REVEALED: Rural Texas School District includes gender ideology in curriculum, teaches kids about pronouns, gender spectrum, and circumventing parents

The Gordon Independent School District, a public school district in rural Texas, appears to incorporate transgender lessons as part of the curriculum. The school's website lists Unlocking Current Issues: Transgender Life as one of the curriculum resources. The book teaches students about transgenderism, provides tips for coming out as transgender, and advises kids to find another adult to shelter with if their parents aren’t affirming.

Unlocking Current Issues: Transgender Life

The book begins with an explanation on the “human spectrum” and details how in recent years,  medical and psychological experts came to a new understanding. “Being trans has a set place on the human spectrum,” the author explains.  “Like a rainbow with its many colors, that spectrum is a wide scale.” In fact, the author believes being transgender is as simple as being left-handed, because both are merely normal deviations from the majority. 

The next chapter discusses the challenges of coming out as transgender and the negative parental reactions that can come as a result. The author believes that the correct way for parents to deal with a transgender child is to affirm their gender identity. The book tells the story of Joseph Romero who, at the age of six, enjoyed dressing in girls clothes. His parents spoke to a pediatrician who suggested their child might be transgender. This was brought as an example of a positive parental reaction to coming out. On the flipside, those who don’t affirm their child’s gender identity are portrayed as having a “negative parental reaction.” The book encourages trans members of such families to have a “backup person who should be willing to shelter and protect the trans person if necessary.” 

Story of Alex Ramos, a biological female who came out as a girl at age 13

The book goes on to explain how to spot early signs of gender dysphoria in children. “The first warning sign is a trans-person’s feeling of being born in the wrong body,” it says. “For instance, a transgender child will enjoy playing in specific ways. If that individual is born male but identifies as female, she may prefer to play as girls often do.” The author concludes that a boy with gender dysphoria will like to play with dolls, while a girl experiencing the same may lean toward toy trucks. The author encourages parents of gender-confused children to allow them to live in their expressed gender as a means of reducing anxiety. “This is particularly effective with children,” the author stresses.

The book claims that children can choose their gender identity

In the next chapter, the author weighs the options on whether to medically transition and suggests that teens and children might require more time to think about transitioning than adults. However, during this time they might be on the verge of reaching puberty which can create confusion. “A young person upset by these changes may need breathing space before puberty arrives,” the author writes. “To create that pause in his or her life, doctors can administer certain drugs called hormone blockers. If at any point the patient decides not to pursue a transition, the blockers can be withdrawn. The book claims that the patient’s body will experience puberty in a natural way, contrary to some medical opinions. 

Excerpt from book, teaching that children with gender dysphoria should live in their “true gender”

Although transgenderism is the main theme of the book, the author dedicates a chapter to the “gender spectrum” and lists over 20 genders. “Although many transgender people identify as male or female, some individuals do not feel as though they fit into either category,” it reads. “Such transgender people are called nonbinary.” Lacy, a biological male with breast implants, is brought as an example of someone who falls under the vast spectrum of gender. “I identify as fae,” he says. “ Im male and I don't have any intention of taking estrogen, but… I have a more effeminate body. Being fae is really about owning my own femininity.” The book takes it one step further to say that “it is not true that a person’s sense of gender remains exactly the same throughout life.” Instead, a person’s gender can “form and reform” during their lifetime. 

Examples of different genders on the “Gender Spectrum”

When it comes to discussing nonbinary pronouns, the book offers an endless amount of options. “Some nonbinary people feel that the use of “he” and “she” is outdated and even disrespectful to them,” it says. Instead, the book encourages people to use their preferred pronouns, such as the gender-neutral pronoun “they”, or the new gender-neutral pronoun “ze.” “An example of its use would be “ze drove home instead of “he drove home or “she drove home,” the author instructs. 

Image from book, showing that there are more than 2 genders

Image from book, showing nonbinary pronouns

The book also touches on the controversy regarding “bathroom bills” and the fear many have of allowing members of the opposite gender into sex-separate bathrooms. The author quotes political and legal commentator Ian Millhiser to argue that there is no evidence that anyone has ever been sexually assaulted by a trans woman or cisgender man in a bathroom. He goes so far as to mock the legitimate concerns of many parents. “The likelihood that a woman will face this kind of assault appears to be exactly the same as her chances of being attacked by a unicorn,” he says. Instead, the author makes the argument that those who are against such reforms are merely ignorant and need to be educated.

The book promotes the idea that trans people should be able to use the bathroom of their choice

Gordon ISD is located in the district represented by Glenn Rogers in the Texas House of Representatives. Mr. Rogers has a history of being anti school choice. A recent house vote showed that he promotes banning the use of state funds for school voucher programs. We emailed Mr. Rogers to ask if he still maintains that parents who oppose gender ideology should be unable to send their children to a school of their choice. We have not received a response from his office.

Libs of TikTok also reached out to Gordon ISD, but did not receive a response to our request for comment. Parents in rural Texas deserve answers to why their children are being taught about gender ideology in the classroom. Most importantly, parents should be given the the ability to opt their kids out of such discussions or send them to a school that aligns with their values. We will continue to fight for parents’ rights to ensure that children’s innocence is protected.