CT Republicans propose law forcing schools to tell parents about child's 'chosen pronouns'

HARTFORD, CT- Republican Connecticut lawmakers are pushing legislation that would make it a requirement for schools to notify parents when their minor children ask to be referred to as a new set of pronouns, with a separate measure requiring student-athletes to participate in sports based upon their biological birth gender, the CT Mirror reports. 

The proposals have gained the support of Let Kids Be Kids, a coalition formed to “encourage legislators to protect children, which says bills such as those proposed in Connecticut are vital to protect the rights of children. 

The bills also have the support of the Family Institute of Connecticut, a pro-life organization that has advocated for restrictions on abortions in Connecticut. 

“Kids are best protected when parents are involved,” said Peter Wolfgang, president of the organization. “The state should not come between parents and their children.” 

A coalition of lawmakers, religious leaders, and parents who support the bill say that schools do not have the right, nor should have the option, to hide information from parents related to their child’s “gender identity.” They claim that under current Department of Education guidelines, schools are encouraged to hide such statuses from parents. 

The proposals in Connecticut are similar to those by Republicans in legislatures nationwide that seek to monitor so-called “transgender youth more closely.” Over 500 were introduced by Republicans in 2023, with 48 passing. 

Currently, six states have legislation requiring schools to disclose to parents if their child goes by a different identity than they were born with. Those states include North Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Alabama, and North Carolina. In Florida, state law promotes, although it doesn’t require, parental notification of gender identity. 

“This is merely a parental notification bill. That’s all we’re asking for at this point,” Rep. Anne Dauphinais, a Killingly Republican, said. “All kinds of things are going on with your children, and parents have no idea.” 

Currently, guidelines claim that “there is no law that specifically requires districts or schools to inform parents or guardians of a student’s gender identity or expression.” However, the guidelines “emphasize the importance of open communication between parents and school districts,” the Mirror reported. 

Opponents, channeling their best conservative talking points, claim such a bill would “increase the presence of the government in raising children” while also claiming that there is potential harm by forcing schools to disclose gender identity to parents. 

Such a claim about government presence in raising children appears absurd since, in Connecticut, the government is currently involved in almost everything to do with raising children from kindergarten through high school graduation. Also, for example, the government is heavily involved in preventing parents from deciding whether or not their children should be vaccinated, prohibiting the use of religious exemptions from submitting to vaccines. 

“As a parent, and like any parent, I want my child to share things with me and to know what’s happening in their life. And I want to know that, even when they may not be ready to share with me, that they have the support they need at school,” said Melissa Combs, founder of the Out Accountability Project, in a statement. 

“Outing students without their consent forces schools to intrude on family relationships like mine, taking away opportunities for important family conversations. Who invites the government to their dinner table? No one,” Combs added. 

The second bill, “Save Women’s Sports," would force athletes to participate on sports teams for the biological sex they were born as. Thus far, 25 states have laws banning transgender athletes from participating in high school sports consistent with their gender identity. Ironically (or not), almost 100% of those who participate on teams other than their biological sex are boys. It is rare, if ever, that a biological female plays on a male team. 

“It’s about protecting women and girls,” Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Granby, said. “If you’re for women’s rights, then you must be for protecting women’s sports.” 

Title IX was passed to protect girl’s and women’s sports, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities, including sports. However, Title IX appears to be an inconvenience for the pro-trans crowd. 

Combs disagrees with Anderson’s assessment. 

“If Connecticut truly wants to support girls’ sports, they would be providing more funding, creating more opportunities to play, and enacting stronger laws that protect female athletes from harassment and abuse–not banning transgender youth from participating in school sports with their peers.” 

Nothing says “protect[ing] female athletes from harassment and abuse” than by letting biological males in female locker rooms and showers. In fact, under the law, exposing one’s genitals without consent is a form of sexual harassment and is subject to legal consequences. 

The bills, which have five co-sponsors each, will be referred to the education committee, however, in a bright blue state such as Connecticut, they are not likely to get any traction. That much appeared accurate based on a statement from Democrat Martin Looney, President Pro-Tem of the Connecticut State Senate. 

“I have not examined them in detail, but we are not looking to enact anything in Connecticut which is part of a right-wing agenda nationally,” Looney said. 

Especially something that protects girls and the rights of parents.