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Transgender Boy Barred From Catholic School

Silver

Well-known member
I'm speechless...


OMAHA, Neb. -- An Omaha couple is allowing their 8-year-old son to openly live life as a girl. It’s a decision that means the child is no longer able to attend Catholic school.

Therapists and the child’s parents say the second grade student is transgender, a medical condition where a person’s inner sense of identity doesn’t match their biological gender. Some gender experts say as many as one in 500 people may be transgender or carry significant traits of the opposite sex.

"It’s kind of like you’re trapped somewhere and you can’t get out," said the boy, whose name and face are not being made public to protect the family from potential harm.

"She’s been a girl since the beginning, everything about her, the way she dances and skips around and the things she’s attracted to. It’s more than toys and clothes," said the child’s mother.

The mother said the child has consistently asked to be called a girl since she was 4 years old.

"One night, she said, 'Every night when I go to bed, I pray my inside will match my outside. But it never happens,'" the mother said, recalling the words of her middle child.

The child’s artwork is filled with crayon-colored images of princesses and mermaids. Her family has allowed the child to wear dresses and female clothing in their west Omaha home, but until recently, she had to change into boy clothes for her brother’s baseball games, church or any outing outside the house.

"Now I can wear nail polish, get rid of all my boy clothes and not worry about that name," the child said.

The child’s case recently came to light when her parents met with a leader of the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese to talk about transitioning the student into third grade at her school, St. Wenceslaus.

The family wanted the child to use a new female name, be able to wear a girl’s uniform and be included in girls' activities.

The mother, a life-long Catholic, thought making the transition in their parish would be the best place for their child to continue friendships, with a support system that included other parents and children.

"The child is welcomed to come, but it would not be acceptable to change the child’s gender and present as a girl," said Omaha Archdiocese's Chancellor, the Rev. Joseph Taphorn.

Taphorn said having the child attend the school for three years as a boy, and then presenting as a girl would not be a good learning environment for the child or other students. He said school has to be a peaceful, positive environment for everyone.

The child will attend a public school in the fall, using her chosen name and wearing a ponytail in her hair.

"It was not a decision that was made rashly at all. It was a decision to protect her psyche and her self-esteem," the mother said.

Therapists agree that forcing a person to live in a social role outside their perceived gender is damaging.

Omaha mental health therapist Ellie Hites said she’s worked with more than 200 transgendered clients in Omaha over the past 35 years.

Hites said she does psychological evaluations on all of her clients.

"One hundred percent of the time, I’ve never had anybody show up anything other than healthiest in the chosen gender role, as opposed to biological," Hites said.

She said her adult transgender clients have lived through nervous breakdowns, suicide attempts and deep depression because they could never truly be themselves. She has four transgendered clients right now.

"The story that I get is that 'I've known since I was real little, but everybody laughed or nobody paid any attention,'" Hites said.

The therapist said transgendered children insist they are the opposite sex, consistently.

"It’s like they arrive here with one biology but the mental set is counter to that," Hites said.

The 8-year-old’s favorite color is aqua. Her favorite toy: American Girl Dolls. And right now she’s reading a Junie B. Jones book that made her giggle when she talked about the plot.

Pink and aqua barrettes held her shoulder-length layered hair out of her face, while she drew chalk pictures of clouds on the pavement.

When her mother announced that the child would be allowed to pierce her ears next week, the girl screeched and had a huge smile on her face.

"You’ve waited long enough to live as a girl," the mother said.

The mother is on a mission to educate the community and encourage churches to open a dialog about diversity and acceptance of all people.

She recently waged an e-mail campaign to urge her church members to place an empty envelope in the collection basket on Mother’s Day weekend. She said she wanted to send a message to the church that church members can have a voice and that they shouldn’t just blindly follow the flock.

"Just take the time to listen. It is different. It’s something most people have never heard of, but it doesn’t make it scary or pathological," she said.
 

MsSage

Well-known member
It was a decision to protect her psyche and her self-esteem
Is this not the reason we have such rude children NOW????
At what point do we teach its NOT ABOUT YOU, the world does not revolved around you.
Life is not fair and you will have your feelings hurt and you might as well get use to it and learn to deal with it while you have an adult to show you the right way.
 

alice

Well-known member
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:
 

alice

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:

Wish there was a hands clapping smilie...'cause Mrs.Greg, you should get a standing ovation...!!!!!

Alice
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:

I didn't see any politics. I saw an issue between a private school and parents.
 

Silver

Well-known member
Boy I don't know about this. Looks to me like there is more than one issue at play here. One is a private school exercising it's right to make it's own decisions. Another is a family that seems to need to address it's own personal issues. I don't know if a private school should be expected to be forced into doing something it doesn't believe in. Let me rephrase that: A private school should be able to have the right to refuse service to anyone they choose.
It seems obvious the child has problems, and I certainly don't have an answer for that. Move to LA and enroll in public school maybe? I don't think there is gonna be an easy answer, and it looks like this kid is going to have a rough go of it whether if he finds himself accepted by his peers or not. Looks like a life 'happily ever after' will not be in his cards.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
I had a girl that wore boots and jeans. Drew pictures of horses and liked to hunt gophers. She still grew up a girl and is getting married Friday. Maybe the parents should have bought it GI joes instead of barbies. :?
 

