The hope is that our society becomes more accepting of “different,” and on that journey those who feel different or unequal begin to feel less the target of people’s prejudices and institutional bias.
Helping push us along that path is a 2020 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that prohibits discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
That landmark case, Bostock v. Clayton County, dealt with the workplace, and has since been extended by lower appeals courts to include LGBTQ equality under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools and educational programs that receive federal funds.
THE CHANUTE USD 413 school board is currently grappling with this issue.
At its September meeting, seven residents, including two students, protested its policy of allowing two transgender students of allegedly using the high school’s girls locker room and restroom.
The room was packed. Tempers flared.
Only those who were against the district’s policy spoke out.
District Superintendent Kellen Adams said coming up with a solution is consuming a disproportionate amount of his time.
At stake of violating current law is the loss of federal funds, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Board member Ross Hendrickson bemoaned the board’s dilemma, saying he resented the federal government’s interference.
“In a perfect world, it should be a local decision,” he said, according to the Chanute Tribune.
HARDLY. In a perfect world, we need not worry whether local school boards decide to follow federal law and respect rights guaranteed by our highest court. In a perfect world, we would rest assured the rights of all students were protected.
— Susan Lynn
