Middle schoolers shown video explaining transgender hormone therapy, reports say

KINNELON, N.J. (TND) — Parents of middle schoolers in New Jersey were none too happy when they learned their children were given a social studies lesson about transgenderism, which included a video endorsing hormone therapy for gender-confused youth earlier this month.

The lesson given to students at Pearl R. Miller Middle School centered around transgenderism, according to The Center for Garden State Families (CGSF), and included a video that endorsed hormone therapy as a solution for gender dysphoria titled “Ten Years on Testosterone.”

“Today I called a clinic in the city, and I got an appointment to meet with an endocrinologist and pretty much start my whole ‘T’ thing,” the transgender individual profiled in the video, LGBT activist Aydian Dowling, says in the video before footage shows him injecting testosterone. “You can build up the courage to – you know – stand up for yourself in a way that – you know – this is what you want to do with your life,” Dowling continued in the video.

In 2019, the state of New Jersey became the second state, after California, to pass legislation requiring schools adopt curriculum highlighting accomplishments from LGBT individuals.

These new standards were developed in conjunction with LGBT advocacy groups like Garden State Equality,Planned Parenthood, and other nonprofits.

School districts in New Jersey have until the 2022-23 school year to adopt the new curriculum, according to CGSF, which noted it was ultimately up to local school boards to decide what curriculum materials would be used to teach the newly-mandated standards.

Yet, when concerned parents reached out to their elected school board members, it became clear they were not aware of the content of the lesson, said CGSF, even though the program had been approved by the school’s superintendent.

Following the lesson, parents were reportedly notified that Dowling would be speaking at a schoolwide assembly as part of its “Stories Of Adversity & Resilience Program,” something parents could decide to opt their children out of if they wanted, according to The Washington Free Beacon.

“It is clear that had the students not informed their parents, this assembly would have been mandatory,” CGSF wrote regarding the situation.

The National Desk (TND) reached out to the school’s superintendent, Diane DiGiuseppe, as well as her secretary, but did not hear back ahead of publication. TND also reached out to the New Jersey Department of Education, but failed to hear back. If a statement is received from either, or both, this story will be updated.