I recently was riding in the car with my father at which time we happened to be listening to an AM radio talk show. The host of said talk show was speaking on the bill that the Obama Administration recently issued requiring public schools to allow transgender students to access to the bathroom designated for the sex they identify as; if the schools do not comply they will be subjected to a reduction in federal funding. I am aware that I do not know everything there is to know on this issue, but I believe equality is possible, and as a teacher candidate I believe that students should have access to the appropriate bathroom.
1. Students should be allowed to use the bathroom designated for the gender in which they identify.
According to the Youth Suicide Prevention Program "More than 50 percent of Transgender youth will have had at least one suicide attempt by their 20th birthday," and "More than 30 percent of LGBTQ youth report at least one suicide attempt within the last year." The truth is that unless we experience similar circumstances we do not know what students, and adults, experience. When 50 percent of any population is predicted to have a suicide attempt by the age of 20, there is a problem. As documented by CNN "A joint letter from the Departments of Education and Justice went to schools Friday with guidelines to ensure that "transgender students enjoy a supportive and nondiscriminatory school environment," the Obama administration said. With the guidance of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education creating a better environment for LGBTQ students, it will allow for lower suicide and depression rates.
2. What is it, and what does it do?
According to the letter sent to public schools by the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Education "The Departments interpret Title IX to require that when a student or the student’s parent or guardian, as appropriate, notifies the school administration that the student will assert a gender identity that differs from previous representations or records, the school will begin treating the student consistent with the student’s gender identity." This right is given to the student with no need for documentation because of the hardships finding such documentation with current legislation may pose.
3. Why are they cutting funding?
To my knowledge Title IX has already existed, and is being amended to include transgender students. Taken from the letter sent to the public schools it states, "As a condition of receiving Federal funds, a school agrees that it will not exclude, separate, deny benefits to, or otherwise treat differently on the basis of sex any person in its educational programs or activities unless expressly authorized to do so under Title IX or its implementing regulations." Schools have already agreed not to discriminate against students on the basis of sex, with the known consequence of losing their funding. Should the same benefits not be included for transgender students?
In conclusion, legislation will happen whether or not we are active particpants. As citizens we can always write letters to our senators and local representatives, and we can advocate for bettering our community on a daily basis.
