Last week the comments on our post, “It’s Strategy, People!!!” got out of control, with vitriol, personal attacks, misrepresentations and finger pointing—people on “our side” even stooped to sending trolls to our site. It was like nothing we’ve ever dealt with on our Substack—sad to witness, as well as extremely upsetting to many parents and horribly counterproductive to the cause.
We want to be clear: We can and will exercise our prerogative to delete comments. We WILL refuse PITT as a platform to those who slam parents.
So, for now, comments are off.
PITT parents are not weak. We are also not particularly friendly to anyone that would speak ill of our beloved kids or point fingers at us as we try to do our best, despite ridiculously adverse circumstances. It is bad enough having society saying we are wrong for not transing our kids, but having people supposedly on our side saying we are abusive BECAUSE our kids became trans identified and saying it must be our fault? We will not tolerate it. We tell our stories on PITT, not yours, and we advance OUR agenda.
Some of our readers seem to think that the parents of PITT have an obligation to be ideological purists or to support all interest groups in the gender wars. Some commenters seem to think that PITT stories, authors, and moderators are required to remain entirely neutral and open to all critiques and opinions. What in the world gave you these ideas? We have no such obligations. Clearly we have opinions and an agenda—to save our kids. There’s nothing sneaky going on here; just read our “about” page. PITT parents are not neutral bystanders having an intellectual debate. We are pushing back against gender ideology with an urgency that reflects the danger it poses to our children.
If it’s ideological purity, adherence to special interest group agendas, a space for you to express your viewpoints, or neutrality you are looking for, you won’t find it at PITT. Find a friendly soapbox, start your own blog, or try to find a group that will bend the knee to your pressure tactics and name-calling. No enemy or ally will distract us from protecting our kids.
There are no more extremists amongst the parent community than in the general population. We are ordinary people who were civilians before we were “radicalized” by gender ideology and the threat it poses—if radicalized is the right word for asking questions and applying critical thinking skills. Most of us had little to no knowledge about the gender aspect of the culture wars until it darkened our doors. Now we are insurgents. However slow we were to awaken, we now stand as willing human shields in front of what matters most to us—our children. If we fall, countless other parents will step into our places.
We work within the particular circumstances of our child and our family to achieve the best outcome for our kids. We are a far cry from the abusive parents that just kick their “trans” kids out of their house because they are “transphobic”. We are also a far cry from the parents that cheer as their kids take wrong sex hormones and pretend to be the opposite sex. We take a rational approach and sometimes that involves compromise.
Do we believe “trans” is real? No, we don’t. Do we believe that gender ideology is harmful and toxic? And that medicalization of identities is wrong? Yes, we do. Do we come right out and say that to our kids 100% of the time? No, we don’t, and some of us even play along with the gender game.
So why would a parent sometimes play along, despite it being contrary to our opinions, beliefs and even morality? Because, as any parent knows, ideological self-righteousness—no matter how “right” or well-intentioned, does not work on teens.
We also don’t care about purity in strategy or in tactics when it comes to picking our friends. Politics, they say, makes for strange bedfellows. So, it turns out, does gender ideology. All we care about is results. To the extent other groups’ interests align with ours, we will work with you. We will make no apologies for taking the bits and pieces from your arguments and tactics that help us, and leaving out the ones that don’t. We don’t owe you anything and there are no rules in this battle. All’s fair in love and war.
Similarly, feel free to use parents to advance your agendas as you see fit—we can’t stop you. Just understand that no amount of raging at us will make us be exactly what you want us to be, so there’s no point to it. It also has a very detrimental side effect, beyond being ineffective— the constant critiquing and judging of parents coming from all directions really undermines our confidence in parenting our children. This helps no one. Please stop it and show some empathy and compassion. We are doing the best we can, and in many cases, just getting by.
We don’t care about philosophy, intellectual debate, theory, or determining who was right, who gets the most clicks/views, or who gets to claim the most credit. For those that care about that sort of thing, you’ll have time to argue about it later. Once we’ve won and our children are safe, most of us parents will dissolve back into our normal daily lives, civilians once more. We’re not here for the credit or the moral high ground. We’re here for our kids.
This is an unconventional war—it will be won by unconventional means. We are willing to do what it takes. Are you?
A word about Genspect: For the hundredth time, people —Genspect does not write for PITT! Genspect has no access to PITT, or behind the scenes editorial control over PITT. PITT is written, edited and moderated exclusively by parents. Some months ago, our little blog started to attract some notice, and we picked up some light fire from the enemy camps. We reached out to Genspect and asked to affiliate, so they could provide us some cover. We had one condition—Genspect would in no way impact our content. Stella O’Malley not only agreed whole-heartedly, but insisted that Genspect would not have it any other way. It was important to her that parent voices be 100% uncensored and uninhibited. She also anticipated what is happening now—if Genspect was involved in PITT, there might be accusations of impropriety and/or influence. Genspect has been true to its promise, and has earned our trust as “A Voice for Parents”.
Although PITT is NOT Genspect, Genspect has been on PITT parents’ side, consistently, since Day One. They have been taking heat for doing exactly what parents are hoping for—helping our kids, counseling parents, and getting results —because some don’t like their tactics, deeming them ideologically unpure. Thank you, Genspect, for all you do for parents. You help us stand strong for our kids and our families. We’re glad you’re in our corner.