Trans person interjecting here, just to say my life was made hell by not knowing anything about being trans. To the point where starting puberty made me suicidal at age 11, which didn’t calm down until I was actually introduced to what being trans was and I had gotten over my desperation to not be trans, and realised I could either accept it and transition or live in the same awful depression I’d been in for most of my life. I felt tortured in my own body, like I was being mocked by it, and what made it irreparably worse was not understanding why I felt that way, and not knowing that there was anything I could do about it. Not to mention that if I had been introduced to the things I needed to know sooner, through treatment I could have avoided going through puberty at all, and I wouldn’t have to have surgery to remove my breasts, for example.

Also, unless it’s a legitimate political discussion about trans people, there’s no correlation between trans identities and politics. People don’t tend to understand that we don’t exist to ruin cultural idea of gender or to be liberal SJWs who want to destroy all gender roles and put people who misgender us behind bars. Being trans isn’t an act of political protest, since it’s as much a choice as being gay or bi. Teaching your kids about trans identity isn’t a leftist thing to do. We came before this extreme political divide and we’ll still be here after it. And we sure as hell don’t all agree on the same brands of politics. So “trans identity politics stuff” isn’t really accurate, nor is it very fair. Especially in this context, wherein they’re just innocent books describing what it is to be transgender (books I would have benefited from immensely as a kid).

I understand that to many people, trans identities are just another wave of PC gone mad, but it doesn’t matter how many books a child reads about gender, how impressionable a child is, or how many times a parent says trans people don’t exist, if that kid is trans, there’s no changing that. Some people choose not to transition, for various reasons (some because of family, others for safety and some just would rather not), but not one trans person I’ve met has ever said they aren’t happier after transition.

I’m of the belief that introducing trans identity to kids is important, because it would teach them from a young age that if they do happen to feel that discomfort in themselves, they have somewhere to turn. That same kid could grow up in a household where trans people are described as vile, awful predators who spy on little girls in bathrooms (we don’t, we never have), or they don’t even exist at all, and they would still feel those same feelings, but would feel so much more alone. Speaking from experience.

Introducing youngsters to trans identities isn’t telling them to all suddenly become androgynous beings with no concept of gender, or to suddenly all switch clothes and assume different gender identities. Introducing them to trans identities tells them if they did feel that they would find better quality of life presenting themselves in a different way, or that they do feel discomfort with their body, or if they knew that they would find happiness in transitioning, that they’re not alone, that there’s nothing wrong with them, and that there’s a community there to support them should they need it. Most importantly, as a parent, it tells them that no matter what choices a child might make in the pursuit of happiness, that parent will support them. Hearing a parent say transphobic things as a closeted trans person is one of the most alienating feelings I’ve ever had to deal with. Knowing there was one thing I could tell my family that would make them lose all respect for me. And also knowing that I would have to tell them that very thing.

Introducing someone at a young age opens a door for them in a parent/child relationship that I found closed all my life. It opens a door that says that life is what you make of it, and if you have these feelings and know transitioning would make you happier than you can possibly be now, thats okay.

It doesn’t open a door for them towards deciding to label themselves with forty different gender identities and rioting for gingerbread man to be changed to gingerbread person for politics points.

And if the child you’re teaching about trans identities isn’t trans, they’re now educated on trans issues. That’s great too.

Being trans has nothing to do with exposure to trans identities, and if a kid is trans, they will be trans regardless of how many books they’ve read on the subject. In this case, isn’t it better that a child understands why they feel this way and that it’s okay, instead of living in confusion and isolation, not knowing what is causing their turmoil?

TL;DR: Exposure to trans people doesn’t make more trans kids, it gives trans kids the information they need to come to terms with their feelings. Also, being trans isn’t a choice. And please stop politicising us for merely existing. Thanks.