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Dear John,
While the Left has been advancing a radical LGBT ideology, the phenomenon of "gender dysphoria" has exploded in the U.S. among youth between the ages of 6-17.
Between 2017 and 2021 alone, a Reuters investigation found that a minimum of 121,882 minors were diagnosed with gender dysphoria (the condition of being mentally distressed due to a perceived mismatch between one's gender identity and biological sex).
It's no wonder this movement has become so widespread with the growing number of schools indoctrinating their (sometimes very young) students with the gender identity ideology.
Recently, it was revealed that a Pennsylvania school was instructing teachers to hide the preferred names and pronouns of trans-identifying students from their parents. In Vermont, an entire high school girls' volleyball team was kicked out of their own locker room because they objected to a trans-identifying biological male being present in the locker room and watching as the girls changed. The father of one of the girls was fired from his job as the soccer coach for using a male pronoun when referring to the trans-identifying student.
School policies and practices that undermine parental rights regarding their children's medical and mental health on this issue are alarming. But hear me clearly: the gender identity agenda goes far beyond our nation's schools. From big government, the media, and many in the medical field, this widespread indoctrination hurts children and their families.
No family is off-limits!
Will you help FRC push back on this harmful agenda and protect families?
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Here's a snapshot of what FRC covered just last year regarding the gender identity agenda:
- In Virginia, a state delegate temporarily reintroduced legislation that would criminally charge parents who do not affirm their children's gender identity.
- In Indiana, the Court of Appeals removed a 17-year-old minor from parental custody after they refused to affirm the child's female gender identity.
- In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation blocking state officials from enforcing laws from other states that hinder access to "gender transition" procedures and drugs--stripping custody from parents who reside in another state if their child seeks gender-transition interventions in California.
- In Pennsylvania, taxpayers have paid more than $16.7 million since 2015 on gender transition procedures for minors under former Governor Tom Wolf's (D) administration. These procedures include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries.
Gender identity ideology targets our children, mutilates their bodies, and refuses to allow parents to stand in its way. Like abortion, this agenda is an assault on the image of God in every child (Genesis 1:27).
We cannot look away and pretend we never knew.
If we don't stand up for parental rights now, the ramifications for today's youth and future generations cannot be overstated.
When you partner with FRC, you will help fuel our mission in protecting children from this ideology and the rights of parents!
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Thankfully, there's a burgeoning grassroots movement standing up for parental rights. A recent nationwide poll found that 83% of Americans agreed "parents have the constitutional right to make decisions for their children without government interference unless there is proof of abuse and neglect."
Sadly, the Biden administration disagrees with the majority of Americans. During the December signing ceremony for the (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act, Biden and other speakers revealed what we warned about for years--this was not just about marriage.
Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that the law is just part of their larger ideological agenda, stating that "The Dobbs decision reminds us that fundamental rights are interconnected, including the right to marry who you love, the right to access contraception, and the right to make decisions about your own body."
Since 2018, 28 states have introduced legislation to stop the mutilation and sterilization of minors.
President Joe Biden attacked these bipartisan state-level efforts, such as Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Acts, when he remarked, "We need to challenge the hundreds of callous, cynical laws introduced in the states targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors who give children the care they need."
John, government has no business influencing the worldview of our nation's youth. Its role is to protect the God-given rights of mothers and fathers to protect their children.
This year, Family Research Council celebrates its 40th anniversary. We have been leading on issues affecting families for four decades, and we will continue to counter harmful ideologies and equip Christians with a biblical worldview to protect children and help families flourish.
Your prayers and financial support give FRC the reach and ability to proclaim the truth of Scripture in the public square.
Greater opportunities often bring stronger opposition, but we will not hesitate to expand our communication channels so we can share a biblical worldview and advance faith, family, and freedom. By God's grace, may we continue to be bold witnesses to His truth!
Thank you in advance for your perseverance through prayer and generosity.
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2023 Family Research Council.