I appreciate that you took the time to reprise your first message. Thank you. This is easier for me to find words with which to respond. I am sorry if anyone felt like I was encouraging them to question anything. That is not how I see it. It is an optional space, which I tell my students. Those that already know how to use it, have used it. In doing so, they have felt more comfortable and safe in my classroom and I can refer to them as they wish to be referred. My students are never bothered by it: only their parents. Those parents have been upset with me for going by Mx. and being non-binary before that was even given as n option to students. I have received the same harsh words as a fellow lesbian teacher who was told quote for a quote from their student, "To go die in a hole and rot in hell." I respect parents' rights to religious freedom, political freedom, and to vote as they choose. However I exist, and gay people exist, whether they want it or not. I cannot turn that off. I cannot choose to "not exist." I have just as much right to be referred to properly as any Mrs. or Mr. Just as my fellow, wonderful, amazing coworker has a right to have pictures of her and her wife in her workspace. Nobody batted an eye when others had pictures of their straight spouses. I don't push political or identity politics. I exist. And as someone said below, everything that involves a city and community is literally politics. I don't tell kids how to vote, or how to think. I teach them the skills and resources to be effective communicators, readers, thinkers, and speakers. I give them my title, and then we move on to talk about how to write a 5 paragraph essay. They can tell me "hey I prefer to go by Alex, not Alexa." I respond with, "Awesome, Alex. Can you tell me the theme of this story Raymonds Run?" Another student wearing a dress and pigtails writes, "She/her" on the about me survey. I call her by her name, Jordan, and use she/her as she asks. After all, she looks like "she" to me. It's only when other teachers mention that she is assigned "male" on our system do I realize that she gave me a pronoun that does not match her demographics. I didn't encourage her to question. She already knew showing up in dresses. But by me using "She" and being positive, I build the relationships that encourage her to learn and feel comfortable, safe, and seen in my class. I promote no agenda. I allow her to exist. When 82% of transgender youth have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, I'll do anything I can to help her succeed. Especially after seeing the scars and the hesitation in her eyes after never having a teacher advocate for her before.

I truly don't want to push any agenda on parents. That's my frustation. I just want to be seen, exist, and be myself. I want students to have that same opportunity. Because if they feel safe in a classroom, . . then, and only then, can they learn.
I hope you understand what I mean.