We will be doing a full critique of the video in the coming weeks, but here are just two examples of why these videos should not be used.

1. The video “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” starts off by stating that the biological sex a person “is assigned at birth” is based on whether they have an XY chromosome (male) or an XX chromosome (female), but then states “a person could have a Y chromosome but are missing certain genes” and therefore that person “doesn’t fit into a male or female category.”
   
   

   Problem: Medically, that statement is accurate, but nowhere in the video does it mention how rare this event is. Depending on the specific category of the defect, such situations do not exceed one-half of one percent, and in the example of the missing gene mentioned in the video, the frequency is far less. The video’s omission of the rarity of occurrence leaves the student with the impression that this is a common and almost normal event that could be affecting many of the people they know and/or go to school with. It is an unbalanced, incomplete view and meant to make the event seem common and in need of social changes. It is manipulating the message by omission of critical information and context.

2. The second part of the video provides a list of possible alternate gender identities that people may assume. Again the video provides no context and no mention of the frequency (it’s rare). There is no mention of the fact that the assumption of an alternative social gender is a recognized psychiatric condition, but normalizes the rare ocuurrence of condition that requires treatment. It makes no mention that while rare, the assumption of an alternative gender is growing, and significant evidence exists that the growth is due to social reasons and will continue as minor children are allowed to self-diagnose this condition, and do so without the involvement or knowledge of their families. If the intent is to educate, it fails as it is an unbalanced, incomplete lesson.

FLAC is meeting in a public meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, and the discussion of this video is on its agenda.