Eddie Tyler is a perfect example of how to push back against the gender identity mob.
Last week, Tyler, the Superintendent of Baldwin County Public Schools (BCPS), announced that his school system wouldn't use preferred pronouns. Instead, he instructed school counselors in his area to use the gender on a student's birth certificate. His refusal to bow to the woke Alabama School Counselors Association is refreshing and rare.
In case you missed the backstory, 1819 News reported that “documents posted to the Baldwin County Public Schools (BCPS) website” showed that “the school system is compelling its counselors to use students’ preferred gender pronouns and teaching them how to navigate counseling situations confidentially.”
That’s crazy, right?
“Not so fast,” Superintendent Tyler essentially responded.
“The Baldwin County Public School System does not have a gender identity nor a gender affirmation policy," Tyler told 1819 News. "We are not and we will not be mandating any acceptance of gender identity beyond what is published on a birth certificate in compliance with state law. We have not and we will not be adopting the national counseling association's standards for gender identity or gender affirmation. Not only would this action be in conflict with Alabama law, but it is also in conflict with the system's policies and philosophies."
This is excellent news. And we applaud Mr. Tyler. But the situation raises several questions.
First, how did we get to the point where a school superintendent is hailed a hero because he said no to the cultural Marxists and queer theorists who sought to hold his school system hostage? I wrote about the issue of gender identity in December, but it bears repeating because many of us still wonder why there is so much pressure to affirm a child’s preferred gender—and from school counselors, no less. Where did this come from, and what is going on?
As I’ve mentioned before, Abigail Shrier gives an excellent definition of gender dysphoria in her book, “Irreversible Damage”:
“Gender dysphoria—formerly known as ‘gender identity disorder’—is characterized by a severe and persistent discomfort in one’s biological sex. It typically begins in early childhood—ages two to four—though it may grow more potent in adolescence.”
Shrier encourages us, however, by noting that childhood gender dysphoria resolves in 70 percent of cases. Traditionally, the number of gender dysphoric children was so small (particularly amongst females) that “before 2012 … there was no scientific literature on girls ages eleven to twenty-one ever having developed gender dysphoria.”
Recent CDC numbers suggest that 1 in 5 kids identify as gay, lesbian, trans or questioning. How did the number of sexually confused kids go from practically nothing to over 20 percent in such a short period of time? And why are we rushing to affirm what didn’t exist a few years ago? One wonders if this monumental shift towards radical gender ideology has happened at school, a place it seems has become the de facto learning lab for sexual confusion.
So, who are these counselors, with their demands that we follow their edicts and affirmations? Who are the people to whom Tyler said no?
The organization Courage is a Habit has conducted extensive research regarding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), finding that the “ASCA trains school counselors to hide students’ sex and gender preferences from parents.” They work with homosexual-friendly organizations, which encourage students to hide their pronouns or name changes from their parents. They also advocate for “transition closets in the classroom without parental knowledge, sexually explicit books made available to students, [and] transgender topics to be introduced in elementary school.”
This matters because, as the first 1819 report about BCPS explained, “The mission of the Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA) mirrors the American School Counselor Association’s mission.” It’s also important to remember that the legislature passed House Bill 123 in May, permitting the state to have mental health counseling and services in every Alabama public school, opening the door for this radical agenda.
All too often, our schools employ people who decidedly and deceitfully wrest responsibility away from parents, the people who are the God-given authorities in a child's life. That must stop, and respect for parental authority must be restored.
And when we see adults being adults—such as Eddie Tyler—we should thank them. In a world gone mad, Tyler is the person many of us are waiting for, a leader who publicly advocates for our kids by standing against the seductive transgender craze. A leader who’s an example, that gets people saying, “If Eddie Tyler pushed back, we can too.”
Amie Beth Shaver is a speaker, writer and media commentator. Her column appears every Wednesday in 1819 News. Shaver served on the Alabama GOP State Executive Committee, was a candidate for State House District 43 and spokeswoman for Allied Women.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
