The non-binary former federal government official is said to have played a vital role in developing a model school policy with the instruction to school districts to keep parents in the dark about their children's gender identity or sexual orientation.
Sam Brinton, a biological male who gained notoriety for being one of the first non-binary officials in the American government, helped in creating a model school policy, which is currently adopted in multiple states, instructing school districts not to tell "unaffirming" parents about a potentially suicidal kid's gender identity or sexual orientation.
Before joining the federal government, he was part of The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention nonprofit, and was in charge of advocacy and government affairs. At this time in 2019, he assisted in crafting the "Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention" along with other organizations, namely the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American School Counselor Association, and the National Association of School Psychologists.
Brinton was proud of the model created, stating that it is "imperative" for school suicide prevention policies to be also "LGBTQ competent."
Delay the talk with the parents
Under a section titled "Special Considerations" in the model school policy, schools are instructed not to share a student's sexual orientation or gender identity with their parents or guardians except with the student's consent.
"When a parent is notified of perceived suicide risk or an attempt, it is essential that the school maintain student confidentiality related to personal information such as sexual orientation or gender identity, especially when the student has not already disclosed to the parent or guardian and does not want it shared. Information shared should be restricted to the perceived risk of suicide or facts of the attempt," the model states.
Further, disclosing students' sexual orientation or gender identity without their "explicit consent" can endanger them. Thus, school districts are given the authority, in their "professional capacity," to delay contacting parents and guardians if they have assessed that it will cause further harm to the students, Fox News reported.
Though the model identified the importance of the active participation of parents and guardians in decisions regarding students' welfare, it stated that the school should first ensure that their actions are in the "best interest" of the students.
This instruction is based on recent research, which showed that "LGBTQ youth who are rejected by their parents are at a much higher risk of depression, suicide, illegal drug use, and unprotected sexual practices."
A stab in the back
And in the case of parents and guardians who exhibit rejecting and reaffirming behaviors, school officials were instructed to have "great sensitivity" about what information should be provided to parents.
The model has been adopted, in part, by the state education departments in Arizona, Idaho, and Virginia, as well as California, New Hampshire, and Oregon local school districts, to name a few.
Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, told Fox News that parents want to be "desperately" involved in their children's lives, especially if they are going through something profound and complicated. She added that parents love their kids and want the best for them, and they want to help them thrive academically and personally.
Neily expressed that it is unfair and wrong to rob parents of their rights to know essential things about their children and to take care of them; much more be left out from what their children are going through. It is a stab in the back by school officials on whom parents put their trust.
She further emphasized that the model school policy is a "deliberate attempt to undermine familial relationships, which are very difficult to rebuild once damaged."
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., meanwhile, is calling on the Energy Department to instigate an internal investigation into its security clearance process for the hiring of Brinton, according to the Washington Examiner.
Brinton was recently fired from the Office of Nuclear Energy, an agency of the Department of Energy, for allegedly stealing airport luggage on multiple occasions and might face significant prison time.
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