Maine school board member says children’s gender identities should be kept secret from parents ‘even if there are safety concerns’

Chris McLaughlin is a school board member in Hermon, a town just outside of Bangor, Maine, and also serves as a social worker.

"One of my rules of thumb is to always follow the lead of the youth, that it is not my role regardless of where I’m practicing to out that kid to their parents," McLaughlin began in a clip posted by Courage is a Habit.

"Even if there are safety issues present, which as many folks know, the behavioral health outcomes for this population is pretty scary at times, even if those safety issues are present, it would not ever be appropriate for me to out that youth to their caregivers without their consent," he added.

According to McLaughlin’s biography on the University of Maine’s website, his alma mater and where he now works as an adjunct professor, McLaughlin is the Associate Vice President of Community and Pediatric Services at Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine.

"Chris has spent the last 20 years providing behavioral health services to youth and families across a variety of clinical settings including treatment foster care, residential treatment facilities, public schools, private practice, and community-based case management programs," his biography reads.

McLaughlin also serves on the Maine Board of Social Work Licensing and is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, where he serves as Maine Chapter President.

"I’m so proud to be a member and a leader within the National Association of Social Workers, leading the chapter here in Maine and being part of the national leadership team.

"They do an amazing job with education and advocacy. My social work colleagues out there will know that this is now baked within our code of ethics. And we as social workers are called upon to advocate on behalf of marginalized populations including sexual and gender minority individuals, youth and otherwise. So I see a lot of progress there. I see a lot of movement in the right directions and I see a lot of opportunity for continued growth.

According to Courage is a Habit, McLaughlin is a supporter of Chapter 117, a proposed rule from the Maine Department of Education that would allow staff members to keep the gender identities of students from their parents, and open the door for students to be taken from their parents if the parents disagree with their child’s new gender identity.