Bethesda Middle School’s Transgender Awareness Lesson for 6th Graders Draws Criticism Over 'Binding' and 'Coming Out' Content

Westland Middle School in Bethesda, Maryland, presented a 12-slide lesson to sixth graders during Transgender Awareness Week that included videos and classroom prompts about gender identity, according to a presentation obtained by Fox News Digital.

The slides opened by distinguishing sex from gender and stated that “a person’s gender is who they feel that they are.” Materials included short quizzes and discussion questions for students, such as how people know whether they are a “girl” or “boy” and why gender is often announced at a newborn’s birth.

Two videos produced by the LGBT educational resource provider Pop’n’Olly were shown: one titled Advice for Coming Out and another titled 8 Tips for Being Nonbinary. The nonbinary video featured a creator identified in the presentation as Laurenzo, described as a nonbinary social-media creator. That segment covered how to respond when someone uses incorrect pronouns, how to choose a label, and included practical guidance on binding—the practice of using a binder or other methods to flatten the chest to appear less feminine.

The final slide invited students to attend meetings of Westland’s LGBTQ+ student group, SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance).

Reactions

The lesson drew sharply different responses. Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications for the advocacy group Defending Education, criticized the materials, calling them “cult-like propaganda” and arguing that the content was inappropriate for 11- and 12-year-olds.

“They are presenting a harmful ideology as gospel to other people's children... Many kids will rightly scoff and be unfazed by the absurdity of it all, but others may be vulnerable,” Sanzi told Fox News Digital.

By contrast, a Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson defended the lesson, saying the district aims to ensure “every student feels safe, seen, and respected at school.” The district said advisory lessons address a range of topics to promote understanding and kindness, that materials were communicated in advance, and that clear opt-out procedures were available and followed.

The district statement also emphasized that middle school is a time when students ask questions and that lessons like this are intended to reinforce that bullying, harassment, and discrimination are not tolerated in school buildings.

Context

Lessons on gender identity in middle schools continue to be politically and socially sensitive. Supporters argue such lessons promote safety and inclusivity for transgender and nonbinary students, while critics contend that some content is age-inappropriate or should require parental consent. The Westland lesson illustrates both the educational goals and the controversies that often accompany discussions of gender in schools.