Reader calls on governor to ‘remedy harm’ caused by reaction to middle school lesson

Dear Governor

Parents complained to you when an article about a transgender teenager, “I am Leo,” was assigned to Charleston middle school students. You wrote an open letter to the Charleston County School District (CCSD) board saying that “this issue … shouldn’t be discussed by a public-school teacher without parents’ knowledge.” Your letter also references one parent’s “shock and concern.”

As governor, you should not harm or discriminate against any of South Carolina’s children. Yet, your letter demonstrated no concern for our nonbinary and transgender children, who comprise at least 2% of CCSD’s students.

The article you referenced contains an editor’s note revealing that that almost 27% of transgender teens report feeling unsafe at school, and 35% have been bullied. More than 50% of transgender boys, 30% of transgender girls, and 42% of nonbinary students have attempted suicide, as compared to 10-18% of cisgender adolescents.

I beg you to educate yourself so that you don’t further harm vulnerable children. We have several wonderful organizations such as We are Family that could provide training for you and your staff.

Please attempt to publicly remedy the harm you have done.

Bonnie Cleaveland, Charleston

Problem solved

As a resident of Carmel Commons in Irmo, I would like to commend Rep. Chip Huggins, R-Lexington, for his assistance in addressing and solving a serious problem on a main road of the subdivision at the corner of Pale Ivy and Wandering Brook Roads.

For at least nine months, there has been a very large stream of water running across the road, stemming from a leak in a water pipe that is the responsibility of the city. Several residents had contacted the City of Columbia Water Division, which admitted to having made two attempts to fix the problem several months ago, but that they were unsuccessful.

It was not until I contacted Rep. Huggins, who then contacted the city, that anyone seriously addressed the problem and made the repairs.

There is only one way in and out of the community. I described the problem and the concern that the road would eventually collapse, meaning that neither residents, emergency vehicles, or service trucks would be able to enter or leave the community.

Thank you, Rep. Huggins.

Nora T. Whitley, Irmo

Grateful traveler

On Sept. 1, I was traveling on I-26 East and stopped at the Rainbow Gas Garden in Chapin, a station where I have been many times.

When I got home to Summerville, I realized that I had left my purse in the restroom. In a panic, I called the business. An employee told me that a woman had turned it in. That was a relief, but I wasn’t sure that the contents were intact. Much to my surprise, when my sister picked up my purse for me she called to say that the license, credit cards, and cash were all there.

Hearing that great news, I called to speak with the manager, and to thank him profusely.

It seems that my huge mistake, which had the potential to be devastating, resulted in a best-case scenario.

I am so grateful to the unknown female traveler, to the owner and employee of the station for their honesty and willingness to help, and to my sister for picking it up for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Selina Hathaway, Summerville

Integrity matters

The season to choose our political leaders is upon us and has triggered my thoughts concerning leaders and leadership, which reflect my belief that God has purposed each of us to lead in some capacity in response to the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:16-20).

This argument centers on integrity as the key measurement to use for choosing a political leader or any leader for that matter. I believe that to be a good leader, you must have integrity.

I have soured on using party affiliation to choose a political leader, and I am putting forward what I think is a better measurement by simply asking: Does the leader have integrity and traffic in the truth?

I believe using integrity as a choosing tool will yield good leaders, eliminating holding your nose and voting for a leader/candidate.

Jay Brown, Chapin