After a day of backlash from customers, state farm insurance has stopped supporting a project that placed “transgender, inclusive and non-binary” children’s books in classrooms, libraries and community centers.
The company has partnered with the gendercool project, a “transgender and non-binary” youth activist organization to donate books, for children ages five and up, written by gendercool spokespeople.
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Lgbt activists are now angry at the company, even though state farm still supports a variety of LGBT activist groups, including those that focus on children and teens.
will hild, executive director of consumers first, who first told the story, said stopping support for the project is not enough.
In an email statement to daily citizen, the insurance giant said:
state farm’s support of a philanthropic program, gendercool, has been the subject of news and customer inquiries. this program that included books on gender identity aimed to promote inclusion.
We support organizations that provide resources for parents to have conversations about gender and identity with their children at home. we do not support the required curriculum in schools on this topic.
As a result, we have made the decision that we will no longer be affiliated with the organization. We will continue to explore how we can support our associates as well as organizations that align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, including the LGBTQ+ community.
We recognize and value the diversity of all people and support a culture of respect and inclusion in the communities in which we live and work, as well as in our workplace.
an email from state farm diversity director victor terry, posted on libs of tiktok, explained to agents why the program was ending:
Conversations about gender and identity should take place at home with parents. we do not support the required curriculum in schools on this topic. we support organizations that provide resources for parents to have these conversations.
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The consumer first tweeted: “An internal email is not enough. @statefarm must take action to reverse the damage caused.”
suggested that the company take the following steps:
1.) Assign an external third party to audit your program and get to the bottom of this breach of trust by state farm.
2.) Determine each school, public library, and community center where the books were donated.
3.) Post the results and notify parents in the areas where the books were made available to children.
The company denied having placed books in schools. But this was not true, as a letter to Florida State Farm Agents specifically described donating books to both teachers and classrooms.
The examiner also pointed to a Facebook post from Seabury School, Oregon, thanking the company for donating the book:
Through a partnership of State Farm and the Gender Cool Project, State Farm purchased 100 book collections, including 3 books: “A Kid’s Guide to Being Inclusive,” “A Kid’s Guide to Being Transgender,” and “A Children’s Guide to Being Nonbinary.” The intent is to distribute these book collections to schools across the country that would be willing to keep them available in their library.
On behalf of State Farm Pride and one of our new school families, Seabury was selected to receive one of these collections!
thanks to #statefarm and #thegendercoolproject for helping us to be an inclusive environment, one that we strive to be and one that welcomes everyone!
Lgbt activists were angry about the pushback from the insurance company. David Badash, editor-in-chief of New Civil Rights Movement, a “progressive” media outlet and LGBT activist, told the company to “find a backbone.”
badash noted: “over the past year, insurance giant state farm posted ten tweets in support of lgbtq people, programs and organizations, as recently as last week.”
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but when the company pulled out of its transgender book program, he and other lgbt activists were upset. He quoted LGBT activist Parker Molloy, who tweeted, “Since the company is so clearly and easily moved by public backlash, state farm customers should call their agent and cancel their policies.”
“so congratulations, state farm. you managed to find a way to piss off *everyone*,” Molloy added, calling the company a “cowardly company run by cowardly people.”
charlotte clymer, who was born male but describes herself as a lesbian, called the company “cowards” who “got scared and decided it’s more important to placate anti-lgbtq extremists than stand by the community lgbtq in a horrible time.” uncertainty.”
The “horrible uncertainty” evidently comes from pro-family groups who want to protect children from a highly sexualized and confusing ideology; work to preserve girls’ and women’s sports for biological women; and support the rights of parents in education.
Lgbt activists and their allies need not worry. State Farm lists its support for five LGBT activist organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
The organization sponsors various LGBT days and weeks in schools, says it has a national network of more than 1.5 million students, families, and educators, provides resources for students and educators, and has a network of thousands of “alliances of gender and sexuality”. ” and “rainbow clubs” in schools across the country.
Related articles and resources:
human rights campaign releases report showing huge corporate support for lgbt-identified people
lgbt, nea activists and librarians promote annual ‘transgender’ reading day in schools
like a good neighbor: state farm wants to teach your children about ‘being transgender, inclusive and non-binary’
school corporation promotes homosexuality, transgenderism and critical race theory among children
sexualizing schoolchildren: classroom and library books
photo by shutterstock.
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