One troll’s story of secretly “crushing [hormone] pills” into her daughter’s cereal in the morning to force them into being transgender went viral among gullible conservatives.
An internet forum where people pretending to be parents forcing their children to be transgender has gotten shut down after it was found to be full of fake stories.
As the U.S. plunges even deeper into a moral panic over children who are supposedly being forced to transition, some anti-transgender people are reacting to the fact that that never happens by making up stories about it and trying to pass them off as real.
“Anyone else have trouble convincing your teen kids to continue transitioning?” user “Funkyduffy” wrote on the subreddit r/TransParentTransKid. “My 15-year-old daughter (AMAB) has started refusing her estradiol so I’ve been crushing the pills and putting it in her cereal in the morning.”
Reddit is a largely anonymous internet platform where most users create unidentifiable handles and connections between users aren’t the focus, a contrast to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This makes it easier and more accepted for people to create temporary profiles to say whatever they want on various forums called subreddits.
One such subreddit, r/TransParentTransKid, was started last August when some users decided to post fake stories to it to promote the negative stereotype that parents and schools are forcing kids to be transgender. In reality it is common for schools and parents to be obstacles to trans kids expressing their identities while it’s unheard of for schools and parents to impede cisgender kids the same way.
The user who called for the subreddit’s creation said that it would be “filled with stories about how our real/adoptive children magically learned they were also trans after finding out about their parents,” according to Reuters.
According to another subreddit, r/AgainstHateSubreddits, r/TransParentTransKid was shut down for violating Reddit’s rules because they were “engaged in promoting hatred of transgender people, as well as targeted harassment.”
But the stories still spread outside of Reddit to rightwingers who were all too willing to believe them.
“This is fucking child abuse and I’ll die on this Hill,” wrote libertarian author Justin O’Donnell on Twitter, posting a picture of Funkyduffy’s fake story. He got almost 46,000 likes for it.
Ian Miles Cheong – who has a history of posting misinformation about trans people online and even riling Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) up – shared the story with the words “Good parenting.”
The story comes as conservative politicians and activists are claiming that there is a massive effort by schools and parents to turn children transgender.
For example, Rep. Greene said in February that there are “these mothers that think [having a trans child] is like having a handbag. They need to have a boy, a girl, and a trans child like as if they’re some kind of accessory.”
Funkyduffy’s story may have been one that pushed her to believe that such parents exist.
“I have never – not once – heard of a child being forced to transition,” said the ACLU’s Gillian Branstetter. “The exception is intersex children who are frequently forced into surgeries, yet every effort to ban gender-affirming care exempts those surgeries.”
I have never–not once–heard of a child being forced to transition. The exception is intersex children who are frequently forced into surgeries, yet every effort to ban gender-affirming care exempts those surgeries.
Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has requested that Miami-Dade and Broward County public schools ban the Bible.Photo by Tetra Images/Getty Images
Since July of 2021, more than 200 books have been banned in various school districts across Florida, the state with the third-highest number of school book banning incidents in the U.S. This comes as the Florida legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis have passed House Bill 1467, which allows members of the public to challenge and ban books available in school classrooms and libraries, and a swath of “anti-woke” legislation purportedly aimed at empowering parents to protect their children’s impressionable minds.
With that in mind, local political stunt activist Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has taken it upon himself to add another book to the lengthy list: the Bible. This week, in letters sent to superintendents in eight school districts in Florida — including Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) and Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) — Stevens, an avowed atheist, petitions the districts to ban the Christian Bible from classrooms and libraries, citing its inclusion of inappropriate topics.
“If they’re gonna ban books, then the whole library should be in play. My hope — and it’s a longshot — is that they will apply their own standards to themselves and ban the Bible,” Stevens tells New Times.
Free-speech and literary-expression advocates have been sounding the alarm about what they see as a bureaucratic, authoritarian attack on education in Florida, particularly after recent news that the state rejected 54 math textbooks from the curriculum for allegedly containing prohibited topics such as “Critical Race Theory.” When the state went so far as banning math books, Stevens says, he was inspired to use the same bureaucracy to strike back against the conservative wave with an operation he calls “Eff Off Jesus.”
“I wish to file such an objection, requesting the Miami-Dade County Public School system immediately remove the Bible from the classroom, library, and any instructional material,” Stevens writes in his request addressed to MDCPS Superintendent Jose Dotres on April 19. “And, as is often the case with banned books, I ask your agency lay flame to that giant stack of fiction in a pyre worthy of a Viking sendoff.”
