids will have to one day grow up and be leaders in a world where transgender people will work alongside of them. Isn’t it better to introduce these types of differences in a non-pressure type of way? In a way that makes sense to kids.

Not all parents are ok with this though, and some participated in the protests by keeping their children home for two days earlier this month. Their purpose was to show the district they do not want these lessons about gender diversity in schools.

Every morning, I hang out by the 1^st grade playground gate because my daughter likes for me to wait until the bell rings. I am not one of those parents that loves chatting with others at school – but it comes with the territory. If it were up to me, I’d drive the through loop, say goodbye and be on my way!

While I was hanging by the chainlink fence, giving my daughter her final kiss good bye, another Mom sparked conversation with me about the lessons to be implemented about gender diversity in schools.

She was strongly opposed to it. Her reason was that she didn’t think her daughter would understand what it meant. That she would be confused about whether she was a boy or a girl. Granted, her daughter has special needs and she felt it was not appropriate for her level of understanding. However, she is not the only parent that feels this way and the others do not have special needs children.

As a result, I tell her I understand her position but that if she thinks her daughter wouldn’t understand, because of her mental disability – then why remove her from being introduced to it. At worst, she would just wonder why the red crayon had feelings in the first place.

Teach Them Love and Kindness

I dread when we are in public and we do see someone that is disabled, different or “weird” – as my kids put it. And it’s even worse when they say something out loud that may be offensive to that person.

As a parent, I don’t want my kids thinking it’s ok to make fun of others because they are different than us and I think that’s a pretty universal feeling amongst most parents.

So, the fact that these same parents are protesting lessons that teach inclusivity and tolerance is baffling to me. They are afraid of the unknown and I would think by now, in the year 2019 – we’d be past that. These are the same parents that say they would support their kids if they ‘One day decide they are gay, you know – when they are older.” But yet, they are opposed to opening a world to their kids where these people exist.

Seems a bit contradictory to me.

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   What “new” band have you recently discovered and why should we listen to them?