NEW YORK CITY — “Momma knows best” has become “Momma knows last” for families in New York Public Schools.
While Florida continues to pass robust parental rights policies requiring public schools to notify them of significant changes to the wellbeing of their sons or daughters, New York is running in the opposite direction.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is advising public schools to conceal children's gender transitions from their parents, according to a guide released last week entitled: “Creating a Safe, Supportive, and Affirming School Environment for Transgender and Gender Expansive Students.”
“As students may not have disclosed their gender identity to parents/guardians, friends, or even other school staff, it is important that school personnel receiving this information keep it confidential, unless the student explicitly states otherwise,” the guide states.
“Only the student knows whether it is safe to share their identity with caregivers, and schools should be mindful that some TGE students do not want or cannot have their parents/guardians know about their transgender status.”
Likely in order to avoid a denial and subsequent lawsuit in the future, the guide clarifies what the school must obtain from a student in order to proceed with the “social transitioning” of a child – and it’s not parental consent.
“School personnel’s acceptance of a student’s asserted gender identity should require no more than a statement from the student expressing their preference,” the guide states. “Schools do not need to require permission, letters from professionals, or other proof of gender identity.”
In a tragic irony, parents are now the ones who need permission from their child as to whether or not they should be involved in these life-altering decisions.
“Schools will want to work closely with the student and their parents/guardians, if given permission by the student to involve them in the planning,” the guide adds. “Young people are the best judges of their own sense of personal safety.”
