VIDEO: First grade teacher says doctors guess gender when babies born

A transgender 1st grade teacher in Boston, MA, told a Zoom call of kindergarten, first grade and second grade students that doctors guess whether a newborn baby is a boy or a girl, according to a video shared on social media. 

Brooke Skyer, who identifies as male, made the statement in an “Identity Share” call in March 2021 held by Brooke Roslindale School, the Boston-area charter school where he works.

“So something that’s really cool and unique about who I am is that I am transgender,” Skyer tells the young audience.

“When babies are born, the doctor looks and they make a guess on whether the baby is a boy or girl based on what they look like.”

.@BrookeSchool 1st grade teacher records an “identity share” zoom call with K-2 grades where he spoke about being trans.

“When babies are born the dr looks & makes a guess on whether the baby is a boy or girl. Sometimes the dr is wrong. If they are right, the baby is cisgender” pic.twitter.com/qYGFm9B7rF

— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) April 10, 2022

Assistant Principal Sarah Hammond introduced Skyer to the children, saying: “Remember: Your job during the Identity Share is to be listening really carefully so that you can learn something new about Mr. Skyer.”

Skyer said he had three “I am” statements for the “Identity Share”: first, that he was a son and brother; second, that he was a reader and loved to read; and third, that he was a teacher.

He then said what was “cool” about himself is that “I am transgender,” and made the statement about doctors guessing babies genders.

“Most of the time that guess is 100% correct; there are no issues whatsoever, but sometimes the doctor is wrong; the doctor makes an incorrect guess,” Skyer explained to the children.

“When a doctor makes a correct guess, that’s when a person is called cisgender. When a doctor’s guess is wrong that’s when they are transgender.”

The teacher described growing up as a girl as “wearing a super-itchy sweater.”

“The longer you wear it the itchier it gets and the only way to make the itching stop is to have everyone see and know the person that you really are.”

The assistant principal told the audience that they were running behind schedule and likely would not have time for any questions.

Skyer said in an accompanying video on Facebook that he has had many conversations with young children about what being transgender is and has never been met with fear or confusion. 

“Children just get it, it’s as simple as that,” he said proudly.