Parents of transgender teens in private school.

[Anonymous]

I will add that our school, in its policy of not telling any parents, no matter the age, is triangulating in a harmful way. And letting kids know that keeping secrets from parents is okay and sometimes necessary. What does that teach a kid about the parents and honesty? Not good lessons is what I believe. In this way, this Big 3 school is choosing to substitute its judgment for that of the parents. WTF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely becoming more and more popular. It's totally real and not a social contagion that follows the exact same trend lines of other opt-in social-signaling fads of past centuries.

You probably didn't mean to use popular here (based on your second sentence). Perhaps you meant it is more common to find students who feel comfortable enough to be their genuine selves in public - these students always existed - they were just hiding their truths.

Very much disagree both that it is real in every case and that the relatively friendlier atmosphere of today accounts for the visibility of trans kids. Activists and kneejerk proponents tend to rely on unprovable or un-dis-provable assertions like this.

Just because someone explores something while trying to find their identity doesn't mean it's not "real" if they eventually determine that was not the right fit. It can certainly be true, that as transgender becomes more accepted in our culture - there will be some people who explore as they are finding themselves. For some, they have known 100% from a very young age, for others it takes longer to determine exactly who they are.

I'd add that negative pressures from the outside (parents, community) only make life more difficult for a young (or grown!) person to discover their true self.

I said nothing about exploration not being associated with "realness". Not sure what that has to do with anything. Its obvious that many kids at our DC school are exploring. In some cases, it is the "true self", in others, it is a temporary stop on life's journey. We see it a lot at our school.

Negative pressures from the parents, if anything I have seen, is "parenting". Our school sees itself as in loco parentis to the degree that it socially transitions kids as young as FOUR without cluing in the parents. And our school is so over the top about promoting this (not just leveling the playing field) ... if I was in kindergarten and there were balloons and rainbows and boas to celebrate me and frequently tell me how extra-special I am, I'd find a way to join the rainbow.

Absolutely, I’m not doubting that there is a very small population of trans people out there and there always has been. But this sudden fad of promoting and encouraging every young child to explore their gender identity is not good parenting or educating. Pretending that gender identity doesn’t nearly always match biological sex for young kids is confusing for kids and not helpful for their continued mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

This is supposed to be an anonymous forum. Why are you asking people to out themselves? Transgenderism is so incredibly rare.

Do you even have a clue? Or any kind of empathy for OP? The OP is looking for information for their kid, and asking the question doesn’t out anyone. And not everyone is in the closet—that’s an archaic way of thinking about it. Maybe some parents/kids have good experiences and don’t mind sharing. Maybe they are out at their school and happy there, and happy to share. And exactly—it’s anonymous. And no one has to respond if they are worried about people knowing who they are.

I have more than a clue. Look, this is so incredibly rare that it’s likely many of these schools don’t have any at all or if they did it’s one child total. So essentially asking those people to share experiences in an “anonymous” forum and yet it isn’t hard to deduce who they are. Which violates the child’s privacy.

I realize that with all the culture war stuff it might sound like transgenderism is common or normal but it’s actually so incredibly deviant from the norm that when it does occur it’s really obvious. I suppose the appetite to share publicly probably varies from person to person but in this instance you’re essentially calling out known people. Not cool.

It's problematic that you think you have more of a clue than this parent. Again you never addressed the point that there could be out kids who like their school and do not mind sharing, which would be great info for the OP. Your need to speak up for the trans community isn't bad, but your criticism is misplaced. (And your term, "deviant from the norm," while not necessarily statistically inaccurate, is totally dehumanizing.) So, again, get a clue. No one has to chime in, and those who want to, can. No one is trying to call out anyone. No one has to respond. And I agree that it is archaic to assume that all trans kids are closeted.

I won't name the school, but DD is at a Catholic all girls school with a rather large portion of trans/non-binary students. It's not just one or two and if it is being accepted at a religious school, I suspect it is a non-issue at secular schools.

Stone Ridge.

