FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2010
Contact: Jenn Burleton, Executive Director
Phone: 503-252-3000
Email: jenn@transactiveonline.org
Website: www.transactiveonline.org
In a letter to parents of transgender children, TransActive Executive Director Jenn Burleton accuses FOX News of being "uninformed, intolerant and abusive" and of using transgender children and their families as "a prop in their culture war".
Apr 15, 2010 – This letter is about the continued ignorance and abuse that FOX News and its on-air personalities heap on transgender children and youth. While each and every one of these incidents is, in a very real sense, 'personal' to me, this one crosses over into (barely) controlled anger.
The following paragraph quotes comments from a FOX News, Bill O'Reilly show segment entitled "Is It Legal?" Mr. O'Reilly is commenting on the case of a female transgender student's right to use the girl's restroom. The Maine Human Rights Commission is proposing guidelines for respectful policies towards transgender students with regard to bathroom usage and participation on sports teams.
Bill said that if he were principal, he would "pull the kid in and say hey, we sympathize with you, we’re gonna try to get you help. But you were born a boy and that’s where you’re going and if you don’t like it you can go home and go to the bathroom.”
I know the young girl he is speaking abstractly about. I know the family of the girl he is speaking about. I was HONORED to have spent time with her and her parents on my recent trip to Maine. If ANYONE wants to look at a model for TRUE "family values", this family would be it.
This girl is, without ANY doubt, a girl. She is lively, friendly, fun-loving, intelligent, beautiful and 'typical' in almost any way you can think of. I know that so many of you understand exactly what I'm talking about, because SO MANY of you have the same kind of amazing children living with incredibly loving parents, siblings and caregivers.
TransActive was founded with the intent of being an unwavering, assertive and dedicated voice for transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families. TransActive is committed, when necessary, to speaking the TRUTH about your children and your families to the uninformed, intolerant and abusive "powers that be".
Thank you for your trust and the privilege to continue serving you and your children. Together, we will continue to win victories for your kids and ALL children who may not experience or express their gender identity in stereotypical ways. Together, we will someday silence those in the media who wish to use these children and families as a prop in their "culture war".
Jenn Burleton
Executive Director
TransActive Education & Advocacy
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TransActive educates the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community. We provide necessary support to improve the quality of life of transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families through education, services, advocacy and research.