Originally a source of controversy within the school board of Encinitas, a San Diego suburb, the issue escalated to a legal battle. In May 2024, La Costa Heights Elementary School introduced a “Buddy” program that introduced concepts of gender identity without providing an option for parents to exclude their children from the lesson.
The program included a story called My Shadow is Pink, which featured a boy who visualizes his shadow as pink instead of the traditional blue, conveying the message that children have the ability to alter their gender identity. The narrative prompted children to identify with the color of their shadow as a representation of their true selves. It portrays the boy navigating authenticity by choosing to wear a dress on his first day of school. Initially hesitant, the boy’s father overcomes his concerns and joins his son in donning a dress. He supports his son’s decision, emphasizing that anyone who disagrees is misguided.
One family, the Encinas, who had a fifth-grade son enrolled in the school and were devout Christians, felt uneasy about their child being used as a spokesperson for beliefs conflicting with their own. The Encinas approached the school with two specific appeals: to be informed in advance about discussions involving sensitive topics and to be given the choice for their children to refrain from participating. Regrettably, both of their requests were turned down.
Adults under this type of pressure cave, so the fact that Carlos expressed his discomfort at such a young age is a reflection of his steadfast character, and the character of this family. The Encinases and other parents took their concerns to the Encinitas Union School District Board. But as is typical of school boards across the country over gender indoctrination, the board took the coward’s way out and failed to address the issue.
Supporters of the book say that coordinated protests from outsiders are becoming more common.
“They come in and rabble-rouse at school boards and undermine really what our local heroes are trying to do every day in the classroom,” said Marco Gonzales, a district parent.
There was no action item on this book, so no action was taken on Tuesday.
In September 2024, the First Liberty Institute and the National Center for Law & Policy filed a complaint and a motion for preliminary injunction on behalf of the Encinas family and one other family unit. According to First Liberty, after Carlos raised his concerns, employees of the school district and other parents in the school became hostile toward Carlos and his family. The president of the PTA even organized a “Pink Out The Hate Day,” where half the school wore pink in support of transgender rights. The Encinas family even received verbal threats and threatening phone calls, and Carlos was bullied to the point where his parents had to transfer him to a different school.
Apparently, the phrase “Hate has no home here” that the Woke love to spout doesn’t apply to people with Christian beliefs.