Interesting that there were a lot of trans / non-binary students at SR during the pandemic and suddenly the phenomenon has dried up in the middle school and younger high school. It certainly looks like a social contagion.

NP. Probably because if you are aware of the families that have been admitted to Stone Ridge in high number in the past 5 years you would understand that they would not be that welcoming to these families or kids so that makes sense. Lots of republican Congo Chevy families admitted to SR in past few years. Changed dynamic of the school.

I’ve seen that shift but wonder why republican Congo Chevy families aren’t equally likely to be trans if it’s not a fad or just popular but instead a natural shift in the younger demographic.

Are you dim? You've never heard of the closet? You are being disingenuous here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely becoming more and more popular. It's totally real and not a social contagion that follows the exact same trend lines of other opt-in social-signaling fads of past centuries.

You probably didn't mean to use popular here (based on your second sentence). Perhaps you meant it is more common to find students who feel comfortable enough to be their genuine selves in public - these students always existed - they were just hiding their truths.

Very much disagree both that it is real in every case and that the relatively friendlier atmosphere of today accounts for the visibility of trans kids. Activists and kneejerk proponents tend to rely on unprovable or un-dis-provable assertions like this.

Just because someone explores something while trying to find their identity doesn't mean it's not "real" if they eventually determine that was not the right fit. It can certainly be true, that as transgender becomes more accepted in our culture - there will be some people who explore as they are finding themselves. For some, they have known 100% from a very young age, for others it takes longer to determine exactly who they are.

I'd add that negative pressures from the outside (parents, community) only make life more difficult for a young (or grown!) person to discover their true self.

I said nothing about exploration not being associated with "realness". Not sure what that has to do with anything. Its obvious that many kids at our DC school are exploring. In some cases, it is the "true self", in others, it is a temporary stop on life's journey. We see it a lot at our school.

Negative pressures from the parents, if anything I have seen, is "parenting". Our school sees itself as in loco parentis to the degree that it socially transitions kids as young as FOUR without cluing in the parents. And our school is so over the top about promoting this (not just leveling the playing field) ... if I was in kindergarten and there were balloons and rainbows and boas to celebrate me and frequently tell me how extra-special I am, I'd find a way to join the rainbow.

You sound paranoid.

If you care so much, then be a parent at home and describe what rainbows can mean. You can like rainbows and still be cis hetero. It's just like you can explain to your four year old that boys can like pink, and girls can like blue - colors don't define gender. You either care to be inclusive and communicate these sorts of things to your child when appropriate or you don't. A school is not going to socialize a kid into being trans. But that kid ever starts to feel different or unsure about their identity, they will have trans as an identity that they can consider while they putting the pieces together for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will add that our school, in its policy of not telling any parents, no matter the age, is triangulating in a harmful way. And letting kids know that keeping secrets from parents is okay and sometimes necessary. What does that teach a kid about the parents and honesty? Not good lessons is what I believe. In this way, this Big 3 school is choosing to substitute its judgment for that of the parents. WTF

It's worse when a Big 3 HS principal tell the student body (repeatedly) that their parents are crazy and to tune them out. And then the HS has no effective mentoring system from the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

This is supposed to be an anonymous forum. Why are you asking people to out themselves? Transgenderism is so incredibly rare.

Do you even have a clue? Or any kind of empathy for OP? The OP is looking for information for their kid, and asking the question doesn’t out anyone. And not everyone is in the closet—that’s an archaic way of thinking about it. Maybe some parents/kids have good experiences and don’t mind sharing. Maybe they are out at their school and happy there, and happy to share. And exactly—it’s anonymous. And no one has to respond if they are worried about people knowing who they are.

I have more than a clue. Look, this is so incredibly rare that it’s likely many of these schools don’t have any at all or if they did it’s one child total. So essentially asking those people to share experiences in an “anonymous” forum and yet it isn’t hard to deduce who they are. Which violates the child’s privacy.

I realize that with all the culture war stuff it might sound like transgenderism is common or normal but it’s actually so incredibly deviant from the norm that when it does occur it’s really obvious. I suppose the appetite to share publicly probably varies from person to person but in this instance you’re essentially calling out known people. Not cool.

