300 Parents of Trans Children Oppose Trump Nominee Who Called Their Children A ‘Delusion’
In 2018, NCTE led a letter from over 300 parents condemning the nomination of Matthew Kascmaryk to a lifetime seat on a federal bench. In his career, Kascmaryk fought for anti-transgender policies and called transgender people a “delusion.”
On February 7, Senator Mazie Hirono entered the letter into the official Senate record opposing Kascmaryk’s nomination. Printed below is the letter in its entirety followed by its signatories:
Dear Senators,
We’re writing to you as parents, because we are worried about our children. We love our children, as we know many of you love your own children and grandchildren. We love them fiercely, and sometimes we fear for them. We want to tell you about our families, and how we love and fear for our children, because of the demeaning and dangerous rhetoric used about them by a current nominee for a lifetime federal judgeship. Our children are transgender, and the rhetoric of nominee Matthew Kacsmaryk about children like ours is appalling and unacceptable.
One year ago, we reached out to nominee Jeff Mateer to express our alarm at his description of transgender children as proof of “how Satan’s plan is working.” We were relieved to see that Mr. Mateer’s nomination was withdrawn. However, we are equally concerned about the nomination of Mr. Kacsmaryk because of his demeaning attacks on transgender children and adults. Mr. Kacsmaryk has repeatedly promoted fringe, junk science about transgender people, claiming that gender identity doesn’t exist and that being transgender is a “delusion.” These bogus claims have been rejected against and again by the nation’s major medical and mental health associations. Moreover, Kacsmaryk’s words are deeply offensive and harmful.
Claiming that our children don’t exist is scarcely better than calling them part of “Satan’s plan.” Our children are not a delusion, and neither is our love and support for them. We believe our children are miracles, like every child. In our letter to Mr. Mateer we wrote: As every reputable medical and pediatric association agrees, there is nothing wrong with being transgender, and children like ours can grow and thrive if they are loved and supported, just like their peers. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “transgender children fare much better when they feel supported by their family, school and larger community.
Shaming children based on their gender identity or expression is harmful to their social-emotional health and may have lifelong consequences.” We know this to be true because we have seen it with our own eyes. We have loved and supported our children through our own initial uncertainties about what it means to be transgender, through months or years of exploring their gender identity, through countless conversations with experts and other parents, through the fear — and for some of us the reality — of bullying from our children’s peers or even from adults, and through the relief and the joy of seeing our children be able to live their truth, be seen for who they are, and just be kids. Unfortunately, we continue to fear for our children as we see nominees for lifetime federal judgeships, like Mr. Kacsmaryk, with a long history of extreme and demeaning rhetoric toward anyone who is transgender, like our kids.
Hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents throughout this country are transgender, like our kids. So are well over a million adults. They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity — and to trust that when they walk into a courtroom they will be treated fairly. Confirming Mr. Kacsmaryk as a federal judge would send a damaging and dangerous message that the dignity of children like ours does not count in the courts, or in the U.S. Senate
Please, stand up for our children. Reject this nomination.
Sincerely, the undersigned:
Jessica Girven APO AE
Carol Loeb AL
Albert Levensohn AZ
Amy D’Arpino AZ
Samantha Ewings AZ
Susan Barrows AZ
Barbara A Nasco AZ
Chelsa Morrison AZ
Andrew Morrison AZ
Chris Lopez AZ
S. Larsen AZ
Mireille Cervelli CA
Cristy Mereles CA
E.M. CA
E.V.G. CA
Gwen Everman CA
Felicity Jamison CA
Jeri M. CA
Kari Bach CA
Sarah Paredes CA
Margaret Schultz CA
Randy Bauer CA
Robyne Ruterbusch CA
Michelle Miller CA
Rebecca S. C
E. August CA
Janna Barkin CA
Keith Foy CA
Dianna Mitzner CA
Melanie McPherson CA
Susan Thronson CA
Nicki Bauer CA
Turner CA
Jill Clark CA
Amy Muller CO
Susan Wilcox CO
Tanya CO
Megan and Todd D. CO
Amanda Peters CT
George Witkiewicz CT
Maria Nieves CT
Jennifer Poulsen CT
Joan
States CT
Leslie Carman CT
Lori Woehrle DC
M Brennan DC
Doreen Cunningham DC
E Silva DC
D.A. DC
Elle VanDyne DC
Mom of
2 twins DE
DeShanna Neal DE
Joseph Zdrojewski DE
Cynthia Zdrojewski DE
TJ Sheldon DE
Amy M. DE
Silvia R.
