Washington school district calls parents ‘dangerous,’ mandates trans affirmation

A parental rights group has blown the whistle on a Washington school district for peddling radical gender ideology and calling parents “dangerous.” 

Parents Defending Education (PDE) reported Monday that Cheney Public Schools (CPS) has a “gender-inclusive” policy mandating staff affirm transgender identities. It also allows trans students in opposite-sex spaces – including bathrooms and sports teams.  

CPS’ policy, which was adopted in May 2022, defines gender identity as “a person’s internal and deeply-felt sense of being female, male, both, non-binary, gender-expansive, or other – regardless of the gender assigned at birth.”  

The policy further requires school staff to keep parents in the dark about their child’s gender confusion.  

“Before communicating with parents of transgender or gender expansive students, it’s important to ask the student how school employees should refer to the student when talking with their parents and guardians,” the policy reads. “For parents who are not supportive, or who are not aware of the student’s transition at school, referring to their name and pronoun could be very dangerous.” 

CPS threatens its own staff to conform and use students’ chosen pronouns – all the while hiding it from parents.  

“The District will not condone the intentional or persistent refusal to respect a student’s gender identity or gender expression, or inappropriate release of information regarding a student’s transgender or gender-expansive status,” the policy states.  

However, similar policies have backfired in other districts.  

A Christian public-school teacher in California won $360,000 in a lawsuit after being fired for refusing to keep students’ gender identity secret from parents. Another Christian teacher from Virginia was similarly fired for refusing to use biologically incorrect pronouns when referring to a student – and won $575,000 in court.  

Erika Sanzi, director of outreach at PDE, said there was “no justification” for requiring staff to “knowingly deceive parents.”  

“Parents delegate their own parental authority to schools, who then act ‘in loco parentis’ during the day,” she explained. “Concealing information from parents is entirely at odds with that delegation of authority.” 

Critics say Cheney schools choose to cater to transgender students even when it puts other children at risk.  

“Students will be allowed to use the restroom that corresponds to the gender identity they assert at school,” the policy continues. “In most cases, the District should provide the student access to the locker room that corresponds to the gender identity they assert at school.” 

This means students can use the restroom and undress in front of members of the opposite sex – a policy especially opposed by girls and women who don’t want biological males in their private spaces.  

But it doesn’t end there. CPS also allows students to room overnight with the opposite sex if it affirms their gender identity.  

“In any school activity or other circumstance involving separation by gender (i.e., class discussions, field trips, and overnight trips), students will be permitted to participate in accordance with the gender identity they assert at school.” 

Unsurprisingly, the policy hasn’t been popular with parents in other states.  

In September, three Colorado families sued their district for forcing children into compromising situations with the opposite sex. One girl was made to share a bed with a biological boy, while a group of young boys was told to undress and shower in front of a female camp counselor.  

Meanwhile, a California school district even told families if their children weren’t comfortable sharing sleeping quarters with a transgender student, they would have to stay home.  

True to its policies, Cheney allows transgender students to compete on the sports team of their choice, amid growing evidence biological males are capable of severely injuring female players.  

“The District will provide all students, including transgender and gender-expansive students, the opportunity to participate in physical education and athletic programs/opportunities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity,” says the policy.