House Republicans accuse leaders of trans-inclusive school systems of ‘child abuse’

Congressional Republicans harangued school superintendents from across the country for creating inclusive campus environments for transgender students.The U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee subpoenaed leaders of some of America’s largest school districts and, on Wednesday, cast protections for trans youth as violations of parental rights and the civil rights of peers. In particular, Republicans aggressively questioned Dr. Macquline King, superintendent and CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and Dr. Maria Su, superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg asked Su to say at what age children should be “exposed to drag queen story hour,” following up by asking when they may be “prepared for” the experience of having someone in drag read them a book.Related: Virginia Democrat who praised LGBTQ+ inclusion is now helping Republicans out trans kids“We welcome all 49,000 students as they are. We support our students. We work really hard,” she replied. “We follow state and federal laws where we align our curriculum with state standards.”Walberg then asked whether families with a religious objection can “opt out” of such an event, a right the district allows. “I still didn’t get the age requirement,” Walberg said.Superintendents from both urban and suburban districts pushed back on characterizations of their curricula as problematic.“Too often, the public narrative frames schools and parents as adversaries. That is not the reality I see in our community or in public education more broadly,” said Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence, who leads a district in Virginia.“I am a parent and believe it is critical that schools respect and listen to our parents as we work alongside them to educate our students. The overwhelming majority of parents and educators want the same things for our children: for them to be safe, academically challenged, emotionally supported, and prepared to co