12-year-old Christian boy speaks out at Trump’s religious liberty event about being bullied for his faith after speaking against transing kids

"I’ve been a Christian my whole life, and Jesus means everything to me. When I was in fifth grade, my school forced me to teach my kindergarten buddy about changing his gender using a book called ‘My Shadow Is Pink.’ The book said you can choose your gender based on feelings instead of how God made us," Encinas told members of the Religious Liberty Commission.

"I knew this was not right, but I was afraid of getting in trouble. After my family spoke up, the school treated us badly and kids started bullying me and my brother because of our faith, and the school did nothing to stop it.

"It hurt a lot but I kept trusting God. I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe. I hope no other family has to go through what mine did. Thank you," he said.

Encinas had attended the Los Costa Heights Elementary school in California when the book reading took place. As part of the school’s buddy program, he was forced to watch a read-aloud of the book with his kindergarten buddy in May 2024, and then was required to "participate in an activity where he drew the kindergartener’s shadow, using the color that 'represents' him," per the Liberty First Institute, which filed a lawsuit on behalf of his parents, Carlos and Jenny Encinas.

Encinas expressed discomfort with the topic that went against his beliefs, and his father requested that the school provide notification ahead of sensitive topics being read in school, and allow for parents to opt out. Both requests were denied. In the wake of the requests, "school district employees and other parents responded with hostility toward his family, and the PTA president organized a “Pink out the Hate” day where half the school wore pink in support of transgender rights. The Encinas family received threats by phone and in person, and their sons were bullied to the point where they had to transfer to a different school."

The US District Court for the Southern District of California granted a motion for preliminary injunction in May, requiring the Encinitas Union School District to provide notification and opt-outs to parents and students when speaking on the subject of gender ideology in "buddy classes." The school appealed the decision in June.

Nate Kellum, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute, said at the time, "No child should be forced to speak a message that violates his religious convictions. We are grateful for the court’s decision and will continue to fight to ensure that elementary children are not forced to participate in lessons about gender identity that violate their faith."

During his speech at the Bible Museum, where he addressed the White House Religious Liberty Commission, Trump stated, "I'm pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools."

Trump noted the case of another student, Hannah, who organized a group of friends to pray for another student who was injured. "A few years ago, Hannah organized a group of her classmates to pray for an injured peer. The school principal declared that Hannah's generous act of love was prohibited from taking place in front of the other students," Trump said.