By Jack Brangan
Over the past 10 years, there has been a tremendous increase in Jersey teenagers claiming to be a gender different from their biological sex. The rate has skyrocketed from about 0.67% to 3.21%, according to data from the Williams Institute.
That’s nearly a five-fold increase.
The Cass Review in the UK, the largest and most exhaustive study thus far, examined over 9,000 cases referred to the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service, confirming this exact pattern. In the early years, 1989–2000, there were fewer than 10 cases per year. By the late 2010s–2020, referrals exploded to over 2,500 per year, a massive increase mirroring the rise of the internet and social media. One of the conclusions of the Cass Review was that psychosocial factors, including the rise of the internet, online content, early exposure to pornographic images and social media, were among the greatest drivers of this surge of gender dysphoria.
Not biology!
Compounding the issue here in New Jersey, gender ideology is MANDATORY education in New Jersey schools from K-12, making our state one of only six states in the entire country that require it. While every adult should be free to live the life that brings them happiness, we must face the dangerous reality for Jersey teens: that long-term studies show high levels of suicidality and mental health struggles among transgender teens.
THE DANGER:
“Data indicate that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32345113/)
Surely, we do not want this for our children.
On top of this, New Jersey’s Policy 5756 allows students to begin socially transitioning at school, including changes in name, pronouns, and presentation, without parental knowledge or consent. School districts will even create a unique, parallel set of school records reflecting the teens’ newly chosen name and pronouns. New Jersey schools can actively re-gender your child while keeping you in the dark. This is also the same Policy 5756 that permits young men in girls’ sports and locker rooms. It’s all there in the policy.
And it’s all legal in New Jersey. This is not good policy for children. This is activism.
While some teens may seek comfort in their “gender identity, ” for most families, a “transitioning” child represents a serious family crisis in the home. While we must have compassion and empathy for gender dysphoric teens, we must also take steps to change this trend and change the Student Learning Standards in the State of New Jersey, K-12.
There is no need for any of this in our children’s world, let alone their curriculum.
Leave gender ideology to adults.
Leave our children alone!