It's problematic that you think you have more of a clue than this parent. Again you never addressed the point that there could be out kids who like their school and do not mind sharing, which would be great info for the OP. Your need to speak up for the trans community isn't bad, but your criticism is misplaced. (And your term, "deviant from the norm," while not necessarily statistically inaccurate, is totally dehumanizing.) So, again, get a clue. No one has to chime in, and those who want to, can. No one is trying to call out anyone. No one has to respond. And I agree that it is archaic to assume that all trans kids are closeted.

I won't name the school, but DD is at a Catholic all girls school with a rather large portion of trans/non-binary students. It's not just one or two and if it is being accepted at a religious school, I suspect it is a non-issue at secular schools.

Stone Ridge.

Interesting that there were a lot of trans / non-binary students at SR during the pandemic and suddenly the phenomenon has dried up in the middle school and younger high school. It certainly looks like a social contagion.

NP. Probably because if you are aware of the families that have been admitted to Stone Ridge in high number in the past 5 years you would understand that they would not be that welcoming to these families or kids so that makes sense. Lots of republican Congo Chevy families admitted to SR in past few years. Changed dynamic of the school.

I’ve seen that shift but wonder why republican Congo Chevy families aren’t equally likely to be trans if it’s not a fad or just popular but instead a natural shift in the younger demographic.

Are you dim? You've never heard of the closet? You are being disingenuous here.

I’m sure that there are some closeted people, but I also think there are a lot of people who weren’t indoctrinated into the current fad of exploring their gender identity as a rite of passage and instead just kept on identifying as the gender they were told since birth very happily. You’re not doing kids any favors by introducing this at young ages and pretending it’s all fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

This is supposed to be an anonymous forum. Why are you asking people to out themselves? Transgenderism is so incredibly rare.

Do you even have a clue? Or any kind of empathy for OP? The OP is looking for information for their kid, and asking the question doesn’t out anyone. And not everyone is in the closet—that’s an archaic way of thinking about it. Maybe some parents/kids have good experiences and don’t mind sharing. Maybe they are out at their school and happy there, and happy to share. And exactly—it’s anonymous. And no one has to respond if they are worried about people knowing who they are.

I have more than a clue. Look, this is so incredibly rare that it’s likely many of these schools don’t have any at all or if they did it’s one child total. So essentially asking those people to share experiences in an “anonymous” forum and yet it isn’t hard to deduce who they are. Which violates the child’s privacy.

I realize that with all the culture war stuff it might sound like transgenderism is common or normal but it’s actually so incredibly deviant from the norm that when it does occur it’s really obvious. I suppose the appetite to share publicly probably varies from person to person but in this instance you’re essentially calling out known people. Not cool.

It's problematic that you think you have more of a clue than this parent. Again you never addressed the point that there could be out kids who like their school and do not mind sharing, which would be great info for the OP. Your need to speak up for the trans community isn't bad, but your criticism is misplaced. (And your term, "deviant from the norm," while not necessarily statistically inaccurate, is totally dehumanizing.) So, again, get a clue. No one has to chime in, and those who want to, can. No one is trying to call out anyone. No one has to respond. And I agree that it is archaic to assume that all trans kids are closeted.

I won't name the school, but DD is at a Catholic all girls school with a rather large portion of trans/non-binary students. It's not just one or two and if it is being accepted at a religious school, I suspect it is a non-issue at secular schools.

Stone Ridge.

Interesting that there were a lot of trans / non-binary students at SR during the pandemic and suddenly the phenomenon has dried up in the middle school and younger high school. It certainly looks like a social contagion.

NP. Probably because if you are aware of the families that have been admitted to Stone Ridge in high number in the past 5 years you would understand that they would not be that welcoming to these families or kids so that makes sense. Lots of republican Congo Chevy families admitted to SR in past few years. Changed dynamic of the school.

