Maryland middle school’s Transgender Awareness Week lesson gave kids as young as 11 ‘binding’ tips, ‘coming out’ advice
Last month, a group of sixth‑graders at Westland Middle School in Bethesda, Maryland, sat through a 12‑slide lesson created by the LGBT‑education organization Pop’n’Olly. The presentation kicked off with a video that says, “A person’s gender is who they feel that they are,” and it also explained why distinguishing between sex and gender helps students learn more about themselves.
The teacher then guided the children through a series of questions on the board. One slide prompted classmates to talk with a partner about questions like, “How do people know if they are a ‘girl’ or ‘boy?’” and another asked, “The first thing people announce about their new baby is the gender—why do you think that is?” After the discussion, hands‑on worksheets tested what lessons the kids had taken in.
Students also watched two short videos titled “Advice for Coming Out” and “8 Tips for Being Nonbinary.” In the gender‑identity video, a nonbinary creator named Laurenzo (who is popular on social media) showed how to respond when someone uses the wrong pronouns and offered ways to pick a label that feels right. She also covered how to properly “bind,” a technique used to flatten breast tissue so a person can feel less feminine.
The final slide invited the group to join Westland’s LGBTQ+ Club, called “SAGA” – “Sexuality and Gender Acceptance.” Those who chose to attend can sign up at their school’s club table or by contacting the administrators.
The lesson has sparked debate. Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications for Defending Education, told Fox News Digital, “There isn’t a single justification for this cult‑like propaganda being pushed on children at school.” She added, “They are presenting a harmful ideology as gospel to other people’s children and manipulating language in ways that would almost be funny if it didn’t come with so much risk. Many kids will rightly scoff and be unfazed by the absurdity of it all, but others may be vulnerable, potentially set down a path from which they can never fully return. These are 11‑ and 12‑year‑olds and nothing about this is remotely appropriate or defensible.”
A spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools responded that the district’s priority is to make sure every student feels safe, seen, and respected. “Westland Middle School has used advisory lessons on a range of topics to help students understand differences, treat each other with kindness, and follow school expectations,” the spokesperson said. They added that all materials were shared in advance, with clear opt‑out procedures available. “The lessons were about awareness, respect, and how to support peers in a school community that includes students of many backgrounds and lived experiences,” the statement continued, stressing that “bullying, harassment, and discrimination have no place in our buildings.”
By framing the conversation around identity and empathy, the school hopes to foster a more inclusive environment for all its students.
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