But as the pandemic fueled contentious debates in the small city of Hastings, Minnesota, where Waits was serving as chair of the local school board, an angry parent attacked Waits where it would hurt the most; she outed Kit as transgender to others in a Facebook group. Another parent called for Waits to be “locked up” for child abuse for having supported her child’s transition.
Waits said those parents had disagreed with her on positions she had taken on things like mask-wearing in school, and her efforts to make schools more inclusive for gender non-conforming children.
“Kit’s identity has been politicized to an incredible degree and that’s something we have to navigate every day,” Waits said.
Where Kit had once managed the social dynamics of elementary school and after-school sports, suddenly Kit began to be misgendered, Waits said. Kit was also getting bullied at school over their gender identity, and criticized for participating on girls’ athletic teams, Waits says.
“We don’t get to just walk away from politics,” said Waits. “This is my child’s life.”