The Gordon Independent School District, a public school district in rural Texas, appears to incorporate transgender lessons as part of the curriculum. The school's website lists Unlocking Current Issues: Transgender Life as one of the curriculum resources. The book teaches students about transgenderism, provides tips for coming out as transgender, and advises kids to find another adult to shelter with if their parents arenât affirming.
The book begins with an explanation on the âhuman spectrumâ and details how in recent years, medical and psychological experts came to a new understanding. âBeing trans has a set place on the human spectrum,â the author explains. âLike a rainbow with its many colors, that spectrum is a wide scale.â In fact, the author believes being transgender is as simple as being left-handed, because both are merely normal deviations from the majority.
The next chapter discusses the challenges of coming out as transgender and the negative parental reactions that can come as a result. The author believes that the correct way for parents to deal with a transgender child is to affirm their gender identity. The book tells the story of Joseph Romero who, at the age of six, enjoyed dressing in girls clothes. His parents spoke to a pediatrician who suggested their child might be transgender. This was brought as an example of a positive parental reaction to coming out. On the flipside, those who donât affirm their childâs gender identity are portrayed as having a ânegative parental reaction.â The book encourages trans members of such families to have a âbackup person who should be willing to shelter and protect the trans person if necessary.â
The book goes on to explain how to spot early signs of gender dysphoria in children. âThe first warning sign is a trans-personâs feeling of being born in the wrong body,â it says. âFor instance, a transgender child will enjoy playing in specific ways. If that individual is born male but identifies as female, she may prefer to play as girls often do.â The author concludes that a boy with gender dysphoria will like to play with dolls, while a girl experiencing the same may lean toward toy trucks. The author encourages parents of gender-confused children to allow them to live in their expressed gender as a means of reducing anxiety. âThis is particularly effective with children,â the author stresses.
In the next chapter, the author weighs the options on whether to medically transition and suggests that teens and children might require more time to think about transitioning than adults. However, during this time they might be on the verge of reaching puberty which can create confusion. âA young person upset by these changes may need breathing space before puberty arrives,â the author writes. âTo create that pause in his or her life, doctors can administer certain drugs called hormone blockers. If at any point the patient decides not to pursue a transition, the blockers can be withdrawn. The book claims that the patientâs body will experience puberty in a natural way, contrary to some medical opinions.
Although transgenderism is the main theme of the book, the author dedicates a chapter to the âgender spectrumâ and lists over 20 genders. âAlthough many transgender people identify as male or female, some individuals do not feel as though they fit into either category,â it reads. âSuch transgender people are called nonbinary.â Lacy, a biological male with breast implants, is brought as an example of someone who falls under the vast spectrum of gender. âI identify as fae,â he says. â Im male and I don't have any intention of taking estrogen, but⦠I have a more effeminate body. Being fae is really about owning my own femininity.â The book takes it one step further to say that âit is not true that a personâs sense of gender remains exactly the same throughout life.â Instead, a personâs gender can âform and reformâ during their lifetime.
When it comes to discussing nonbinary pronouns, the book offers an endless amount of options. âSome nonbinary people feel that the use of âheâ and âsheâ is outdated and even disrespectful to them,â it says. Instead, the book encourages people to use their preferred pronouns, such as the gender-neutral pronoun âtheyâ, or the new gender-neutral pronoun âze.â âAn example of its use would be âze drove home instead of âhe drove home or âshe drove home,â the author instructs.
The book also touches on the controversy regarding âbathroom billsâ and the fear many have of allowing members of the opposite gender into sex-separate bathrooms. The author quotes political and legal commentator Ian Millhiser to argue that there is no evidence that anyone has ever been sexually assaulted by a trans woman or cisgender man in a bathroom. He goes so far as to mock the legitimate concerns of many parents. âThe likelihood that a woman will face this kind of assault appears to be exactly the same as her chances of being attacked by a unicorn,â he says. Instead, the author makes the argument that those who are against such reforms are merely ignorant and need to be educated.
Gordon ISD is located in the district represented by Glenn Rogers in the Texas House of Representatives. Mr. Rogers has a history of being anti school choice. A recent house vote showed that he promotes banning the use of state funds for school voucher programs. We emailed Mr. Rogers to ask if he still maintains that parents who oppose gender ideology should be unable to send their children to a school of their choice. We have not received a response from his office.
Libs of TikTok also reached out to Gordon ISD, but did not receive a response to our request for comment. Parents in rural Texas deserve answers to why their children are being taught about gender ideology in the classroom. Most importantly, parents should be given the the ability to opt their kids out of such discussions or send them to a school that aligns with their values. We will continue to fight for parentsâ rights to ensure that childrenâs innocence is protected.