On Sunday, the New York Times reported on an effort within the Trump administration to erase transgender people from the enforcement of federal civil rights law. The memo laying out this plan was reportedly spearheaded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Roger Severino, who serves as director of Office of Civil Rights within DHHS, has been tied to the department's recent memo on gender. This is an open letter to Mr. Severino regarding the department's memo, signed by the parents and families of transgender children.

Dear Roger Severino, Director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.

We are parents of transgender youth, and we want you to know that our children exist and deserve the same rights and protections as any other child. Our kids are complex, multi-faceted individuals with likes and dislikes, favorite subjects in schools, hobbies, pets, friends, and family who love them. They are funny, sarcastic, smart, engaging, shy, bold, adventurous, artistic, outspoken, considerate, and kind… just like any other kids.

They are more than just their bodies. They are more than the letter on their birth certificate. They are more than anything that can be proven through a genetic test. A piece of paper or stamp of approval from you cannot define their existence. They are living, breathing, loving, thriving children because their gender has been affirmed by us as their parents and by those in our communities.

As parents, there is no outside authority who can tell us what we already know about our remarkable children. But if we did need some validation, we have it from the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and countless doctors, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers across the nation.

We understand that our children, and all transgender people, can be confusing to some of our fellow citizens. Despite the fact that transgender people have existed in all parts of the world throughout all time, transgender identities are a new idea to many in our communities. Some are skeptical or bring their religious beliefs into conversations about transgender equal rights. Thankfully, we are a country founded on religious freedom and the idea that the church and state should remain separate.

Your proposed rule to narrowly define “sex” ignores what modern science tells us. As one of our kids stated, “I am who I am. I know it in my brain. No law can change me.”

Have you met any transgender children, Mr. Severino? Have you looked them in the eye and told them you don’t believe they know who they are? Have you ever told a parent that you know better than their doctors, their children, and themselves?

Another of our kids said your department's proposed rule “shows trans youth that we are not valued equally in America just for being who we truly are and need to be.” This teen fears that your proposal will encourage “widespread discrimination or even acts of violence.”

We want to believe you don’t want to encourage discrimination or violence against our children. Tell us that our transgender children are valuable and deserve equal protections under Title IX and every other law. Tell us that you will reverse course.

Sincerely, Parents and family of transgender youth

Debi Jackson, Family Organizer, National Center for Transgender Equality, Parent of a Transgender Person

Deshanna Neal, Family Organizer, National Center for Transgender Equality, Parent of a Transgender Person

Vanessa Ford, Board Member, National Center for Transgender Equality, Parent of a Transgender Person