I’ve seen that shift but wonder why republican Congo Chevy families aren’t equally likely to be trans if it’s not a fad or just popular but instead a natural shift in the younger demographic.

Are you dim? You've never heard of the closet? You are being disingenuous here.

I’m sure that there are some closeted people, but I also think there are a lot of people who weren’t indoctrinated into the current fad of exploring their gender identity as a rite of passage and instead just kept on identifying as the gender they were told since birth very happily. You’re not doing kids any favors by introducing this at young ages and pretending it’s all fine.

And if they aren't happy? There is a wide chasm between "happy as is" and "happily out" and it's mostly people hiding who they are because they won't be accepted. It's often clear when kids are growing up hearing their parents spout anti-gay or anti-trans things, they are not going to feel comfortable coming out to them.

Why do you think it's not uncommon for married men to leave their wives for other men? Because they were raised that it wasn't allowed or appropriate. But once they find out they CAN be open and honest about themselves they will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

This is supposed to be an anonymous forum. Why are you asking people to out themselves? Transgenderism is so incredibly rare.

Do you even have a clue? Or any kind of empathy for OP? The OP is looking for information for their kid, and asking the question doesn’t out anyone. And not everyone is in the closet—that’s an archaic way of thinking about it. Maybe some parents/kids have good experiences and don’t mind sharing. Maybe they are out at their school and happy there, and happy to share. And exactly—it’s anonymous. And no one has to respond if they are worried about people knowing who they are.

I have more than a clue. Look, this is so incredibly rare that it’s likely many of these schools don’t have any at all or if they did it’s one child total. So essentially asking those people to share experiences in an “anonymous” forum and yet it isn’t hard to deduce who they are. Which violates the child’s privacy.

I realize that with all the culture war stuff it might sound like transgenderism is common or normal but it’s actually so incredibly deviant from the norm that when it does occur it’s really obvious. I suppose the appetite to share publicly probably varies from person to person but in this instance you’re essentially calling out known people. Not cool.

It's problematic that you think you have more of a clue than this parent. Again you never addressed the point that there could be out kids who like their school and do not mind sharing, which would be great info for the OP. Your need to speak up for the trans community isn't bad, but your criticism is misplaced. (And your term, "deviant from the norm," while not necessarily statistically inaccurate, is totally dehumanizing.) So, again, get a clue. No one has to chime in, and those who want to, can. No one is trying to call out anyone. No one has to respond. And I agree that it is archaic to assume that all trans kids are closeted.

I won't name the school, but DD is at a Catholic all girls school with a rather large portion of trans/non-binary students. It's not just one or two and if it is being accepted at a religious school, I suspect it is a non-issue at secular schools.

Stone Ridge.

Interesting that there were a lot of trans / non-binary students at SR during the pandemic and suddenly the phenomenon has dried up in the middle school and younger high school. It certainly looks like a social contagion.

NP. Probably because if you are aware of the families that have been admitted to Stone Ridge in high number in the past 5 years you would understand that they would not be that welcoming to these families or kids so that makes sense. Lots of republican Congo Chevy families admitted to SR in past few years. Changed dynamic of the school.

I’ve seen that shift but wonder why republican Congo Chevy families aren’t equally likely to be trans if it’s not a fad or just popular but instead a natural shift in the younger demographic.

Are you dim? You've never heard of the closet? You are being disingenuous here.

I’m sure that there are some closeted people, but I also think there are a lot of people who weren’t indoctrinated into the current fad of exploring their gender identity as a rite of passage and instead just kept on identifying as the gender they were told since birth very happily. You’re not doing kids any favors by introducing this at young ages and pretending it’s all fine.

The choice of using the word "indoctrinated" really tells everything I need to know about your views on this, and you are not discussing in good faith.

I also fail to understand your last sentence - telling children that people are different, it's ok, we still accept and love them is somehow inappropriate for young people?

