Administration withdraws federal protections on transgender bathroom use in public schools:
If You Disagree, Here's How To Respond
In New York City and Los Angeles — the two largest school districts in the country — transgender students use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. This is part of their overall support for LGBT students, and, really, one indicator of their support for all students.
But if you teach, live, work, or have a child in a school district where this is not the case - and if you think it should be - consider the following possible actions:
1. Every school/school district has a mission statement. These generally can be found online or can be obtained directly from the school/school district. Read it. If it says anything about providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students, there's your opening. Use that exact language when you address the issue. No administrator will come out and say, "except for transgender students."
2. Attend school board meetings and raise this as an issue of concern.
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
4. Contact your local or state legislators in person, by phone, and/or in writing.
5. If the powers-that-be cite the law and claim their hands are tied, try for an alternative solution, such as single occupancy restrooms that can be used by anyone.
6. If a school hedges by offering transgender youth the use of a private restroom located in the administrative suite, think of the impact of dozens of supportive cisgender students boycotting the designated boys/girls restrooms and joining the transgender students in a long, long line outside that out of the way, "separate but equal" facility. This kind of support (kids supporting each other) may be the most powerful of all.
For more information, check out the document - Transgender Students and School Bathrooms: Frequently Asked Questions. Here's a link
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A VERB!
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