This city school board just did something great for its trans students
A major city’s public schools board has voted in favour of a policy to let trans students use a gender-appropriate bathrooms and facilities.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Public Schools Board voted to approve the policy last night.
Members of the community came out to speak in favour of the new policy which allows students to use a bathroom corresponding with their gender identity, reports WTAE.
As well as the bathroom policy, the new rules also outlaw harassment and bullying based on gender identity.
“It really protects all students and affirms identities of particularly transgender and gender-expansive students,” Vanessa Davis, of the Thrive group, which helped create the policy told WTAE.
A member of the school board Moira Kaleida, said support for the new policy from citizens of Pittsburgh, had been “overwhelming.”
One parent said the policy needed “revision… clarification… and more discussion”.
But many said it was a step in the right direction.
“There are transgender students in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in this city,” Davis added.
“Those students are now really going to have a much better experience in school.”
The policy comes after Mississippi and North Carolina passed laws banning such policies, and forcing trans people to use public bathrooms which correspond to the sex stated on their birth certificate.
