An elderly Connecticut school nurse was suspended over a “transphobic” Facebook post in which she revealed that an 11-year-old student was on puberty blockers, that 12 others were “non-binary,” and that school staff were helping keep it a secret from the parents of most of them.
Kathleen Cataford, 77, worked as a nurse at the Richard J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford. She was axed Monday for her post in a local moms’ group in which she was replying to a request for local school recommendations.
Cataford encouraged the user to “Investigate the school system curriculum … CT is a very socially liberal, gender confused state.”
Her post continued:
As a public school nurse, I have an 11 yo female student on puberty blockers and a dozen identifying as non-binary, all but two keeping this a secret from their parents with the help of teachers, SSW [social workers] and school administration.
Teachers and SSW are spending 37.5 hours a week influencing your children, not necessarily teaching your children what YOU think is being taught.
The school nurse went on to assert that “children are introduced to this confusion in kindergarten.”
Puberty blockers have become a controversial issue. Proponents argue they allow children who identify as “trans” to undergo changes to a body they already feel uncomfortable in.
But opponents say that while puberty blockers are marketed as being reversible, they can have irreversible side effects and provoke serious harm later in life, including sterility.
Hartford School District officials became aware of Cataford’s post after the mother of the 11-year-old she mentioned saw it and brought it to the administration’s attention.
The mother confirmed the post’s contents, but told DailyMail.com she did not want to comment further in respect to her child’s privacy. According to the website:
Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez issued a statement condemning Cataford’s remarks, but did not name the nurse, citing privacy concerns.
“Hartford Public Schools strives to provide an inclusive environment where all students feel seen, valued, respected, and heard,” the statement read…. “It is our responsibility to support our students’ growth, personal experiences, and social-emotional development.”
Upon learning of the post, the district began an investigation to decide whether Cataford will remain employed or not.
Torres-Rodriguez’s statement continued:
While at times the most hateful rhetoric is the loudest it certainly doesn’t affect the care, commitment, and acceptance that the vast majority of our teachers and staff practice every day. We not only support the differences and individuality of every member of our community, but we celebrate them and recognize their value in making our school system enriching, diverse, welcoming, and inclusive.
The Daily Mail quoted one of the student’s relatives as saying, “As a family we are very happy with how thoroughly and quickly the school and the district has taken action to both ensure the nurse is fully investigated and ensure the safety and privacy of our child. They could not have done a better job.”
They noted of Cataford’s social media history:
In addition to sharing specific and personal details about students on social media, Cataford has posted other links to stories addressing the current transgender debate on her Facebook profile.
On February 27, the now-suspended nurse shared a FOX article about former USA swimming official Cynthia Millen, who resigned to protest University of Pennsylvania transgender student Lia Thomas’ participation in the women’s swimming team at Penn.
More recently, Cataford shared a press conference of Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh entitled ‘Here’s why men don’t belong in women’s sports.’
She also stated support for the recent trucker’s convoy protesting vaccine mandates, saying that while she supported vaccination, she also believes in personal freedoms….
“I don’t think that’s right at all — everybody has their privacy — and especially when it comes to kids. If that was my child…I would be going crazy,” [said] one concerned mother.
This comes amid heightened tensions as parents fight back over sexual indoctrination in schools — indoctrination that some of the nation’s biggest companies want to keep in place.
Karey Burke, president of Disney’s General Entertainment Content, recently vowed to make underrepresented groups, such as racial minorities and the LGBTQ community, account for at least 50 percent of its regular characters by the end of the year.
“I’m here as a mother of two queer children, actually,” Burke said on a company-wide Zoom call, “one transgender child and one pansexual child, and also as a leader.”
Apple is also combating recent pro-family legislation in states like Florida by deploying an army of lobbyists in support of the LGBT agenda.
