California Educator

October 2013

Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/189657

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 42 of 71

Legislation Advocacy A new law accommodates transgender students BY SHERRY POSNICK-GOODWIN AB 1266 says transgender students will be entitled to use rest rooms and locker rooms of the gender they identify with, regardless of the gender on their birth records. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT BUSCHMAN Educator 10 Oct 2013 v2.1 int.indd 41 I N A U G U S T, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 1266 into law. This groundbreaking legislation will allow transgender students in public schools to participate fully in all school activities, sports teams and programs that match their gender identity beginning Jan. 1. Transgender students will also be entitled to use restrooms and locker rooms of the gender they identify with, regardless of the gender on their birth records. The law, the first of its kind in the U.S., was introduced by state Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco). Several teacher and parent organizations — including the California State PTA and CTA — supported it. This bill coincides with a landmark lawsuit. In July, the U.S. Justice and Education departments jointly determined that the Arcadia School District in Southern California violated Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination, by barring a transgender student from gender-specific facilities and activities. Barriers were also broken in September when transgender student Cassidy Lynn Campbell was elected homecoming queen at Marina High School in Huntington Beach. The new legislation is designed to make schools welcoming and inclusive for transgender students. State law already prohibits discrimination in education, but transgender OCTOBER 201 3 www.cta.org 41 10/7/13 9:39 PM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of California Educator - October 2013