Dallas School District locker room controversy
A transgender boy by the name of Elliot Yoder sparked controversy in the Dallas School District starting in November 2015 by being allowed to use the boys locker room at Dallas High School.[1] The topic of debate centered around interpretations of the Title IX Education Amendments of 1972, and whether or not transgender students fall under its protection.[2]
2015
This controversy began when freshman Elliot Yoder asked to use the boys locker room to change for his PE class. His reason for asking was up until that point he used a unisex restroom to change before PE. However, the restroom was not close to the gym, and Yoder described it as a "walk of shame."[3] School district lawyers reached out to Dallas High School administrators informing them that recent interpretations of Title IX have updated who it protects. It now protects trans gendered students from discrimination. Before allowing Yoder to use the boy's locker room, the school gave letters to the male students that would share the locker room with Yoder informing them and their parents of the situation. The boys went above and beyond by sharing photos of the letters on social media.[4] During the next school board meeting, Dallas High School parents filled the room determined to change the administration's decision. Many parents worried for their child's safety, and brought up their religious beliefs to try and convince the board. Some went as far as to say that they are scared boys will lie about being transgender to watch the girls change. One resident attempted to use fear tactics by reading a Facebook comment from a city council member that threaten to hurt any student that tries to use the locker room that doesn't align with their biological sex.[4] The School Board's defended itself by stating that not allowing Yoder to use the boy's locker room could violate state or federal law and they would lose their funding. Yoder then testified, telling everyone his story and how he feels about the controversy. After him, his fellow classmates and even his great grandfather testified against him. Dallas School District never repealed their decision to allow Yoder to use the boy's facilities.
2017-18
After unsuccessfully trying to exclude transgender students from using the facilities that match their gender identity, Dallas High School parents took things a step further and filed a lawsuit against the Dallas School District. The parents claimed that such things cause shame, humiliation, and anxiety among the community. During the hearing in Portland, OR Herb Gray, a district attorney, claimed that the other students civil rights were being violated by forcing them to undress in front of someone of the opposite biological sex. The Judge residing over this case had a 56 page ruling that stated that, "high school students do not have a fundamental privacy right to not share school restrooms, lockers, and showers with transgender students whose biological sex is different than theirs." Needless to say, the judge dismissed the lawsuit.[5]
References
- ^ Parks, Casey. "Transgender Oregon student wages lonely battle to use boys' locker room". Oregon Live. The Oregonian. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ Press, Associated; Staff, KATU. "Judge's ruling supports Oregon school's transgender policy". katu.com. katu. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ Dorn, Andrew; Sabatier, Julie. "Transgender Student". OPB. OPB. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ a b Parks, Casey. "Transgender Oregon student wages lonely battle to use boys' locker room". Oregon Live. The Oregonian. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ Press, Associated; Staff, KATU. "Judge's ruling supports Oregon school's transgender policy". katu.com. katu. Retrieved 21 February 2020.