Education Secretary Linda McMahon met with “detransitioners” at the Department of Education on Thursday, coinciding with DeTrans Awareness Day. The discussion focused on the influence schools, educators, and administrators have on youth regarding irreversible gender transition procedures.
“No teacher should attempt to persuade or coerce a student to undergo a gender transition. No parent should be lied to or prevented from knowing what is going on with their child’s mental or physical health,” McMahon said following the meeting, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and learning from detransitioners’ experiences to prevent similar occurrences.
The meeting revealed that many detransitioners felt schools played a significant role in their early social transitions, often preceding medical interventions. Claire Abernathy, 20, recounted how swiftly she transitioned socially and medically after her school affirmed her identified gender without notifying her parents.
Laura Becker, 28, shared insights on how being autistic made her particularly susceptible to gender ideology. She argued that autistic children might focus intensely on ideas, making them more vulnerable to the pressures of transitioning.
Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump has moved to ban the chemical and surgical mutilation of children in the name of gender ideology. The executive order led to many medical institutions across the country ending or pausing so-called “gender-affirming care.”
