Trans-Kids And School

As many of you know by that on Tuesday on the Katie Couric Show talked about trans-kids and how one Colorado family is having problems with their local school district (My post about it is here). I want to follow up on that today.

The school district for over a year allowed her to use the girl’s bathroom and for unexplained reasons they changed their minds and required her to use the boys' bathroom, a staff bathroom, or the nurse's bathroom.

Colorado is one of the sixteen states that have protection for gender identity and expression and according to an Editorial in the Denver Post,

Frankly, it doesn't seem like a tough call. Colorado's anti-discrimination rules clearly say transgender individuals shall be allowed to use the "gender-segregated facilities that are consistent with their gender identity."

So why did the school district change their mind? Was there any trouble like bullying or harassment? If there was they should stop the bullying or harassment as they are required by federal law and not punish the victim. Did some parents complain? Then they should have told the parents that they were only following the law.

An article in the Health & Family section of Time asked “A 6-Year-Old Boy Becomes a Girl: Do Schools Need New Rules for Transgender Students?”

The unusual case points up the need for schools to discuss whether transgender students may need accommodation — or entirely new policies. Might a boy who identifies as a girl and plays on the school tennis team have an advantage over her teammates? Will transgender girls go out for varsity football?

The answer is yes, school districts should have a policy in place for when a student transitions. For those of you who follow my blog you may recall that I gave a speech to the Civil Rights and Anti-Bullying Leadership Summit that was sponsored by Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities back in August. I am also giving a workshop on the topic at the True Colors conference later this month.

Down in Mississippi this week a trans-student was supported by the school system while the students thought it was special treatment that she was receiving,

Transgender Mississippi Student 'Leah' Supported By High School While Students Protest
The Huffington Post 
By Glennisha Morgan
Posted: 03/01/2013

Students at a Batesville, Miss. high school are protesting because they believe that a transgender classmate is receiving “special treatment.”

As WLOX 13 reports, over 30 students at South Panola High School have vocalized their opposition to a transgender girl identified only as Leah, who has been allowed to wear female clothing.
[…]
On the other hand, other officials have echoed [interim Superintendent] Foster's sentiments, arguing that Leah does not violate South Panola's dress code because she is now a female. Area resident Betsy Chapman has created the Facebook group "Mississippians Support Leah," which backs the student's cause.

Being treated equally does not mean special rights as the school officials said she is now legal a girl and she is being treated just like any other girl.