Rights of A Child

Today on Think Progress, writer Zack Ford reported that Matt Barber of Liberty Councel Action told the American Family Association's OneNewsNow that he feels the parents of a transgender boy are guilty of child abuse. Why? Because the parents listened to their child, sought out the advice of professionals and are allowing their child, Tyler, to be the person he is inside. You can read more about Tyler here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/transgender-at-6-for-tyler-and-his-parents-no-second-thoughts/2013/07/11/eab8b398-ea0f-11e2-a301-ea5a8116d211_story.html

Matt Barber accuses the parents of tying to be "hip, cool, and trendy" and his insipid comments include the phrase "Parents need to learn how to parent." Well, Mr. Barber, I am a kid and I would like to inform you and your fans of a few things.

1. Children are human beings, functional human beings, no pun intended. Children are not possessions.

2. Being the person you are is not a lollipop. As a parent, you might tell your child he can't have a lollipop for various reasons. Telling your child he can't have a lollipop does not prevent the child from forming his own opinions or ideas. It does not prevent him from being the person he is inside.

3. Good parents don't act on anecdote. Information from the American Psychological Association on transgender issues can be found here:
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/transgender/

This is yet another example of how organizations including words like "liberty" and "family" in their titles stand against both of these things. This is yet another example of adults advocating authoritarianism and oppression over love and logic. The only logic supporters of groups like this understand is fear and the only love they understand is the love of power, even when it's fake power.

Article 10 in the United Nations Declaration of Rights of a Child reads:
"The child shall be protected from practices which may foster racial, religious and any other form of discrimination. He shall be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace and universal brotherhood, and in full consciousness that his energy and talents should be devoted to the service of his fellow men."

The United States is one of only three participating nations in the UN that has not ratified this human rights treaty.

parents need to learn how to parent

parents need to learn how to parent