Colorado parents of transgender 1st-grader file complaint over restroom ban

[Minimalist]

Yeah....


I wonder where the kid got that idea from?

Yeah....


I wonder where the kid got that idea from?

Never thought this would happen, but I have to agree...Six years old is just too young for a child to try to figure out what they are at this age...

As my father-in-law used to say....even a blind pig picks up an acorn now and then.

But seriously, at 6? I think the parents wanted a girl and were disappointed. Somebody needs a good ass-kicking.

[A Theist]

Never thought this would happen, but I have to agree...Six years old is just too young for a child to try to figure out what they are at this age...

As my father-in-law used to say....even a blind pig picks up an acorn now and then.

But seriously, at 6? I think the parents wanted a girl and were disappointed. Somebody needs a good ass-kicking.

Looks like I picked up another acorn then...Definitely have to agree with you again.

[rexbeccarox]

Regardless of my opinion on whether a kid is transgender at the age of six (although, for the record, I don't find it improbable), I think it's despicable that children at that age are being sexualized. If a little kid, who happens to have a penis, wants to wear dresses, play with dolls, and feels more comfortable going to the little girls' room instead of the boys... where there are stalls (ferfucksake), what's the big deal? Making a thing out of it ("it" meaning, I guess, nudity? What are they concerned about, really?) sexualizes kids when they're far too young to understand what sex is.

[A Theist]

Never thought this would happen, but I have to agree...Six years old is just too young for a child to try to figure out what they are at this age...

I agree. This may be the first time I have ever agreed with you. I mean, seriously, even if he really does feel like he should have been a different gender at that age, I can't really believe that a kid should be that utterly sure of his own sexual identity when he's freaking six. He should at least wait until puberty. He may have grown out of it by that time.

I agree. This may be the first time I have ever agreed with you.

Yeah, no kidding! Seems to be a day for miracles, huh!...(and you thought there was no God )

I can't really believe that a kid should be that utterly sure of his own sexual identity when he's freaking six.

I agree....Min had a good point...I think the parents have a lot to do with this.

[EGross]

I am not sure what the issue is. Don't they know that the lines to the boys room are much shorter?

But seriously, if a kid decides he is feeling pretty old, and puts on a grey wig and stuff, and goes to a movie theater and demands the pensioner price, he can probably play dress up all he wants, but that does not change his status as a minor. And if the school has a rule that boys use the lav with "boys" written on it, then it doesn't matter if you play dress up or not, you stick with the rules, work with the system, or go someplace where they are devoid of such rules. And I can put on black face, but I still won't get the special Ethiopian discount for medical school here.

This is an opportunity for the parents to teach about rules and boundries, rather than teach that there aren't any.

[A Theist]

Probably because not all atheists think the same way you do Ryan....that's been clearly evident on this forum.

Bubba, I'm aware.

See, I understand why you hate gay people. But, an atheist has no recourse to base that hatred on the Bible, as you do. I'm curious to see what makes an atheist justify arbitrary discrimination against gay people.

What. We're not allowed to have a conversation debating the gay life style? ...and where did I say I hated gay people? Just because we disagree with the life style doesn't mean we hate gays.

[rexbeccarox]

I'm of the opinion that social rules and boundaries are often so arbitrary that they should not only be broken, but exploded. Kids should change the rules, no blindly abide by them.

[Aractus]

By Colleen O'Connor
The Denver Post


The parents of a transgender 6-year-old have filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division because Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain banned the first-grader from using the girls' restroom.

The child, Coy Mathis, was born male but identifies as female. She had attended the school since December 2011 before being pulled out by her parents.

There are two issues here, and the first one is one that nobody in this thread has touched on at all.

Firstly it is up to the school to make decisions that some parents will disagree with. They often take into account the opinions and feelings of other parents when making difficult decisions that are likely to upset one or two parents.

This includes things like banning nuts. While it puts out a lot of parents, usually for the benefit of only one child in the school, kids are known to share food no matter what you tell them they can and cannot eat.

Also children's behaviour that may be acceptable at home, may not be acceptable at school - and vice-versa. So the first issue is the fact that the school has a responsibility to the children entrusted in their care, and to the parents of the children.

Secondly, and less importantly, there is not a huge issue with boys using girls toilets, generally, since all cubicles are private anyway.

---

I think I gotta side with the OP on this one.

I'm curious about how a 6 year old came to question their own sexuality at such a young age. I mean, I might be talking out my ass here, but at 6 I wasn't wondering about my sexuality or gender. I was wondering how to stop the excessive bleeding from my Stretch Armstrong. It just seems a little...off...for someone that young to be considering topics of gender without outside influence (i.e. the parents).

I agree it indicates a psychological problem may be present (or the kid may be in an innocent phase), in either case it would be advisable that the parents seek the advice of one or two psychologists on the matter.

[John V]

But seriously, if a kid decides he is feeling pretty old, and puts on a grey wig and stuff, and goes to a movie theater and demands the pensioner price, he can probably play dress up all he wants, but that does not change his status as a minor. And if the school has a rule that boys use the lav with "boys" written on it, then it doesn't matter if you play dress up or not, you stick with the rules, work with the system, or go someplace where they are devoid of such rules. And I can put on black face, but I still won't get the special Ethiopian discount for medical school here.

If she says she's a girl, then she is a girl, regardless of biology...or at least that's what was argued to me in another thread.

[CapnAwesome]

No, they don't, he just said he wants to know how they justify it. I want to know that too. There's no legitimate secular reason for why the LGBT community should be oppressed, soo... we want to know what the reason is here.

You see, you added the word legitimate just so you could control the criteria. Lots of secular societies have persecuted homosexuals. Cuba kicked out them out. Soviet Russia banned homosexuality during Lenin's rule. Whether or not it's 'legitimate' is a subjective thing.

As for the article, even if a 6 year old has a gender identity, they don't have the proper ability to express it. The rules are the rules. Some kooky parents don't get to change them.