Transgender rights are a state issue

On the Feb. 26 editorial page, a Minneapolis mother wrote of her transgender child Henry (“My 7-year-old daughter Henry is transgender. She’d change Trump’s mind.”) For liberals, every contentious issue becomes a political battleground. The mother was striking out at President Trump for rescinding Obama’s executive order concerning bathrooms for transgender people. She speaks of transgender rights. Where is it written that transgender people have to be accorded special rights?

This is not a problem for the federal government. Politicians have strayed from the Founders’ intent for limited government. Amendment 10 to the Constitution speaks plainly: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Obama’s transgender issue executive order was clearly unconstitutional.

This article seems to revolve around the issue of bathrooms and the belief Henry will be happy if she can just use the girl’s bathroom, and no one should stand in the way or deny this delusion.

Parenting is not easy. I wonder, if this mother had discouraged this behavior early on, would Henry be at this point today? Each of us is the results of our nature (genes) and nurture (learned behavior). Henry is, I’m afraid, a product (mostly) of nurture. Would Henry today be any less happy had parents made the effort with clinical help to resolve the delusion? There is no question that Henry is male and has the parts to prove it. Henry can never be female except outwardly, in dress and makeup. Doesn’t it seem that Henry would have had a greater chance for happiness if helped along the way psychologically? Denying Henry this feminine obsession would not have been unloving but rather a loving approach to help Henry live a balanced life.

— Richard Roberts

Kannapolis

Whose facts count?

Trump: “Bo Bergdahl is a traitor and should be executed.”

Bergdahl could say: “Trump was a draft dodger with five deferments and should be banished to Canada.”

Alternative facts?

— W.L. Poole

Salisbury