Over 1,000 school districts allow teachers to hide transgender status of students from their guardians, parents' group claims

Parents' rights group Parents Defending Education released a list of what it says are over 1,000 school districts where teachers can keep information regarding a child's gender confusion hidden from parents.

The list, which the group says is not comprehensive, details 1,044 school districts in the United States that have "Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Policies that openly state that district personnel can or should keep a student’s transgender status hidden from parents."

The districts total 18,331 schools teaching a whopping 10.7 million students.

"We are still getting tips that are pouring in every day," the group's president, Nicole Neily, told Just the News. "We actually released this number initially in March, and then we identified about 200 counties. ... This number keeps growing across the country," she explained.

According to Neily, the ideas are being pushed forward by state school board associations with association with gender activist groups.

"These associations are not parents' friends, and we're really trying to remind families of that as well," she noted. "So these are policies that are being pushed by activist groups like GLSEN and the Trevor Project that are saying the families are inherently not safe."

The group identified a pair of activist groups named GLSEN and the Trevor Project that focus on gender identity in youth.

GLSEN, which is pronounced "glisten," stands for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.

"We advise on, advocate for, and research comprehensive policies designed to protect LGBTQ students as well as students of marginalized identities. We’ve brought record support to the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act and fought discriminatory legislation in over 15 states," the group boasts on its website.

The network has recommended policy that dictates that school staff should not inform parents about a student's gender identity.

"All persons, including students, have a right to privacy, and this includes the right to keep one’s transgender status private at school," a document noted. "Information about a student’s transgender status, legal name, or gender assigned at birth also may constitute confidential medical information. Disclosing this information to other students, their parents, or other third parties may violate privacy laws."

The Trevor Project has described itself as "the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning) young people."

However, even when a child is showing signs of suicidal risk, it recommends the school not tell the parents about the child's gender identity.

"When a parent is notified of perceived suicide risk or an attempt, it is essential that the school maintain student confidentiality related to personal information such as sexual orientation or gender identity, especially when the student has not already disclosed to the parent or guardian and does not want it shared."

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