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Progressive Pride Ideology

At AntiWokeSchools.com, we oppose the display of Pride flags in Portland Public Schools (PPS) classrooms and the introduction of topics like puberty blockers to children as young as 9. These symbols and teachings represent a broader push of gender ideology that prioritizes activist agendas over evidence-based education and child safeguarding. PPS policy explicitly allows Pride flags as "district-approved symbols of inclusion for marginalized students," while banning other "personal or political" displays. This selective "neutrality" exposes kids to one-sided propaganda, potentially fueling a social contagion of transgender identification – especially among young girls – without addressing underlying mental health issues. Teaching about puberty blockers to elementary students risks normalizing experimental interventions with lifelong consequences, often driven by anxiety, depression, or peer influence rather than innate gender dysphoria.

Below, we break down the facts with substantiated sources from medical reviews, studies, and reports. We've drawn from a range of perspectives, including pro-trans advocacy groups, critical analyses, and neutral health bodies, to present a balanced view. Note: While some sources affirm gender-affirming care, others highlight risks and lack of evidence, underscoring the controversy. Claims here are backed by peer-reviewed research and official documents.

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1. Transgender Identification in Youth as a Social Contagion
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Trans identity among adolescents, particularly girls, has surged in recent years, often attributed to social influences like peer groups, social media, and school environments rather than biological factors. This "rapid onset" pattern suggests a contagion effect, where vulnerable teens adopt trans identities amid emotional distress.

  • Key Fact: Before the 2010s, transgender identification in children was extremely rare, with clinics reporting mostly boys (male-to-female ratio of 6:1 or higher). Post-2012, there's been an explosion in adolescent girls identifying as trans, with ratios flipping to 3:1 or more female. For instance, referrals to the UK's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) rose over 4,000% from 2009 to 2018, predominantly among teenage girls without prior childhood dysphoria.

  • Evidence of Contagion: Dr. Lisa Littman's 2018 study on "Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria" (ROGD) surveyed parents of trans-identifying youth, finding 87% had friends who came out as trans around the same time, and 63% showed increased social media use before announcement. Critics (e.g., from WPATH) called it biased, but a 2021 re-analysis upheld the findings, noting clusters in friend groups mimicking historical contagions like eating disorders.

  • Historical Rarity: Pre-2012 data from Dutch clinics (pioneers in youth gender medicine) showed childhood-onset dysphoria in under 0.01% of kids, almost exclusively boys with early signs. No significant "trans girls" cohort existed until the social media era; U.S. surveys like the 2011 Williams Institute estimated adult trans prevalence at 0.3%, with youth even lower.

  • Sources:

2. Underlying Issues: Anxiety, Depression, and Comorbidities Over "Wrong Body"
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Many trans-identifying youth, especially girls, exhibit high rates of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which often predate gender dysphoria. Critics argue schools promoting Pride flags and gender discussions may exacerbate this by framing normal puberty distress as a "trans" identity needing medical fix.

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  • Key Fact: Up to 70-80% of gender clinic referrals have comorbidities like autism, anxiety, or depression. A 2022 study found 62% of trans youth had anxiety disorders, suggesting these drive dysphoria rather than innate mismatch.
     

  • Girls' Vulnerability: Adolescent girls show higher rates of "social contagion" due to puberty-related body image issues; a Swedish study noted 75% of detransitioners (mostly female) cited unresolved trauma or mental health as the real issue, not gender.
     

  • Medical Documents:

3. Puberty Blockers and Transition: Risks and Lack of Suicide Reduction
 

Teaching 9-year-olds about puberty blockers – as seen in some PPS curricula – is irresponsible, given evidence of harms like bone density loss and infertility. Moreover, transition doesn't reliably reduce suicide risk, contradicting activist claims.
 

  • Key Fact: Long-term studies show suicide rates remain elevated post-transition (19x higher in one Swedish cohort). A 2024 Finnish study of 2,000 youth found no suicide reduction after hormones/blockers.
     

  • No Change in Suicidality: U.S. surveys (e.g., 2022 CDC) show trans youth suicide attempts at 15-20%, but a 2023 review of 61 studies found "no convincing evidence" transition lowers this; some report increases due to unmet expectations.
     

  • Proof from Studies:

Pride flags in schools signal endorsement of this ideology, potentially steering distressed kids toward irreversible paths. We advocate for neutral, evidence-based support focusing on mental health therapy. Share your story or join our action alerts to demand change in PPS.

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