Diversity Rules Magazine

21 Diversity Rules Magazine May 2017 As politicians in states like Texas and North Carolina fight to restrict trans- gender students' access to bathrooms, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and GLSEN, in partnership with the National Center for Transgen- der Equality (NCTE) and the National Education Association (NEA) have re- leased a new report Separation and Stigma: Transgender Youth & School Facilities showing how profoundly harmful and unnecessary policies that ex- clude transgender students from school facilities that match their gender can be on these children. MAP, GLSEN, NCTE and the NEA sent the report and an open letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Bet- sy DeVos, highlighting the hundreds of local school districts across the country, as well as 13 states and the District of Columbia, that have proven they can suc- cessfully implement laws and policies protecting trans- gender students from discrimination while still meet- ing the needs of all students. "Having inclusive school policies does nothing to di- minish schools' legal obligation to ensure safe educa- tion facilities and to act if a student behaves inappro- priately or tries to invade someone's privacy. If any student attempts to abuse an inclusive policy, schools can and will take action. And schools can also offer privacy options for any student who simply feels un- comfortable," said Ineke Mushovic, Executive Direc- tor of MAP. "On the surface, the argument is about bathrooms, but at a deeper level, it is about whether or not transgender students will be included in our public education system. Put simply, if transgender students cannot safely access a bathroom, they cannot safely attend school." Learning from local success, in 2014, the Obama ad- ministration issued official guidance clarifying that transgender students are protected from discrimina- tion based on Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimi- nation. However, the Trump administration recently rescinded that guidance, signaling that transgender students cannot count on their federal government for support or protection. e administration's action also caused the U.S. Supreme Court to withdraw its deci- sion to hear arguments in the case of Gavin Grimm, in which the Court would have considered whether Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination protects transgender students. And, with the new administration rescinding its previ- ous guidance, more states are considering discrimina- tory laws. Seventeen states have introduced legislation that seeks to limit school districts' ability to provide access to school restrooms and locker rooms for trans- gender students. Although the text of the bills varies from state to state, these bills are generally designed to ensure transgender students are relegated to separate facilities, or facilities that align with the sex on their birth certificate. Bills like these tie the hands of local school administrators and make school environments even more difficult and dangerous for already-vulnera- ble transgender students. GLSEN's 2015 National School Climate Survey pro- vides a chilling snapshot of the experiences of trans- gender students in school. As reviewed in this report, three quarters (75%) of transgender students felt un- safe at school because of their gender expression; half reported being unable to use the name or pronoun that matched their identity; and 70% reported avoid- ing bathrooms, which can lead to significant health problems. "As adults argue about whether to allow transgender students to use facilities that match the gender they live every day, it is transgender students who pay a heavy personal price," said Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director of GLSEN. "We have a responsibility to en- sure all students have a fair chance to succeed in school and to be protected from discrimination and bullying. And school administrators around the country have proven they can meet the needs of all students when politicians don't stand in their way." e link to the report: lgbtmap.org/policy-and-issue- analysis/transgender-youth-school GLSEN champions safe and affirming schools for all students. We envision a world in which every child learns to respect and ac- cept all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Each year, GLSEN programs and resources reach tens of thousands of K-12 schools across the United States, and our network of chapters brings GLSEN's expertise to their local communities. GLSEN's progress and impact have won support for our work at all levels of education in the United States and sparked an international movement to ensure equality for LGBTQ students and respect for all in schools. For more information on GLSEN's policy advocacy, stu- dent leadership initiatives, public education, research and educator training programs, please visit glsen.org. Separation and Stigma Report on Transgender Youth and School Facilities

• Cover