First of two parts.
When the Obama administration splashed fresh water on the suddenly heated national debate over transgender students and assigned bathrooms, the School District seemed as well prepared as any community in the country.
The Obama orders said that public schools must allow transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity – igniting bitter protests in some places but not here.
Old news in Culver City, say District officials.
Two years before the May 13 order, Supt. Dave LaRose said that the School Board had adopted the following concise policy:
“It states that the Board prohibits unlawful discrimination based on ‘sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.’”
At Culver City High School, Mr. LaRose said that “if a student indicates he or she does not feel safe going into the restroom that they identify with, we provide a safe place/alternative (i.e. staff restroom or nurse’s office).”
The School District’s position is a blend of state and homegrown formulas
Education Code already prohibits schools from discriminating on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, the superintendent said.
California is the first state to pass a law (AB 1266—School Success ajd Opportunity Act) requiring the students be provided access to facilities (interpreted as restrooms and locker rooms) and school programs and services consistent with their gender identity–irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records.
In Culver City, this guidelines became effective Jan. 1, 2014.
School districts must create and implement policies allowing the student to:
- Access facilities consistent with the student’s gender identity.
- Allow students to participate in sex segregated school programs and activities consistent with the student’s gender identity.
- This includes athletic teams and competitions such as prom queen and king.
- Students should be afforded alternatives for privacy (such as using a unisex bathroom or a private room for changing).
Awesome. Makes me proud to be a Culver Citizen, and to be sending both of my young children to CCUSD schools.
Absolutely second that. AND we should applaud CCUSD’s inclusive and sensitive general anti-bullying policy toward LGBT youth. As more LGBT teachers can be open about their lives and relationships, and more LGBT parents can be welcomed as part of our inclusive community, then we are more able to show that discrimination has no place in Culver City.
Proud to be a Board member in this District; proud to have my kids in CCUSD schools K-12. I can tell you this was such a non issue – other than continually working to assure that all our students are safe and feel a part of our school community – that our students elected the first transgender homecoming king in 2010 with zero fanfare, blowback or other negativity.
That’s awesome, Kathy.