Eleven-year-olds reportedly asked if they're gender fluid by non-binary librarian at school event

Another middle school has jumped on the LGBTQ indoctrination bandwagon.  This time it’s Hastings Middle School of the Upper Arlington School district in Ohio.

Unbeknownst to parents, Hasting’s 6th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teachers teamed up with the Upper Arlington Public Library and invited youth librarian, Alexx Burris, to make recommendations for books related to the classes’ reading theme “Coming of Age.”

During the presentation, Burris reportedly recommended 9 books in total but focused on two books. Most notably, Anna on the Edge whose main character is introduced to and explores her gender fluidity. According to a parent whose child was present for the discussion, the youth librarian proceeded to identify herself as non-binary and proceeded to question the children on their understanding of the terms non-binary and transgender. 

Ana on the Edge, a book on gender fluidity

According to parents, during at least one of the presentations Buris asked whether any children in the room thought they might be a different gender and whether they have a safe place to discuss these thoughts at home. The teachers, Hastings library staff, and aides allowed the presentations to continue in each of the 5 Language Arts class periods. Understandably, several parents called the school to voice their concerns. 

“[We need to let this] community know what is happening within our schools. Because right now, there are a lot of parents that have no idea what their kids are being exposed to on a daily basis. Adults need to start protecting our children from this constant bombardment of gender confusion and sexuality,” said one frustrated parent from the school.

These parents have every right to be frustrated, their children are being targeted by two publicly funded institutions. Their tax dollars were not intended to be spent on public services aimed at confusing and sexualizing their children behind their backs.

Youth Liberian, Alexx Burris locked up her social media after the school district began their investigation

Another parent that spoke to Libs of TikTok said, “My husband and I immediately contacted the principal who was unaware of the guest in the school as well as the books and subject matter being discussed.” The parent expressed to us that the principal seemed to agree that the subject matter is, in fact, controversial.

Twelve days later, all sixth-grade families received an email from the Hastings principal, Mike Robertson explaining that some parents have reached out with concerns that books were not shared in advance and, therefore, did not have an opportunity to opt-out of the instruction. 

Email to parents from Hastings Middle School principal

Robertson’s email shared that an investigation was opened, offered a link to the district’s opt-out policies, and reiterated the district policy that requires materials be screened for controversial content that may merit administrator approval.  The letter included the list of books that Burris recommended.

Taken aback, one parent noted, “I now have a list of 18 books that I can and should peruse that may or may not contain a controversial topic that might be available to my child in school.”

One month later, some parents received the findings of the investigation from the school district’s Director of Human Resources, Matthew Jordan. The 10-page report included an admission by the principal that, although he had discussions with some of his staff regarding materials, controversial issues, and parents’ rights to opt-out, he did not have this conversation with the 6th-grade ELA staff. 

Summary of findings from the investigation into the books promoted at Hastings Middle School

And that was it. There was no further communication from the school. There was no apology for the promotion of gender fluidity to 11 and 12-year-olds. More alarming, there was no corrective action, no policy change, and no consequences for staff who exposed these children to confusing topics behind their parents' backs. 

“Most of our community is in the dark about the books in elementary classrooms, the middle school presentations, the asking of pronouns, teachers having conversations with individual kids about whether or not they are transgender without parental knowledge, signs in bathrooms saying they can’t use it if they are anti-LGBTQ or don’t like using a gender-neutral bathroom…All of which is happening in our schools and is documented,” said a parent of a child in the school district.

We reached out to the school and library and both declined to comment.