Title IX protects all

When it comes to matters of privacy, personal sex and gender identifications and children much is to be considered. The first hurdle is the hyperbole that comes with those questions, the fear, fear of the unknown and fear of deeper questioning, deeper meaning and deeper understanding. File photo (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/TNS) TNS A federal Education Department proposal to expand protections under the landmark Title IX law to LGBTQ+ families is being challenged by a member of the state board of education. Board member Brendan Shea, from Madison County near Columbus, seeks to require school districts to "out" those families and deny them the equal protections the law provides for both boys and girls in school. It seems quite obvious that the very purpose for Title IX is clearly shown in this question before the board. Should families be protected, from irrational responses to difficult questions, from shallow understandings and shallow rhetoric bandied like flame-throwers used to incite animosity among us? That behavior — and this resolution — should be voted down, hard. It is a banal response, a denial and an unacceptable choice to want to out families the way Shea's resolution would require if it is approved by the board. It would be a cruel policy for the board to adopt this resolution and inflict such burdens on families, many of which are already in the midst of making difficult, thoughtful — and private — choices, in consultation with doctors and medical professionals, about how best to love and care for their children. This is a shameless intrusion on family rights. It is a proposal that we hope this board, when it meets on Tuesday, shoots it down with certain denunciation. Worth repeating Honesty for Ohio Education executive director Cynthia Peeples shared her thoughts in a Register news story Saturday. Peeples "The state board of education must stop this toxic resolution in its tracks," Peeples said. "It builds on a foundation of falsehoods and attacks that certain Ohio policymakers have copied from divisive, extremist national groups with no concern for the wellbeing of Ohio's young people. "It goes against the state board's core mission to support public education for all Ohio students, and breeds a culture of lawlessness by directing local school leaders to break the law." Worth repeating is an excerpt from an article or news story that readers, reporters, or editors picked to be republished. If you see something in a news story you want repeated, write and tell us. Email to regforum@sanduskyregister.com