Evaluative Writing

Recognizing Gender Identity Could Constitute Child Abuse in Texas

In the article "He Came Out as Trans. Then Texas had him Investigate Parents of Trans Kids," a controversial issue has been whether accepting the decision of one's child to come out as trans constitutes child abuse. On the one hand, some argue that persons who identify as trans are not mentally well. From this perspective, trans people can be disregarded as mentally ill and not given a voice on the political stage. What's more, their parents can be investigated for child endangerment.

On the other hand, however, others argue that one's gender identity is a peronal decision, and it takes great courage to come out as trans. In the words of Morgan Davis, one of this view’s main proponents, “[i]t took me 52 years to be brave. I never had somebody stick up for me. I came from a really religious family. I was called all the names you can think of. I still don’t know anybody who would stick up for me.” According to this view, coming out as trans means living authentically and with contentment, while having to conceal one's gender identity entails great suffering, which is true child abuse, if you ask me.

In sum, then, the issue is whether trans people are afforded equal rights as human beings or whether we will as a society accept some people as less than. My own view is that gender indentity is an immutable characteristic and that it is wrong to discriminate against anyone for something they cannot control. Though I concede that the idea of trans children may be upsetting to some, I still maintain that people should be allowed to do what they think is best for themselves.

For example, I once worked with an openly trans women. Although some might object that she was really a he, I would reply that they should tend to their own gardens. The issue is important because trans people are just that: people. No one should be expected to live inauthentically to protect someone else's peace of mind.

References

Parks, C. (2022, September 26). He came out as trans. then Texas had him investigate parents of trans kids. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/09/23/texas-transgender-child-abuse- investigations/