by Kimberly Fletcher
There is no denying that we are facing a crisis in the health of our children and teens. Suicide rates have risen and mental health issues among young Americans are at all-time highs.
The problem has become so urgent and widespread in many schools that administrators now have areas of the school dedicated to suicide prevention. There are increasing campaigns, many spearheaded by grieving families who have lost a teen to suicide, to encourage students to reach out for help. There is even contact information for suicide prevention programs listed on the back of student identification badges at many schools.
While this might sound like a positive development, a concerned educator is sounding the alarm on new programs aimed at confusing children and exposing them to mature and inappropriate content without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Brenda Lebsack, who has been in public education for 25 years and runs the advocacy organization Brenda4Kids, shared a three-minute video highlighting serious concerns with new suicide prevention programs. Perversely, programs that on the surface are about offering help to vulnerable teens in reality puts children at risk.
Lebsack explains why there is cause for serious concern. When underage students contact the hotline, they are surveyed about their genders and sexualities. Lebsack notes that surveying children about their gender and sexual practices without parental consent is against the law. On the survey, which Lebsack has screen shots of, children are given eleven different “genders” to choose from and even given the option to write in their own identity.
Parents might assume that these surveys only apply to older teens and young adults, but the youngest age range listed on the survey was 0-10. Lebsack, who lives in California, focuses on her home state, which now has a law requiring that 988 (the National Suicide Hotline) is listed on the back of all student ID cards for grades 7-12 in public schools.
California law, and laws in many other states, also require that parents consent to any questionnaire or survey about “the pupil’s personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality, and religion, or any questions about the pupil’s parents’ or guardians’ beliefs and practices in sex, family life, morality, and religion.” In order to ask questions on these subjects, schools must obtain written consent from parents or guardians. Without obtaining legally required consent from parents to survey children, 988 is asking kids questions about their private and personal lives and planting further confusion with made up genders and identities.
Lebsack has also done research on another suicide prevention resource available to children and teens at schools across the country. The Trevor Project is a hotline and chat-based resource recommended by 988 and other suicide prevention programs aimed at school-aged children. The chat features claim to be for ages 13-24, but they are available for students in kindergarten through 12th grade at all public schools. There is no verification process and users can easily lie about his or her age to gain access.
The Trevor Project is focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ students. In case you did not know, the “Q” in LGBTQ+ stands for “Questioning.” This means that if a child expresses doubts or confusion about his or her gender or sexuality, he is now considered an “LGBTQ+” identifying student who is sent to programs like the Trevor Project, all without consulting the parents of the child. Once a child has expressed confusion about his or her gender in the illegally administered survey through 988, the student is then directed to resources like the Trevor Project that encourage further confusion. Additionally, some schools include the Trevor Project hotline number in school bathrooms and other public locations.
Once students are invited to “explore” gender and sexuality, they are directed to the list of chat rooms available to children and teens through the online platform. The chat rooms have shocking names and content. Among the groups are “Witchcraft,” “Furries United” (for “catgirls/boys” and other students who want to pretend to be animals or are just curious), “Gay Men Club” (with the tagline “Let’s talk about boys!”), “Non-Binary Pals,” and more.
These groups, which again can easily be joined by any adult, also emphasize the program’s “international” reach. In other words, underage students who are confused are actively encouraged by supposed suicide prevention programs to chat with unvetted adults around the world. This is a serious issue that parents must be aware of.
Too many of us are willing to turn a blind eye because the programs claim to prevent suicides. Parents, the protectors and advocates of children, have a duty to research these programs and demand greater protections for vulnerable youth. Encouraging confusion, isolating students from their parents, and giving adults access to our children is a recipe for serious suffering and danger, the very factors that are driving the mental health crisis among young people.
Moms, we cannot ignore this issue. Find out what the policies are in your local school district. Look into the programs being pushed on our children, and let other concerned parents know. Read more about how gender cult lies on our blog. Our children are counting on us to take action.
Kimberly Fletcher is an author, radio host, and Founder & President of Moms for America
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Written by Kimberly Fletcher
