Submitted by Mark Fichtel, Greenwich
I found the letter from Karsten Vagner dated March 31 (“A Wish on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility” offensive and full of innuendoes and misinformation.
He refers to “the Parental Rights in Education Bill in Florida – more colloquially known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill.” It is only known as that because people like him insist on falsely labeling it as such. The word “gay” is not in the bill anywhere.
The bill forbids teachers and principals from initiating discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten through third grade but does not forbid such discussion if brought up by a student.
Classes above third grade may discuss such topics if “age appropriate” or “developmentally appropriate,” which leaves a lot of wiggle room for those discussions to take place.
The offensive innuendo is clear when he states in two places: “the GOP “Parents’ Rights” agenda opts to target transgender children and people who are LGBTQ+, among others” and asserts that the GOP is “bullying transgender people.” Beyond opposing same sex bathrooms and gym changing rooms, and biological males competing in biological female sports, there is no evidence presented of his charges as it pertains to transgender issues, and none at all when it comes to the LGBTQ+.
All of us want the schools to be safe, and for him to imply that those who oppose some of the more extreme desires of transgender advocates, or oppose restrictions on the Second Amendment that the voters have not approved are, therefore, not interested in school safety, is a vile canard.