[Anonymous]

I know a very proud, very butch lesbian who strongly identifies as a woman. She's middle aged and didn't go to a progressive private school. When she was a kid, she played lots of sports and was a tomboy. She says that if she were born 25 years later and had gone to some progressive high school, she probably would have ended up as a trans man. She's supportive of trans rights but with some reservations, because she's glad she's a woman today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

There have been a few transgender kids at NCS and they are accepted and it appears to be a non issue with students and staff.

In regards to OP’s question GDS for sure is a very open and accepting school in this regard and I assume Maret would be as well.

Second the recommendation to look into NCS- it's a pretty LGBTQ-friendly place. Honestly, if I had a trans daughter, I'd consider a (non-Catholic, non-conservative) all-girls school over a co-ed school. It might also be affirming for the child if they identify as a girl and are in an all-female environment. The NCS teachers are a very progressive bunch. I can't say I would put a trans son in an all-boys school, though.


Also second the recommendation someone else made to check out Field!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Understand GDS is extremely accepting and encouraging of transitioning students. Believe they had a large group of students transition from female to male together last year which is pretty unique.

WTF. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely becoming more and more popular. It's totally real and not a social contagion that follows the exact same trend lines of other opt-in social-signaling fads of past centuries.

Then I would be wary to use a word such as "popular" to describe the phenomenon. The point is there are more *visible* trans or nonbinary students nowadays because they feel more empowered to articulate/share their truth. The same goes for other people who identify as LGBQ. One has to wonder how many other students have these feelings, but do not feel empowered to share them with others.

Or how many kids are confused and awkward during puberty and we are leading them to this conclusion. Some schools have become so extremely LBGTQ+ accepting / positive that the straight kids are in the minority. I’m not doubting that trans kids exist, but telling every awkward elementary kid they could be trans is not the answer.

The point is that we should let children explore their identity rather than foist one on them. If a kid questions their gender identity and eventually realizes they are cis, good on them! Just giving them the space and opportunity to explore it themselves is the answer.

You mean tell them to question themselves during puberty time, all the time.
Yeah, that exactly what I want my kid thinking about every day in middle school.
“I’m having a bad day, maybe I need to explore more gender identities like my teachers and guidance counselors tell us to.” Explore the genders! Explore the orientations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely becoming more and more popular. It's totally real and not a social contagion that follows the exact same trend lines of other opt-in social-signaling fads of past centuries.

Then I would be wary to use a word such as "popular" to describe the phenomenon. The point is there are more *visible* trans or nonbinary students nowadays because they feel more empowered to articulate/share their truth. The same goes for other people who identify as LGBQ. One has to wonder how many other students have these feelings, but do not feel empowered to share them with others.

Or how many kids are confused and awkward during puberty and we are leading them to this conclusion. Some schools have become so extremely LBGTQ+ accepting / positive that the straight kids are in the minority. I’m not doubting that trans kids exist, but telling every awkward elementary kid they could be trans is not the answer.

The point is that we should let children explore their identity rather than foist one on them. If a kid questions their gender identity and eventually realizes they are cis, good on them! Just giving them the space and opportunity to explore it themselves is the answer.

This is what complete moral and social ambiguity looks like, as if there are no differences in outcomes for your child based on their trans identity. Giving space to explore a trans identity is not in the best interest of many children.

No, this is what healthy parenting should look like. Why are you assigning moral value to a child's exploration of their gender identity? Give them to freedom to decide who they are rather than try to foist your own beliefs and gender identity, which I have a hunch are very dated? Be there to answer questions and help guide them on their discovery, but leave your own hang-ups out of it.

My 11 yo can’t even decide what sport to stick with and you want her mind share to be on “freedom to pick your LGBTQIA2+ flavor”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents who have a transgender high school student at Maret or GDS, would you mind sharing your experience? Does your child feel accepted and respected by students and staff? Please only respond if this question pertains to you. Thank you.

This is supposed to be an anonymous forum. Why are you asking people to out themselves? Transgenderism is so incredibly rare.