MsSage

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:
So your saying I have NO SAY in passing my beliefs on to my child. It is about ME and MY CHILDREN. Not your and anyone else when it comes to MY CHILDREN. :roll:
They want to accept shim fine but DONT make the school change its rules so shim's feelings wont get hurt. Its a RELIGOUS school. They are based on the bible and GOD.
Why not this christian school cuz they say the rules will not be changed. That is their right. Find another school that will accept shim.
Why force this school to change just for shim?


As for fighting for my child DONT EVEN GO THERE LADY You have NO F***&^% CLUE
You want to attack me go ahead LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
MsSage said:
Mrs.Greg said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:
So your saying I have NO SAY in passing my beliefs on to my child. It is about ME and MY CHILDREN. Not your and anyone else when it comes to MY CHILDREN. :roll:
They want to accept shim fine but DONT make the school change its rules so shim's feelings wont get hurt. Its a RELIGOUS school. They are based on the bible and GOD.
Why not this christian school cuz they say the rules will not be changed. That is their right. Find another school that will accept shim.
Why force this school to change just for shim?


As for fighting for my child DONT EVEN GO THERE LADY You have NO F***&^% CLUEYou want to attack me go ahead LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT


tsk....tsk....tsk..... Sage you just don't learn do you?
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
MsSage said:
Mrs.Greg said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice
I agree! I think its sad that religion is made into politics,this child needs to go to school somewhere and why not a christian school :???:
So your saying I have NO SAY in passing my beliefs on to my child. It is about ME and MY CHILDREN. Not your and anyone else when it comes to MY CHILDREN. :roll:
They want to accept shim fine but DONT make the school change its rules so shim's feelings wont get hurt. Its a RELIGOUS school. They are based on the bible and GOD.
Why not this christian school cuz they say the rules will not be changed. That is their right. Find another school that will accept shim.
Why force this school to change just for shim?


As for fighting for my child DONT EVEN GO THERE LADY You have NO F***&^% CLUE
You want to attack me go ahead LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT
Ms. Sage,I have a question for you....Is freedom of speech reserved for only you and your party followers? :wink:
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice

Ok Alice. Give u all your solution to this situation.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
TexasBred said:
alice said:
So, Sage, how would you have handled this? Would you unconditionally love your child and fought for all you were worth to help the child? Or, would you have forced the child to accept something that could never be accepted, and sooner, rather than later, gone to the child's funeral because the child committed suicide...which is what happens much more often than not in these kinds of situations? Guess what, Sage...it's not about YOU, and what you believe...when it comes to the life of a child.

Alice

Ok Alice. Give u all your solution to this situation.
Why not just let this child go to the school? IMHO....the schools not acting very Christian like. The poor child already has a tough row to hoe.I'm not as insensitive as Ms. Sage and calling the child a shim,that was just rude as far as I'm concerned.
 

alice

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
Why not just let this child go to the school? IMHO....the schools not acting very Christian like. The poor child already has a tough row to hoe.I'm not as insensitive as Ms. Sage and calling the child a shim,that was just rude as far as I'm concerned.

The child is only 8 years old. Not only was calling this very young child a "shim" rude, it is uncaring and unfeeling and downright ugly. No one is ever going to convince me that this child CHOSE his life. Why would he? Why would he risk taunting and bullying by choosing this kind of life? AND, in a public school the child would be harassed, taunted and bullied by children who have been taught to harass, taunt, and bully those that are considered different. In a private school, that kind of behavior can be stopped or at least kept to a minimum.

By the grace of God, someday that child will be a part of adult society, whether anyone likes it or not. You are right, Mrs.Greg, this Christian school is not being Christian like. I have to wonder...what would Jesus do? Condemn the child...of course not. He would love the child and do what is in the best interest of the child, and not force the child to be what the child CANNOT, through no fault of his own, ever be.

Alice
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Calling an 8 yr old child names, a shim, just shows the intelligence/compassion or lack of both in Sage.

When an adult calls a child names.....just plum sorry!
 

MsSage

Well-known member
OK what do you want me to call the child....All the transgenders call THEMSLEVES shim I was only using THEIR own words. :roll:

No free speech is for ALL I still have the right NOT to Listen
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
Go back and read the original post:

[quote]"The child is welcomed to come, but it would not be acceptable to change the child’s gender and present as a girl," said Omaha Archdiocese's Chancellor, the Rev. Joseph Taphorn.

Taphorn said having the child attend the school for three years as a boy, and then presenting as a girl would not be a good learning environment for the child or other students. He said school has to be a peaceful, positive environment for everyone.[/quote]

The school did nothing wrong....Seems it was ok with the parents for 3 years but they now want the School to change. The simply need to find another school.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
TexasBred said:
Go back and read the original post:

[quote}"The child is welcomed to come, but it would not be acceptable to change the child’s gender and present as a girl," said Omaha Archdiocese's Chancellor, the Rev. Joseph Taphorn. [/b]

Taphorn said having the child attend the school for three years as a boy, and then presenting as a girl would not be a good learning environment for the child or other students. He said school has to be a peaceful, positive environment for everyone.

The school did nothing wrong....Seems it was ok with the parents for 3 years but they now want the School to change. The simply need to find another school.[/quote]

Mrs.Greg wrote:
Last yr when my little niece attended playschool the beginning of year she could walk,in May when she returned she was in a wheelchair. The school she attended was not only tolerant of her change but whole hardedly accepted her.

Change is the ONLY constant in our lives,too bad its not taught how to accept and work with that when still young...

The school in question is teaching intolerance of difference.....I'm not sure why the parents even think this school is good enough for their child..
 
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