When it comes to transgender youths, the stats are sobering: 78 percent nationwide have been harassed at some point during their K-12 schooling; nearly half have attempted suicide.
When it comes to transgender youths, the stats are sobering: 78 percent nationwide have been harassed at some point during their K-12 schooling; nearly half have attempted suicide.
To better help those teens and children in Hawaii, the state Department of Education wants to implement a set of “transgender student guidelines” next school year to give public schools basic direction and “best practices” when situations arise.
“Present board policy is that no student should be bullied for any reason including gender identity,” said Brian De Lima, vice chairman of the state Board of Education, which is the DOE’s governing body. “There have been reports that students have been bullied … reports of inequity on how transgender students have been treated. The guidelines have been developed by the department to give guidance to the schools … The bottom line (is) to ensure all students are not bullied in school … Schools should be safe for all students.”
The topic has made recent headlines throughout the country. Last month, the Obama administration issued federal guidelines directing public schools to allow students to use the restroom that best corresponds with their gender identity. The move, which sparked praise and backlash, came shortly after Target announced a similar policy allowing transgender individuals to choose their preferred bathroom.
Hawaii’s guidelines, which are currently in draft form, have been in the works since last year — they weren’t composed in response to federal guidance, DOE spokeswoman Lindsay Chambers said, though national policy “(played) a part.” State recommendations are designed to give “basic direction” in applicable situations, Chambers added. They’re not mandatory board policies.
Guidelines touch on restroom and locker room rules — students should be able to choose their preferred bathroom, and, if a student feels uncomfortable, either transgender or not, they can request an alternative.
They also encourage schools to address students by their preferred name and pronoun, though on official records — used on standardized tests for example — legal name and sex should be used.
Students also should be able to wear clothes that match their preferred gender, the guidelines say, and students seeking to transition — which means begin living life as the gender with which they identify — school administrators should schedule a meeting and draft a “support plan” that should be revisited regularly.
Prior to drafting guidelines, the DOE researched “model policies” from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and Lambda Legal, both national LGBT organizations, along with policies enacted in other states, including California and New York.
The idea garnered praise from Chad Farias, superintendent of the Keaau-Ka‘u-Pahoa Complex Area, who said Monday he’s dealt with “cases here and there” relating to transgender students, but no major issues, which he attributes to “caring and supportive” staff in KKP schools. He agreed guidance is useful when problems do arise.
“In terms of the state adopting a uniform method, we’re totally in support of that,” Farias said. “We want to be consistent.”
State and federal law prohibit discrimination, as does board policy. Some say there’s room for more protection, specifically for transgender people, who are statistically more likely to be singled out for violence than other LGBT individuals. Laura Acevdo, a Hilo-based psychotherapist and transgender woman who said she counsels LGBT individuals in the community, said guidelines and polices are the start.
“This is an ongoing problem in our culture,” she said. “What we need is policies as well as education and training to let people know this is a serious issue. I think it takes a combination of those things, if you don’t change policies than nothing changes.”
The DOE will present draft guidelines to the board today for discussion and input. Guidelines also are under review by the state attorney general’s office. The DOE wants to implement them this fall.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.