In a new online form electing feedback from students, teachers, staff, administrators, school counselors, parents or legal guardians, and LGBT allies, the LGBT group Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) critiqued a new state law that requires school officials to give parental notice of a student wishes to change their pronouns or “gender identity.”
“Tennessee Equality Project is tracking how school districts and schools are implementing the new state law (SB 1810) that targets transgender and gender expansive students: the requirements of the law are triggered when a minor-aged student makes a request to a teacher to use a name and/or pronouns that may not align with their medically assigned sex on their birth certificate,” the form says.
“Teachers and school staff are required to report this student to the principal, who is then required to report the student’s request to their legal guardians for permission to use their name and pronouns. Legal guardians and the state of Tennessee can sue the school if they think they do not comply,” it continues.
The Tennessee Star Friday spoke with TEP Executive Director Chris Sanders, and inquired about his characterization of the bill, which his group says “targets transgender and gender expansive students.”
“There is danger for some students who come out as trans or nonbinary because not all parents are accepting of their child’s gender identity,” Sanders said by email. “Because not all parents are accepting, it is important that schools make students aware of the new law so that they can decide when and how to come out since that information will be going to their parents or guardians.”
The Star followed up with two more questions:
- Do you think that school teachers and administrators should have the right to keep information on a student’s “gender identity” a secret from the student’s parents?
- To what extent should schools be deciding if a parent is “accepting” enough of their child?
Sanders refused to answer any questions on parental rights.
“The critical question is what makes students safe from suicidal ideation, being kicked out of their homes, facing abuse, or being subjected to the discredited practice of conversion therapy,” he said. “The adults in their lives have a responsibility for their safety. We should always keep those factors in mind when passing laws or determining the procedures for implementing a law.”
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Peter D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Peter on Twitter/X.
