Wisconsin promotes transgender resources for preschoolers

by KRISTINA WATROBSKI

MADISON, Wisc. (TND) — The epicenter of education in Wisconsin is promoting transgender resources to preschoolers and their families.

A guide on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)’s website is titled “Resources for Gender Expansive Preschoolers,” and it contains videos, websites, articles and books all aimed at children or adults. It also includes the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.

One of the five videos in the guide comes from the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, and it tells the story of a transgender first-grader in Mount Horeb, WI, which the campaign describes as the “troll capital of the United States.”

In the video, a mother says her daughter was “going to transition from being a boy to a girl in first grade,” and their family was working with the school’s psychologist to read the book “I Am Jazz” to her class. A letter was sent home informing families and letting them know they could opt their child out of this lesson, which caused backlash in the village.

“I Am Jazz” is included on the DPI’s guide as suggested reading, and it has also been challenged and banned in schools across the country. The list of children’s books also includes “Jacob’s New Dress,” which has also been challenged.

As for adult reading, one of the suggested books is “A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns,” which describes the genderqueer protagonist as being “tired of people not understanding gender-neutral pronouns.” The book reportedly calls anyone refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns a “jerk”

The DPI’s guide also appears to encourage parents to become more “gender-affirming,” and it links to articles written by NPR, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post.

Aside from its guide, the Wisconsin DPI’s website links to LGBT organization AMAZE.org. AMAZE.org, which says it “takes the awkward out of sex ed,” pushes for children and adolescents to learn about sexuality and gender identity. The DPI recommends “educators, parents, and parents who are educators” to check out the organization’s resources before “sharing with young people” so they can “prepare for discussion and questions.”

The National Desk (TND) has reached out to the Wisconsin DPI for comment on these materials being promoted to children and their families. This story will be updated if a response is received.

https://katu.com/news/nation-world/wisconsin-promotes-transgender-resources-to-preschoolers