URGENT: Save Monmouth County's Queer Youth
The Issue
#HellNoMonCo
On June 20 and June 8, four New Jersey school districts in Marlboro, Manalapan, Colts Neck and Middletown will be voting to require teachers and school officials to forcibly out queer and trans youth to their families, putting untold numbers of children at greater risk of abuse, violence and suicide. To that we say: HELL NO!
This deadly (and illegal) policy that will not only hurt trans kids, but also any child who does not fit neatly into gendered categories, as well as school culture, parent-child relationships, and a school's ability to keep kids safe from violence. You can read more about the specific policies HERE.
In short, these rules shove the school district where it doesn’t belong: in the middle of the parent-child relationship. It risks damaging the trust that relationship is built on, especially in the way it cavalierly disregards the reasons why children may not come out to parents.
At best these policies serve as a grotesque and perverted obsession with children's genitals, which the district for some reason feels the need to fixate on and police.
At worst, the policies subjects an already vulnerable population to increased risk of suicide, abuse, homelessness and violence.
We, the undersigned Monmouth County residents, students, educators and alumni, reject the proposals on the following grounds.
- It puts kids in danger.
A lack of supportive families is the number one driver of queer suicide, homelessness and addiction. Queer children, especially, have long since been targets of deadly abuse and violence from unsupportive parents. By outing queer youth, we put them directly in harm's way.
And while Marlboro's policies allow for abuse exceptions, it fails to meaningfully protect kids. It says there must be "documented evidence" of the danger, which there just won't be in many situations where danger really is present. Children—especially in grades K-8—often won't admit to being abused, and even when teachers suspect abuse may be happening, they often don't have clear evidence. It puts abused children in the untenable position of having to defend themselves in the court of public opinion as to whether their situation is "bad enough."
2. It's poorly written and unenforceable.
The rules turn the search into indicators of gender variance into a witch hunt. Middletown's policies obscure the meaning of "gender identity" all together. It is normal and natural for all children, regardless of whether or not they are queer, to explore and experiment with their identity and presentation -- whether that's with their dress, how they identify or being called by a nickname. Giving kids space to explore their identities is incredibly important for child development. There is no meaningful and absolute way to define what crosses the line of "transitioning" and in trying to draw one, we will work up teachers and parents into a full-fledged panic. Teachers belong in the classroom--not in a student's pants.
3. It isolates students.
Outside of learning, one of the most critical functions of the school system is to be a space of support for children. Teachers are constantly on the front line of defense, the first to notice when children are being neglected and abused. They can be a safe space for these vulnerable kids to confide in.
This policy takes away school the last place some kids have to feel at ease. It puts them at odds with their teachers, who now, instead of being a support in the face of a tumultuous or abusive household, become yet another authority figure to run and hide from.
Bills like this often come from a place of hate and misunderstanding; they wish to legislate away the "problem" of queer youth. In that way, the resolution will accomplish its goal, but not in the way the Board of Education thinks it will. These rules won't mean fewer kids identify as trans; it will only mean fewer kids who identify as trans will live long enough to graduate.
Below, you can find further action items to get involved.
To see when you can speak out against these proposals at an upcoming board meeting on either June 20 or June 28, see HERE.
To read more about the policies in your district, see HERE.
To email your Board of Education and urge them to VOTE NO, see the following links:
To find out more about your own Board of Election -- including who is up for re-election, who alternative candidates are or how to run for office yourself -- see HERE.
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The Issue
#HellNoMonCo
On June 20 and June 8, four New Jersey school districts in Marlboro, Manalapan, Colts Neck and Middletown will be voting to require teachers and school officials to forcibly out queer and trans youth to their families, putting untold numbers of children at greater risk of abuse, violence and suicide. To that we say: HELL NO!
This deadly (and illegal) policy that will not only hurt trans kids, but also any child who does not fit neatly into gendered categories, as well as school culture, parent-child relationships, and a school's ability to keep kids safe from violence. You can read more about the specific policies HERE.
In short, these rules shove the school district where it doesn’t belong: in the middle of the parent-child relationship. It risks damaging the trust that relationship is built on, especially in the way it cavalierly disregards the reasons why children may not come out to parents.
At best these policies serve as a grotesque and perverted obsession with children's genitals, which the district for some reason feels the need to fixate on and police.
At worst, the policies subjects an already vulnerable population to increased risk of suicide, abuse, homelessness and violence.
We, the undersigned Monmouth County residents, students, educators and alumni, reject the proposals on the following grounds.
- It puts kids in danger.
A lack of supportive families is the number one driver of queer suicide, homelessness and addiction. Queer children, especially, have long since been targets of deadly abuse and violence from unsupportive parents. By outing queer youth, we put them directly in harm's way.
And while Marlboro's policies allow for abuse exceptions, it fails to meaningfully protect kids. It says there must be "documented evidence" of the danger, which there just won't be in many situations where danger really is present. Children—especially in grades K-8—often won't admit to being abused, and even when teachers suspect abuse may be happening, they often don't have clear evidence. It puts abused children in the untenable position of having to defend themselves in the court of public opinion as to whether their situation is "bad enough."
2. It's poorly written and unenforceable.
The rules turn the search into indicators of gender variance into a witch hunt. Middletown's policies obscure the meaning of "gender identity" all together. It is normal and natural for all children, regardless of whether or not they are queer, to explore and experiment with their identity and presentation -- whether that's with their dress, how they identify or being called by a nickname. Giving kids space to explore their identities is incredibly important for child development. There is no meaningful and absolute way to define what crosses the line of "transitioning" and in trying to draw one, we will work up teachers and parents into a full-fledged panic. Teachers belong in the classroom--not in a student's pants.
3. It isolates students.
Outside of learning, one of the most critical functions of the school system is to be a space of support for children. Teachers are constantly on the front line of defense, the first to notice when children are being neglected and abused. They can be a safe space for these vulnerable kids to confide in.
This policy takes away school the last place some kids have to feel at ease. It puts them at odds with their teachers, who now, instead of being a support in the face of a tumultuous or abusive household, become yet another authority figure to run and hide from.
Bills like this often come from a place of hate and misunderstanding; they wish to legislate away the "problem" of queer youth. In that way, the resolution will accomplish its goal, but not in the way the Board of Education thinks it will. These rules won't mean fewer kids identify as trans; it will only mean fewer kids who identify as trans will live long enough to graduate.
Below, you can find further action items to get involved.
To see when you can speak out against these proposals at an upcoming board meeting on either June 20 or June 28, see HERE.
To read more about the policies in your district, see HERE.
To email your Board of Education and urge them to VOTE NO, see the following links:
To find out more about your own Board of Election -- including who is up for re-election, who alternative candidates are or how to run for office yourself -- see HERE.
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Petition created on June 19, 2023