Stevens cites age inappropriateness, social-emotional learning, mentions of bestiality and rape, and “wokeness” as reasons to ban the Bible. Each reason is accompanied by a corresponding Bible excerpt. (A copy of Stevens’ letter is attached at the end of this article).
“With the constant babbling concerns about teaching Critical Race Theory, should we not take stock of the Bible’s position on slavery? I am concerned our young white students will read such passages and wake up to civilization’s sordid past,” Stevens writes, followed by a passage from Ephesians that speaks of slaves and servants obeying their masters.
Though book-banning incidents have been recorded in seven Florida school districts, none has been documented in South Florida’s school districts.
But at least one South Florida school district has received Stevens’ letter. “We acknowledge receipt of the subject letter. District staff will review it and respond accordingly,” Elmo R. Lugo, a spokesperson for MDCPS, tells New Times via email.
BCPS Superintendent Vickie L. Cartwright’s office could not immediately comment as to whether the agency received the request and how it intended to address it.
“They better not fucking ignore me,” Stevens warns. “If they ignore me, doesn’t that tell you something? The government can’t pick and choose religion, but can they choose which books they review for banning and which ones they don’t?”
Since July of 2021, more than 200 books have been banned in various school districts across Florida, the state with the third-highest number of school book banning incidents in the U.S. With that in mind, local political stunt activist Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has taken it upon himself to add another book to the lengthy list: the Bible.
This week, in letters sent to superintendents in eight school districts in Florida — including Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) and Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) — Stevens, an avowed atheist, petitions the districts to ban the Christian Bible from classrooms and libraries, citing its inclusion of inappropriate topics.
Stevens cites age inappropriateness, social-emotional learning, mentions of bestiality and rape, and “wokeness” as reasons to ban the Bible. Each reason is accompanied by a corresponding Bible excerpt.
Stevens first appeared on JMG in 2013 when his Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans Festivus pole went on display in the Florida Capitol.
We heard from him again in 2015 when he applied to place a rainbow Festivus pole topped with a mirror ball at the Arkansas Capitol.
Also in 2015, he was approved to place a similar rainbow Festivus pole at the Florida Capitol.
Stevens has fought to have “Satanic prayers” included among Christian invocations at county commission meetings.
An atheist in Florida finally introduced a formal petition to ban the Bible in some schools. And the logic makes perfect sense: if you’re going to ban books for having adult/inappropriate content, you have to start with the Bible, which has rape, slavery, genocide, and much more.
As Florida is ramping up its book banning push — going so far as to ban "woke" math texts in schools, a South Florida atheist wants to add another book to the ban pile: The Christian Biblehttps://t.co/D1IXV1051w
Remember, conservatives don’t believe in rape. In their mindset, women are: 1. Property of men, and; 2. Asking for it by going outside their houses, showing any skin, being in public after sundown, etc.
Don’t forget the parts about the “how-to” instructions for owning slaves. Don’t forget the parts about the “how-to” instructions for creating a miscarriage (abortion).
Ya love that juicy little tidbit where two daughter’s get daddy drunk and then have sex with him .Good wholesome family fun Hey death sentences Stuff that in your ditty bag
Ezekiel 23:20 – There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.
1 Samuel 18:25 – Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
1 Samuel 18:27 – David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
For the anti-abortion folks, I recommend this lovely little passage. Oopsie!
Hosea 13:16 – The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open.
As I go through comments on posts about Christians trying to force their will on others I come across a lot of cooking and eating baby references. I wish I had thought to save them for our grand friend Jeff who as I understand is a baby meat gourmet. I am a back sliding atheist baby eater who doesn’t have Jeff’s well established baby eating regime, but I am sure when I get his new soon to come out child cookbook I will pick up my game. My understanding is the seasoning is not as important as cleaning the bowels first.
The Justice Department recently noted the violation of rights and disturbing conditions inside Mississippi’s largest prison, Parchman. The DOJ’s report found the prison fails to protect prisoners from violence or provide adequate mental health care. Parchman is just one example of why reforms are desperately needed in state prisons nationwide, which disproportionately incarcerate black and brown people.
Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community attend the “Say Gay Anyway” rally in Miami Beach, Florida on March 13, 2022. – Florida’s state senate on March 8 passed a controversial bill banning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools, a step that critics complain will hurt the LGBTQ community. Opposition Democrats and LGBTQ rights activists have lobbied against what they call the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which will affect kids in kindergarten through third grade, when they are eight or nine years old. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)CHANDAN KHANNA
Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill seems to have finally brought real attention to the years-long legislative crisis unfolding against LGBTQ+ (and especially trans) people. Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis late last month, the bill bans discussion of gender and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade classes, and could potentially bar such discussions at all age levels depending on what is determined to be “age appropriate.” Among its many egregious measures, it empowers parents to sue school districts for perceived violations, and also requires schools to notify parents of any changes related to a student’s “mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.”
Although the bill’s catchy “Don’t Say Gay” moniker has drawn international attention, this risks misleading people into believing that the law is uniquely evil. Unfortunately, it’s one of hundreds of bills filed over the past few years that seek to essentially eradicate queer people from public life. Whether framed as upholding “parental rights” or “protecting our children,” conservatives’ focus on public schools as a site of amoral contagion has been renewed with a fury perhaps not seen since the days of Anita Bryant. As of April 13, the ACLU counts 42 bills that have been filed this year alone pertaining to school and curriculum restrictions. Below, read about three other bills that also target schools as a place to roll back LGBTQ+ rights. Unlike Florida’s, these bills are still in progress — meaning there’s still time to campaign against them.
HB 1431, which would establish a “parental bill of rights” in education, actually predates Florida’s law by about a month. Introduced on December 1, 2021, the bill establishes parents’ right to “direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of his or her minor child.” It also mandates public schools to disclose “the nature and purpose of clubs and activities” to parents, and would give them the right to “object to instructional materials,” as well as the right to exempt their children from “a particular health or sex education instruction.” Violators would be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $1,200. Additionally, if a parent alleges a “violation” of one of these rights, they can bring a suit against the state or “any of its political subdivisions.”
Although the bill doesn’t specifically mention LGBTQ+ people, extracurriculars such as Gay/Queer-Straight Alliances have raised particular concern among the Fox News crowd, who claims that such clubs are evidence that teachers are “grooming” children into a sinister agenda. Similarly, conservatives have alleged that lessons concerning LGBTQ+ people and history are tantamount to “grooming,” which is likely why the right to object to “instructional materials” and certain sex education lessons are included in this bill.
HB 1431 was passed by the New Hampshire House of Representatives on March 15. A Senate vote is expected sometime over the next few weeks; if it passes and is signed into law, it will take effect on January 1, 2023.
HB 2161 is worded similarly to the New Hampshire bill. Unfortunately, it’s also much more comprehensive than the New Hampshire bill. In addition to establishing a “parents’ bill of rights,” Arizona’s version specifies that any attempt by any employee of the state (except for law enforcement) “to encourage or coerce a minor child to withhold information from the child’s parent” is grounds for discipline.
It also specifies that parents are allowed to object to instructional materials if it “questions [their] beliefs or practices in sex, morality or religion.” Parents must also be notified in advance if a teacher plans to incorporate “sexuality” into instructional materials other than sex education, and will be given the option to opt their children out. The bill would also prohibit school districts from offering sex education to students unless their parents sign a permission slip allowing them to participate. But even if a parent allows their child to receive sex education, this bill specifically would give them the “right” to ban their child from learning about AIDS.
Last but certainly not least, the bill would give parents the right to access all written and electronic records pertaining to their child, including participation in extracurricular activities and clubs, counseling records, reports of behavioral patterns, and email and other online accounts.
HB 2161 passed the Arizona House on February 24, and awaits Senate approval; considering that both the Senate minority and majority caucuses voted in favor of the bill on March 22 though, it’s likely that it will pass there as well.
This bill would also establish a “Parent Bill of Rights.” Predictably, SB 2360 shares quite a few characteristics with the New Hampshire and Arizona bills. But Tennessee’s version would also give parents the right to review curriculum, teacher manuals, and textbooks without having to sign a non-disclosure agreement, as well as the right to review the materials available in a school library, and specifically, the materials that their child has borrowed from the library. The bill would also mandate schools to provide parents with a list of all school organizations available to students, and would require students to get written parental consent before participating in any extracurricular clubs.
While not all bills pertaining to public education refer to themselves as a “parental bill of rights,” there are plenty of bills out there that similarly seek to censor instruction and provide parents with a frankly terrifying amount of oversight. NPR recently reported on a few of them, including an Alabama bill that would prohibit discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in K-5th grade classrooms, as well as similarly situated bills in Louisiana and South Carolina.
Photo: Shutterstock
Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has requested that Miami-Dade and Broward County public schools ban the Bible. Photo by Tetra Images/Getty Images
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