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MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Jefferson City

Mike Moon
157th District
Lawrence County

May 16, 2016

Dr. Margie Vandeven
Commissioner of Education
205 Jefferson Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
TITLE IX, TRANSGENDERISM, AND FEDERAL FUNDS
The recent letter from U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary, Catherine E. Lhaman
and U.S. Department of Justice Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights,
Vanita Gupta outlining new Title IX requirements is one that begs a challenge. The letter reads,
As a condition of receiving Federal funds, a school agrees that it will not exclude, separate,
deny benefits to, or otherwise treat differently on the basis of sex any person in its educational
programs or activities a school must not treat a transgender student differently from the way it
treats other students of the same gender identity.
The letter continues, The Departments require that when a student or the students parent or
guardian, as appropriate, notifies the school administration that the student will assert a gender
identity that differs from previous representations or records, the school will begin treating the
student consistent with the students gender identity.
According to the letter, there is no medical diagnosis or treatment requirement that students
must meet as a prerequisite to being treated consistent with their gender identity.

However, in the professional opinion of Dr. Paul R. McHugh, Distinguished Service Professor of
Psychiatry and former psychiatrist-in-chief for JohnsHopkinsHospital, transgenderism is a
mental disorder that merits treatment, sex change is biologically impossible, and that people
who promote sexual reassignment surgery are collaborating with and promoting a mental
disorder.
The letter published by the U.S. Education Department and DOJ requires the promotion and
protection of a behavior inconsistent with natural law and, as such, should not be followed.
If we, as a society, are intent upon instructing and training our children on the difference between
right and wrong, we must stand against decrees from the federal government or any other entity
forcing us to do otherwise.
I urge you to reject the edict without regard to the potential financial costs.

Mike Moon
417-818-5419
Cc: Governor Nixon
Lt. Governor Kinder
Missouri House and Senate
State Board of Education Members
Lawrence County School Board Presidents