I think you’re wrong.

it is a rhetorical technique, to present two alternatives, one of which is obviously terrible, to reinforce the correctness of the other option.

it is extremely clear that these parents do not consider beating and supporting their kids to be equally valid alternatives.

are you saying that because of this part of the article:

“If somebody is expressing something to you clearly and consistently, especially as a parent, you have two choices: Either you try to beat it out of them, or [you] accept them where they are,” says Joanna, a 34-year-old who works in tech in Brooklyn, who remembers suppressing feelings of gender dysphoria as early as 8 years old.