03-25-2014, 10:51 AM
I don't care if someone is gay, bisexual or transgender.
Having said that, I'm not gonna lie -- even in a very liberal part of this country where there really isn't anything considered an "aternate" lifestyle anymore -- it would be more than a "whatever" moment pulling up to the school to drop my kid off at Mr. Sconce's class and seeing him -- the athletic, LE-trained, martial artist, husband and father -- standing outside the class in a dress and wig.
Now, the parents of his students need to understand gender dysphoria and be able to answer their kids' questions about it -- they're not allowed to ask Sconce about it. Not a bad thing for parents to increase their knowledge, though, IMO.
There was criticism that the school sent out a letter in advance regarding Sconce's "personal" change. I don't agree with that criticism. I don't think it should be the school's responsibility to call in every student and parent personally to try to explain this guy's transition and it's different than simply being gay (where it's nobody business what goes on behind closed doors). And, I don't think he was "outed" as a result of the letter being distributed or leaked, as he describes it. Transitioning genders (and remaining in the same location with the same contacts) involves a change in public image which is visible to all. It would have been unfair for the school not to make the parents and students aware in advance that Mr. Sconce would now be Ms. Scot, IMO.
Is he more "selfish" than "brave"? If I were his wife of 35 years or one of his 30-something children and he just announced one day that he's decided to physically become a female, I might think so. I can't imagine my macho dad suddenly dropping a bomb like that -- it would have shocked the holy hell outta me; probably would have felt betrayed and like I didn't really know the man, for a while at least. I can't even imagine how his wife must feel.
Transgender rights - all for it. Qualified transgender teachers - no problem. Marginalizing the impacts on the school administrators, the students/parents, and especially the family in this story in order to position Sconce/Scot as "courageous" doesn't paint a fair or realistic picture, but it does forward an agenda. It's an agenda that I happen to support, but I understand completely why it's not one that is casually embraced by all.
JMO.
Having said that, I'm not gonna lie -- even in a very liberal part of this country where there really isn't anything considered an "aternate" lifestyle anymore -- it would be more than a "whatever" moment pulling up to the school to drop my kid off at Mr. Sconce's class and seeing him -- the athletic, LE-trained, martial artist, husband and father -- standing outside the class in a dress and wig.
Now, the parents of his students need to understand gender dysphoria and be able to answer their kids' questions about it -- they're not allowed to ask Sconce about it. Not a bad thing for parents to increase their knowledge, though, IMO.
There was criticism that the school sent out a letter in advance regarding Sconce's "personal" change. I don't agree with that criticism. I don't think it should be the school's responsibility to call in every student and parent personally to try to explain this guy's transition and it's different than simply being gay (where it's nobody business what goes on behind closed doors). And, I don't think he was "outed" as a result of the letter being distributed or leaked, as he describes it. Transitioning genders (and remaining in the same location with the same contacts) involves a change in public image which is visible to all. It would have been unfair for the school not to make the parents and students aware in advance that Mr. Sconce would now be Ms. Scot, IMO.
Is he more "selfish" than "brave"? If I were his wife of 35 years or one of his 30-something children and he just announced one day that he's decided to physically become a female, I might think so. I can't imagine my macho dad suddenly dropping a bomb like that -- it would have shocked the holy hell outta me; probably would have felt betrayed and like I didn't really know the man, for a while at least. I can't even imagine how his wife must feel.
Transgender rights - all for it. Qualified transgender teachers - no problem. Marginalizing the impacts on the school administrators, the students/parents, and especially the family in this story in order to position Sconce/Scot as "courageous" doesn't paint a fair or realistic picture, but it does forward an agenda. It's an agenda that I happen to support, but I understand completely why it's not one that is casually embraced by all.
JMO.