Well, today is Friday the 13th, and it is A special day in HISTORY that is for sure. To those who have not been made aware, President OBAMA passed a bill today that allows transgender kids in ALL public schools to use the restroom they feel they identify with.

Now this is A big deal to every parent I am sure, but it is an even bigger deal in society at large. This act speaks to the shift. This is not the first time AMERICA has been divided. The fight to use the bathroom of choice has been A fight since the 1800’s and has became A true issue when FRANCE decided that you must use A restroom that was abeled. And once that was able to happen, it created a structure in the United States that assisted acts of of racism, which were remnants of slavery, as signs had to say white only on bathrooms, Restaurants etc…

I, for some reason, feel a bit hurt and sad by this; not that I am able to judge or even that I have kids. However; it is because, the fact that humanity is at its end, is a crazy feeling. If we do not pay attention and wake up, we may wake up dead depending on the powers that be. The bill Obama passed today will shake up homes and children of all ages that may or may not be aware of these lifestyle differences. What will also happen is that people will get hurt.

We do not see it now, but allowing children to make such a huge decesion could be dangerous. Just think about the bullying rate. Children are like mini experiments. Think about how much you don’t know as an adult; how could you ask that of a child? Nevertheless, the jolt of parents having these conversations with their kids, is a bit absurd. I only know because it had to happen in my household.

I did A bit of research and found out that any school that does not comply with this bill, will loose their federal funding. I also had a listen to MPR radio and heard a dad speaking on it and he was hurt and enraged and felt we were putting children in A position to be hurt or even killed. This is the feeling most parents are having I am sure. As I furthered my research, I came across A document from the New York City Department Of Education that gives a bit of information on what this system will look like as well as what steps teachers should take to assist with this transition.

I think that this is a sign that we need to wake up and stand for something, or we will fall for anything! I have attached a few notes from the document below. If you have kids, please begin to make them aware of this system so they are not the bully or the victim and so that we can create some kind of peace during this time. If we do not take the steps, they will continue to take them for us.

The term I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM WILL NEVER BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AGAIN. WE ARE ENTERING THE NEW WORLD AT A RAPID SPEED. BRACE YOURSELF AND KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR PEOPLE.

Signing Off
-Tasha Bouè

Definitions:

1. “Gender Identity” is a person’s inner sense of being male or female, regardless of their sex assigned at birth.
2. “Transgender” is a term which describes people whose gender identity or gender expression is different from their assigned sex at birth.
3. “Gender expression” refers to the way a person expresses gender to others in ways that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, activities, voice or mannerisms.
4. Gender non-conforming people are those whose gender-related identity and/or gender expression do not conform to the social expectations or norms for a person of that sex assigned at birth.

Discrimination/Harassment

It is the policy of the New York City Department of Education to maintain a safe and supportive learning and educational environment that is free from harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying and free from discrimination on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.

Complaints alleging discrimination or harassment based on a person’s actual or perceived transgender status or gender nonconformity must be handled in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chancellor’s Regulation A-832 (for student-on-student allegations) and Chancellor’s Regulation A-830 (for staff-on-student allegations).

Privacy

Except as set forth herein, school personnel should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status. Under the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), only those school employees with a legitimate educational need should have access to a student’s records or the information contained within those records.  Disclosing confidential student information to other employees, students, parents, or other third parties may violate privacy laws, including but not limited to FERPA. Transgender students have the ability, as do all students, to discuss and express their gender identity and expression openly and decide when, with whom, and how much of their private information to share with others.

Schools should work closely with the student and family in devising an appropriate plan regarding the confidentiality of the student’s transgender status that works for both the student and the school.  Privacy considerations may also vary with the age of the student.

In some cases, transgender students may feel more supported and safe if other students are aware that they are transgender.  In these cases, school staff should work closely with the student, families and other staff members on a plan to inform and educate the student’s peers.  It may also be appropriate to engage external resources to assist with educational efforts.  A list of support organizations for transgender students is listed at the end of this document.