School Accused of Discriminating Against Transgender 6-Year-Old

[Paolo]

http://news.yahoo.com/school-accused-di ... 00544.html

An elementary school in Colorado is the subject of a civil rights complaint filed this week on behalf of a trangender 6-year-old. According to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (http://transgenderlegal.org/headline_show.php?id=395) , Eagleside Elementary School is violating the child's civil rights by not allowing her to use the girls' bathrooms. Here are the details.

* The Transgender Legal Defense and Education fund (TLDEF) reported that Coy Mathis "was labeled male at birth, but has always known that she is a girl, and has expressed that since she was 18 months old."

* The child has worn girls clothing at school and has used the girls restrooms, the organization reported. However, in mid-December, the Fountain-Fort Carson School District informed Coy's parents that she would be prevented from continuing to use the girls' restroom after the winter break. Instead, the child needed to use the boys' bathroom, a staff bathroom or the nurse's bathroom.

* According to a letter (http://www.transgenderlegal.org/media/u ... oc_490.pdf) sent by TLDEF to the district superintendent, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act prevents the withholding of public accommodations at educational institutions based on sexual orientation. The term "sexual orientation" includes transgender status, the organization stated.

* In response (http://www.transgenderlegal.org/media/u ... oc_491.pdf) , an attorney for the school district stated that the child has not been denied the full and equal enjoyment of the educational services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of the school.

* "However," the attorney stated, "I'm certain you can appreciate that as Coy grows older and his male genitals develop along with the rest of his body, at least some parents and students are likely to become uncomfortable with his continued use of the girls' restroom, and that it would be far more psychologically damaging and disruptive for the issue to arise at an age when students deal with lots of social issues."

* There are no reported Colorado cases in which public schools are required to permit transgender students to use restrooms of the gender with which they identify, the attorney stated.

* According to TLDEF, the child's parents have removed her from the school and are homeschooling her until the complaint is resolved.

* "We have five children and we love them all very much," said Coy's mother, Kathryn Mathis. "We want Coy to return to school to be with her teachers, her friends, and her siblings, but we are afraid to send her back until we know that the school is going to treat her fairly. She is still just 6 years old, and we do not want one of our daughter's earliest experiences to be our community telling her she's not good enough."

* Michael Silverman, the executive director of TLDEF, stated that by forcing the child to use a different bathroom than the other girls the school is making her the target for stigma, bullying and harassment.

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

It's not called "Colorful Colorado" for nothing. !!!

[transward (imported)]

Ah, Colorado Springs, my old home town. Home of Focus on the Family. Often listed as one of the most conservative cities in the US. Beautiful place, strange people.

Transward