To the editor:

In an article about a presentation made to the school board on Thursday, NUJ characterized what was said: Mary Thom suggested that “the parents of students attending PRISM meetings are unaware of what is happening. She believed the goals of the PRISM group were polar opposite to goals of parents.”

Here’s what was presented:

“Several times in an April 12 NUJ article lauding the PRISM organization at our high school it was mentioned that PRISM’S purpose is to educate students. Since PRISM is providing this education during the school day are parents welcome to know exactly what occurs during this time of student-led education? It’s becoming increasingly doubtful that all parents of the 30-40 children attending PRISM meetings are aware of what their children are being guided toward and exposed to in this part of the school day.

“Someone in PRISM suggested that a 14-year-old student attending meetings purchase a book “What’s the T?” by Juno (formerly James) Dawson. The book disparages religion: “I find transphobes using very, very old texts [for instance, the Bible]… to support their bigotry especially tedious. Hate me because I’m a …., not because you’re religious.” Other take-aways from the book:

• Avoid people challenging or questioning your identity.

• The whole point of nonbinary identities is rejecting any notion of being a man or a woman!

• Some cis people are obsessed with scrutinizing the general crotch area of trans people.

• We shouldn’t think of menstruation as something that only affects women.

• To trans people — intellectuals — we know that there’s a myriad of surgical nips and tucks we can opt for if we’ve the inclination and/or money.

• A section on Sexy Fun Times, “the bit that feels nice”, includes graphic suggestions for lips, tongue, earlobes, nipple, breasts, genitals, bum, feet, toys.

• Dawson writes: “I thought I wanted to be a girl when I just was one. I believed an error a doctor once told my parents.”(referring to his gender at birth)

“The following shows that the goals of some parents in our community and of the PRISM group are polar opposite: A student was led to question his identity in the same way as Dawson. This was a result of attending meetings and reading Dawson’s book suggested by the PRISM member. There were marked negative changes in the child. Since then the student has been helped to see otherwise and is much happier.

“If what’s happening in the middle of the day at NU Public High School is overseen by school personnel does that oversight meet the approval of our community? Is this what all of you feel is safe for children?

Parents should seek to be informed so they can avoid exposing their children to the type of education that will have lasting negative impact on their lives.

New Ulm community members, did you know?

Mary Thom

New Ulm