Do you even have a clue? Or any kind of empathy for OP? The OP is looking for information for their kid, and asking the question doesn’t out anyone. And not everyone is in the closet—that’s an archaic way of thinking about it. Maybe some parents/kids have good experiences and don’t mind sharing. Maybe they are out at their school and happy there, and happy to share. And exactly—it’s anonymous. And no one has to respond if they are worried about people knowing who they are.

I have more than a clue. Look, this is so incredibly rare that it’s likely many of these schools don’t have any at all or if they did it’s one child total. So essentially asking those people to share experiences in an “anonymous” forum and yet it isn’t hard to deduce who they are. Which violates the child’s privacy.

I realize that with all the culture war stuff it might sound like transgenderism is common or normal but it’s actually so incredibly deviant from the norm that when it does occur it’s really obvious. I suppose the appetite to share publicly probably varies from person to person but in this instance you’re essentially calling out known people. Not cool.

It's problematic that you think you have more of a clue than this parent. Again you never addressed the point that there could be out kids who like their school and do not mind sharing, which would be great info for the OP. Your need to speak up for the trans community isn't bad, but your criticism is misplaced. (And your term, "deviant from the norm," while not necessarily statistically inaccurate, is totally dehumanizing.) So, again, get a clue. No one has to chime in, and those who want to, can. No one is trying to call out anyone. No one has to respond. And I agree that it is archaic to assume that all trans kids are closeted.

I won't name the school, but DD is at a Catholic all girls school with a rather large portion of trans/non-binary students. It's not just one or two and if it is being accepted at a religious school, I suspect it is a non-issue at secular schools.

Stone Ridge.

Interesting that there were a lot of trans / non-binary students at SR during the pandemic and suddenly the phenomenon has dried up in the middle school and younger high school. It certainly looks like a social contagion.

NP. Probably because if you are aware of the families that have been admitted to Stone Ridge in high number in the past 5 years you would understand that they would not be that welcoming to these families or kids so that makes sense. Lots of republican Congo Chevy families admitted to SR in past few years. Changed dynamic of the school.

I’ve seen that shift but wonder why republican Congo Chevy families aren’t equally likely to be trans if it’s not a fad or just popular but instead a natural shift in the younger demographic.

Because their wives would divorce them if they transitioned.

Not taking the bait PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely becoming more and more popular. It's totally real and not a social contagion that follows the exact same trend lines of other opt-in social-signaling fads of past centuries.

You probably didn't mean to use popular here (based on your second sentence). Perhaps you meant it is more common to find students who feel comfortable enough to be their genuine selves in public - these students always existed - they were just hiding their truths.

Very much disagree both that it is real in every case and that the relatively friendlier atmosphere of today accounts for the visibility of trans kids. Activists and kneejerk proponents tend to rely on unprovable or un-dis-provable assertions like this.

Just because someone explores something while trying to find their identity doesn't mean it's not "real" if they eventually determine that was not the right fit. It can certainly be true, that as transgender becomes more accepted in our culture - there will be some people who explore as they are finding themselves. For some, they have known 100% from a very young age, for others it takes longer to determine exactly who they are.

I'd add that negative pressures from the outside (parents, community) only make life more difficult for a young (or grown!) person to discover their true self.

I said nothing about exploration not being associated with "realness". Not sure what that has to do with anything. Its obvious that many kids at our DC school are exploring. In some cases, it is the "true self", in others, it is a temporary stop on life's journey. We see it a lot at our school.

Negative pressures from the parents, if anything I have seen, is "parenting". Our school sees itself as in loco parentis to the degree that it socially transitions kids as young as FOUR without cluing in the parents. And our school is so over the top about promoting this (not just leveling the playing field) ... if I was in kindergarten and there were balloons and rainbows and boas to celebrate me and frequently tell me how extra-special I am, I'd find a way to join the rainbow.

Absolutely, I’m not doubting that there is a very small population of trans people out there and there always has been. But this sudden fad of promoting and encouraging every young child to explore their gender identity is not good parenting or educating. Pretending that gender identity doesn’t nearly always match biological sex for young kids is confusing for kids and not helpful for their continued mental health.

The gender dysphoria bandwagon fad is over.