7 Comments
Jun 24Liked by Dr. Owen Anderson

I personally believe that this is reprehensible., but to clarify - is this part of mandatory training? It says "workshops available upon request". Thank you.

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Unlike the DEI training, this is not required for *all* faculty. But it is the only workshop that ASU offers about this subject. There is no other perspective given. So in that sense, ASU is endorsing this view above all others and is not neutral.

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Agreed. Thank you.

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What is the problem with "gender ideology"? We have men and women. And people who don't fit into society's general descriptions of either. And people who feel they fit quite well, just not the one they were born with. So what? How is this a deeply divisive issue? How is this an assault on everything we hold dear? Nevermind that "transgender" people comprise like maybe 1% of the population of the US.

I hold both sides of this debate to the fire. On the one hand, we are making way too much of something, it is being blown out of proportion. We don't need special trainings and we don't need to teach 4th graders about pronouns. On the other, why can't we just let these unique people be who they are and get on with it. They are not destroying the fabric of our society (although the people coming to their defense just might, however inadvertently). Most people will never even meet a transgender person, that's how few of them there actually are.

This has become such a hot button topic and we all just need to chill. Be kind to everyone, that's what we need to teach each other and our children. Everything beyond that is just BS.

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I think you put your finger on the problem. First, this theory of identity is false and, in virtue of being false, harmful to those who live by it. Second, the number of people who do adhere to it was a very small number far out of balance with the amount of time given in university training or pop culture. But now, due to how much emphasis was put on this belief system in pop culture, a disproportionate number of middle schoolers identify this way. So it is not longer less than 1%. That push to have it flood pop culture is not inadvertent but very intentional.

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Whoa there... I definitely did not claim that gender identity issues are false in nature. These issues are harmful in as much as having any kind of identity crisis can be painful. Having known people who have gone through these issues, I do not believe it is simply a mistake on their part about who they are. True transgender issues are very real... and very rare.

However, I do see your point that the explosion of coverage of these issues has made it almost popular, particularly to young people, to claim to be trans. Instead of just simply being a kid who may be outside the norm (a tomboy for a girl or a boy interested in ballet), all of a sudden these differences have taken on an entirely deeper meaning. We have definitely swayed too far past what is reasonable.

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I am a teacher and recognize this “safe zone” language also. Several teachers have rainbow signs on their doors that read “Safezone”. It is thought to be inclusive but it’s the exact opposite just as you stated…it’s indoctrination to one side!

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