SE Minnesota News

Catholic Vote President Brian Burch said parents should be aware of what public school officials are doing to hide “what is happening inside the schools regarding transgenderism” and keeping information from parents about their children. 

"Parents need to be on the alert for public school officials who seek to hide from them what is happening inside the schools regarding transgenderism and so-called 'gender-expansive' policies,” Burch told SE Minnesota News. “The Rochester Public Schools example provides a warning. The district requires parents to request information about their child--it is not volunteered by teachers or counselors."

A school counselor from Rochester Public schools in Minnesota has come forward to reveal that the district is hiding information from the public regarding their "transgender and gender-expansive administrative 'guidelines.'" The counselor, Christina Barton, said she was warned by Rochester Public School personnel to not make "these guidelines public," and that there was "a risk of job retaliation up to disciplinary action or termination" if she spoke out. Barton also said, “I have also spoken to other staff who are also afraid to speak up for the same reason,” reported American Experiment.

The school district denied that the guidelines were being hidden, but also admitted that "if a parent or guardian requests information about their child who is under the age of 18, including information about whether the child is transgender or whether their child has asked to use a name, pronouns, restrooms, or locker rooms based on the child’s gender identity rather than sex assigned at birth," then a staff member "must provide that information.”

Barton questioned how parents would know to request the specific information if they were not aware that their child struggled with gender dysphoria, and how parents would be able to help support their child if they were not told. 

According to American Experiment, no guidelines on such matters have been publicaly discussed or released by the school board or the district.  

Barton also said: "This is not transparent and still leaves parents out of the information. Also, according to the district, the guidelines were only shared with administrators — this leaves staff, students, and the community in the dark too. That is the reason I say they are ‘hidden’ guidelines.”

Madison, Wisconsin-based Catholic Vote is an advocacy organization that wants to “inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life,” according to the group’s website. Founded in 2008, its president is Brian Burch.