B. FL
Heather Renee FL
Jennifer Dante FL
Paul FL
Shawn R. FL
Florida FL
Belinda C
. GA
Gloria M. GA
Jennifer GA
Darcy L. GA
Kelly McAfee GA
Darby K. GA
Marie GA
G.M. GA
Dina Wenyworth GA
Ann Seggerman IA
Jennifer Hartman IA
Shannon Mahoney ID
Tina Baily ID
Brenda Schweda IL
B.C. IL
E.S.K. IL
Donna G. IL
Hallie Gordon IL
Jennifer M. IL
Laura Nylen IL
Kristina Carlson IL
Kathy King-Watters IL
Marcy Formigoni IL
Terry Perez IL
Molly Kay IL
Natasha S. IL
Teresa Furham IL
Winifred Curran IL
Wendy IL
Chrystie Ortega IL
Alice Collins IL
Alex G. IL
Elizabeth K. Rosso IL
Elease C. IL
Evaleen Catrambone IL
Candace Fehrenbacher IL
F. Norl IL
J.M. IL
Joel Schmerler IL
Lisa Santiago IL
Amy Braman IL
Mary Day IL
Mary Perez IL
Michael F. Welninski IL
Amy L. Parker IL
Sarah Langley IL
Samantha Nelson IL
Patrick G. IL
Chris IL
Laurie Nelson IL
Robert Sullivan IL
Susan Sullivan IL
Heather Grilley IN
Kimberly Hannon IN
Loving Parent IN
Laura Weyburg IN
Debbie Kellogg, KS
Cassandra Peters KS
Iris Gladstone KY
Ann Dragsbaek MA
Linda Healy MA
Jennifer MA
Kitty Flynn MA
Katherine J MA
Vanessa Ford MA
John MA
Massachusetts MA
B. Maynard MA
Lonnie Chu MA
Sara Hunter MA
G McManus MA
Sabrina R. MA AJ Hoffman MA
Laurie MA
Mimi Lemay MA
Maryland Parent MD
Julia Dubner MD
Karen McLaren MD
Jane D. MD
Lionel MD
Lynn Brennan MD
Mark Roberts MD
Nicola van Kuilenburg MD
Julie Greenstein MD
Sarah Watson MD
Sabrina R. Smith MD
Brian Watson MD
Worried Mom MD
Joy Christakis MD
C. Sullivan MD
Sam MD
Sarah Watson MD
Wendy F. MD
Nissa Thurman Quill MD
Christine Lillard MD
Jaime Moore-Atkinson ME
Jennifer Robinson MI
Sarah J. Tchoryk MI
Wendie Dillehay MI
Kathrine M. Kraft MI
Krista K. Anderson MI
Mary Benson MI
Mary O’Brien MI
Honoure Stark MI
Lela U. MI
M.S.K. MI
Stubby Golob MI
Peter Tchoryk MI
Becky OKeefe MN
Carolyn Geis MN
Alison Morris MN
Kay MN
Dawn Acero MN
Hannah Edwards MN
S.R.M. MN
Jill Boogren MN
Jennifer Berryman MN
Julie MN
Pam Robbins MN
Shawna Hoeppner MN
Ann Simmons MN
CJ Lans MO
Jessie Shirrell MO
Mayumi Jones MO
Amber Gilleylen MO
Vicki Chaffin MO
Allan Riddel MO
Nancy Riddel MO
Kelly Sparrow MO
Debi Jackson MO
Tom Jackson MO
E.Lowe MT
Michelle Sanchez MT
Kathryn Smith MT
Deborah Gilgor NC
Jessica Randolph NC
Katie Jenifer NC
Karen G. NC
Ashley N. NC
Rev. Nanette de Andrade NC
Leslie Cohen NC
Rebecca C. NC
Britt Cloudsdale NC
J. Duwve NC
J.P. NC
Rebecca Nelson NC
Christine Shaffer NC
Kris NE
Jan Heirtzler NH
Diana George NH
B. Marrocco NH
Julia Gabs NH
Adrienne Stevens NJ
Coleen Sullivan NJ
Kalpana Sheth NJ
Madhu Sheth NJ
Jamie Bruesehoff NJ
Rev. Christopher Bruesehoff NJ
Michele Mazakas NJ
Concerned parent NJ
Laurie McLaughlin NJ
Courtney Rodarte NV
James Blake NV
Gayl NV
L. Pheglel NV
Brenda Marworth NY
Susan Connelly NY
Bobbi M. Bittker NY
Emily Kettling Grote NY
Francesca Vitali NY
Jess D. NY
Joy Southern NY
Mara Fojas NY
Rebecca Martin NY
Kathryn Fox NY
Georgi Persons OH
Melissa McLaren OH
Anne R. OH
Barbara Spear OH
Dana Johnson OH
Rose Wendt OH
Melissa Stone OH
Phil R. OH
Jaime S. OH
Eddie S OH
Kimberly Diana Chambers OH
Melissa Marie OH
Dena Philips OR
Jean Horn OR
Holly Bartell OR
Christopher Yeager OR
Colleen Yeager OR
Jennifer Schumacher OR
April PA
McDaniels PA
Katherine R PA
Melissa DeStefano PA
Nicole H. PA
Suzy McCollum PA
Kristin Callowyn PA
Kristin Lesho PA
Lucas M. Miller PA
Jennifer Smith PA
Nicole M. PA
Paulette Hakes PA
Laurie A. SC
Rafael Martin-Navas SC
Rebecca Brock TN
Crystal Yamazaki TN
Dawn Bennett TN
Alisa Miller TX
Elishia Featherston TX
Frank Gonzales TX
Melissa Ballard TX Tania Vargas TX
Tom M. TX
Finn Hope TX
Amber Briggle TX
Adam Briggle TX
John Armstrong UT
William Robbins UT
Rixt Luikenaar UT
Maria Garcia UT
Liz Matthews VA
Lynn White VA
M. Q. Gomez VA
Kate Simon VA
Susan Hayden VA
Susanna Bedser VA
Amanda Maddox VA
Amy Sanders VA
Jennifer Z. WA
Rochelle Long WA
Long family WA
Signe Nelson WA
Irene Pasternack WA
Tiffany Kelly WA
Embracing Hope WI E.J.A. WI
Sarah Mutschlecner WI
Anne U. WI
Jeannine Tobias WI
Jodi Kiffmeyer WI
