In a Tulsa World article, State Superintendent Ryan Walters stated that he would not bow down to what he referred to as a “woke mob” with certainty derived from the Bible. However, Dr. Edward Gustavson, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, critiqued Walters’ labeling by suggesting that it does not effectively address the challenges children are facing today.

Gustavson referenced a news story from March 24, which discussed the frequency of lawsuits naming Walters as a defendant, suggesting that the superintendent may deserve legal action for his actions. In an effort to challenge Walters’ understanding of the issue, Gustavson shared details from an international meeting he attended in 2006 at the Pediatric Endocrine Center of Oklahoma City’s Children’s Hospital. At this event, experts in genetics, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and social sciences explained that sexual determination is not strictly male or female at birth due to a variety of factors.

Gustavson emphasized that genetic information disproves the oversimplified notion that sex is determined solely by X and Y chromosomes, with data showing the influence of numerous genetic sites on this complex process. Reflecting on his own educational background