The Sodus, NY Central School District has decided to honor a request by a transgender student to use the girl's bathroom and locker room.
After a series of adults spoke against a transgender girl sharing facilities with their children, Jennifer Surridge stood up to speak. A hush fell over the proceedings.
My daughter has a civil right to be in the bathroom that she gender identifies with. And your children have the same right to be in the bathroom that they gender identify with. If they choose to leave that's a choice- my daughter is not choosing. She just is.
For years, since she was 3 or 4, she has told me she was a girl and I wasn't excepting. I didn't understand and agree with any of it because I didn't get it.
--Jennifer Surridge
When one parent expressed concerns about her daughter using the same bathroom, Surridge had an effective answer.
There's an easy way to handle this. Teach her tolerance and acceptance. Teach her what it means to accept people for who they are.
--Surridge
There was concern expressed by parents of girls going through puberty.
I'm not here and as any part of any religious organization. I don't have any kind of discrimination against LGBTQ. I believe in their rights, I'm just here as a concerned parent that I don't want my child in a locker room changing with somebody that she's known for over a year as a boy.
She doesn't want to show her body to even the girls in the classroom. So I don't want her feeling uncomfortable.
--Debbie Galek
I get it-- it's a matter of educating and understanding that mindset of a child. A transgender child... Biological sex and gender identity are completely separate. People need to learn to separate them.
--Surridge
Surridge said that her daughter's Christmas present was to open up about her gender. She says the changing rooms are an issue for her daughter as well.
Somethings do sadden her that are happening right now in the locker rooms with people changing. I've explained to her that this is just a growing process. She just needs to be patient and let her friends figure things our on their own.
--Surridge
I would appreciate it if everyone took a minute to think what if this was your child. What if this child came to you and said, 'Mommy, I'm not a boy I'm a girl in here -- nobody can see me for who I am.
--Surridge
She is my amazing, beautiful, courageous daughter. Since age four she has said she is a girl. At first I didn’t understand it. Transgender is not a choice. Nobody would chose this. It’s scary.
The district Board of Education has released a statement.
The District has granted the request, as required by federal and state law. However, the District is also taking steps to protect all students’ interests in protecting their privacy in such locations.
The District’s actions are consistent with those taken by other school districts throughout the state and nation.” [The district ] is working with teachers, staff and students to respect all students’ interest in privacy in places such as bathrooms and locker rooms. The District believes that no student should have to feel uncomfortable in such settings.
--Superintendent Marty Cox
This is a situation that has been happening fast. The district had training provided on this particular topic on Monday and will continue to work with students to provide information on all aspects. We are being respectful, responsible and tolerant of student rights.
--Cox
The Menasha, WI Board of Education unanimously approved a policy Monday that
allows transgender and gender non-conforming students to use the restrooms of the gender with which they identify.
School board president Joe Lingnofski said the board members had concerns early in the policy adoption process, but their fears were quelled after the administration presented the first draft.
When it was time for discussion at the meeting, Senior Rowan Saecker was the first to speak. She is at the center of the controversy.
Last year and the year before, actually, I had seriously bad depression … I was sleeping for hours on-end every day. I would just go home and sleep. I would stress-eat all the time. That honestly didn't get better until I realized that the community was respecting me and respecting my rights and respecting who I am.
So I feel like as a policy, this is incredibly important to give kids who may be depressed or even suicidal that kind of opportunity to stand up and speak out for themselves and say 'I'm transgender and I need to use this for my own mental and personal safety.
--Rowan Saecker
Under the new policy, students can use the restrooms for the gender they identify with if they have "held the belief deeply, followed the belief consistently over a period of time, is supported by (a) parent or guardian, and … has sought guidance or counseling in coming to the decision."
The policy also lays out how privacy, names, pronouns and records should be handled for transgender or gender nonconforming students.
Students can also participate in physical education and intramural sports "consistent with the gender identity that the student regularly asserts."
Tasha Saecker said that it made Rowan uncomfortable to be forced to use a unisex bathroom.
It is being called different and being not of that gender, so you are told that you are unique and odd, perhaps.
--Tasha Saecker
We had a meeting with all of her teachers at the beginning of the year, and they were phenomenal — immediately understood, immediately agreed. The school has been wonderful.
--Tasha Saecker
Julaine Appling, president of the conservative advocacy group Wisconsin Family Action, doesn't believe there are enough transgender students in Wisconsin schools to make such policies necessary.
Appling doesn't seem to understand that every young life is precious.
The number of students who self-identify as transgender in any school district is extremely low … We're talking one or two students for whom we are creating a situation for the rest of the students that puts their privacy at stake, their emotional well-being at stake.
--Appling