Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/795366
schools, become gender-neutral — open to everyone — on March 1, 2017. President Obama ordered a policy under Title IX allowing transgender students to use bathrooms of their choice in all states, but this decision was overturned by a fed- eral court in Texas, and President Trump rescinded the policy in February. at won't impact California, but some fear the new administration could make life more diffi- cult for students who defy gender norms. The right to know? A common legal question is whether oth- ers in the school community have a right to know about a student's transition. e answer is no. A student's transgender sta- tus, legal name and sex assigned at birth are confidential medical information, and disclosure may violate the Family Educa- tional Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and constitutional privacy protections. Without permission from the student and the fam- ily, such information should not be shared with anyone, including other students, parents and school personnel. e school district should implement safeguards to prevent such disclosures. When it comes to informing parents that their child is transgender, the law is less clear. But most advocates including the ACLU believe the decision to share gender status should be up to the student, not the school. According to a 2015 survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), 10 percent of transgender people who came out to their immediate families reported that a family member was violent toward because they were transgender ; 8 percent were kicked out of their home; and 10 percent ran away from home — a third before the age of 15. "Schools should not out LGBT students without their consent," says Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) executive director Eliza Byard. "Outing a student not only violates their right to privacy, but also could compromise their safety. Parents can be notified of their child being bullied at school, but without schools' disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity." Protections "beyond the bathroom" Enacting laws is one thing, implement- ing them is another, observes Joel Baum, senior director of Gender Sp ectr um , a Bay Area-based organization that offers p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t t o s c h o o l emp l o ye e s th ro u g h o ut th e U. S . ab o ut gender-diverse students. " We have p o li ci e s and l aw, but Have students introduce themselves on the first day of school with the name they would like to be called instead of reading off a roster, so students can share the name they are most comfortable with. Seek opportunities to infuse information about gender diversity into lessons and examine gender stereotypes when possible. In math, for example: " There were 15 girls, 12 boys and two non-binary students on the play- ground. How many in all?" Ask all students their PGP (preferred gender pronoun) when you meet them. Just because they look one way doesn't mean they are. They may prefer male, female, or gender- neutral such as "ze" and "hir " (see sidebar, page 21). If you have a PRIDE month curriculum, and most schools should, make sure the T is not silent in LGBTQ. Actively include transgender people in curriculum, such as Sylvia Rivera, founder of the Gay Liberation Front , and fellow activist Marsha P. Johnson. Use gender-neutral language. Instead of "ladies and gen- tlemen" use terms such as "students" or "scholars." Ask a student about their anatomy or whether they are taking hormones or having gender-reassignment surgery. This information is personal and private. Out a student to school staff, parents, or others in the school community. Make an LGBTQ+ student the "poster child" for sexuality or gender issue discussions or call attention to a student on the gender spectrum. Ask students to line up by gender or pick teams of "boys vs. girls." Make assumptions. Not all transgender people — or those on the gender spectrum — may express their gen- der in stereotypical ways. Educator Julie Nilsson, mother of Lilly, supports her daughter's transition. DO: DON'T: DIVERSE STUDENTS 23 March 2017