This past week, 2 high schools, Pascack Hills High School and Pascack Valley Regional High, located in Hillsdale, New Jersey, have approved a policy that allows students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity.
Superintendent Erik Gundersen said, “If students want to be called by their newly identified gender name, then we’re going to allow them the opportunity. If they want to be called by a different pronoun, they’re going to be given the opportunity to do so.”
Whole-heartedly accepting that students want to be identified with a different gender shows that these schools are making the effort to show their students that they accept all of them for who they are. Going to a school where you know people accept you, and are willing to stand up for you is vital to making students feel safe and free to express who they truly are.
Although some parents and even lawmakers brought up privacy issues for students who are not transgender, the school district said the policy is necessary to adhere to anti-discrimination laws. The school had a very in-depth meeting to discuss the policy, and the majority of people were all for it. On the other hand, parents and many officials argued that the policy disregarded parental opinion, and consideration for non-transgender students. The school has stated that if a non-transgender student feels uncomfortable with the policy, some sort of an alternative will be provided for them, such as being able to change in a more private place.
The reason this story caught my attention is because of their willingness to accept students who are transgender. I believe that everyone deserves to be accepted no matter what gender they identify with, and the fact that 2 high schools are doing that is incredible. It really shows that people are willing to accept that times are changing, and those changes should be accommodated. These high schools are setting an example to be more accepting of transgender people, which to me, is a very valuable example to set.
I know that not everyone will have the same outlook, and everyone has the right to his or her own opinion. But I am someone who firmly in believes in equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender. I can see that society is really trying to implement changes that are taking a step in the right direction, and these high schools are one of the many examples.
