The Advent of Transgender Bathrooms in Schools, Essay Example

The introduction of transgender bathrooms in schools is one of the hottest topics in the US today. It became controversial when North Carolina decided to enact the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act in 2016. The policy was meant to encourage transgender individuals only to make use of the bathrooms that correspond to the gender indicated on their birth certificates (Arenas et al. 20). The Obama administration responded with a law providing guidelines provided in Title IX. The policy argued that schools that are funded by the federal government ought not to discriminate individuals based on their sex, transgender students included. The response was followed by an uproar from conservative states which led to the filing of lawsuits that reprimanded the Federal Government for “overstepping their boundaries,” arguing that the constitution provides separation of powers and that they ought to be left decide state matters.

Discrimination of the transgender people has existed for decades. Previously, it was perceived as a personal issue that an individual ought to figure out. Today, millions are publicly identifying themselves as transgender. Similar cases are increasingly taking place in schools with innumerable students stating that they are transgender. However, many conservative government officials have been against the introduction of the vice in schools. They were against the transgender bathrooms in schools that led to the advent of the HB2 Act. They argue that other students would be at risk if those that identify themselves as transgender use the same facilities. However, the claim that transgender students are “predatory” has no significant proof. In more than seventeen states that have recognized transgender people in over 200 cities have cited zero incidents regarding the allegation (Maza and Lowndes n.p.). Therefore, transgender students must be treated similarly to others, given that they have equal rights as humans.

The prerogative of schools is to educate all students regardless of their background. As such, they ought to create a safe, equitable and comfortable environment for them. If a school faculty has a problem when transgender students share restroom facilities that relate to their gender rather the identity that was assigned to them at birth, then they ought to seek an alternative to sort out the issue instead of discriminating them. They have the same rights as any other person in the room. The fight to have transgender bathrooms is not intended to offend anyone, but the students want similar rights as their counterparts. They want to afford the same comfort as what is offered to their peers who identify with the other genders.

Some schools try to come up with alternatives such as creating separate bathrooms specifically for transgender people. Despite the good intentions that precipitated the move, the solution may be a misguided attempt to assist students that identify themselves as transgender. The intervention might be seen as dehumanization by the transgender students due to the isolation from the other students in the school. The students want to be afforded the same comfort as their peers at school. They want to feel that the school supports them as similar to their counterparts. Attorney Ria Tabacca Mar from the ACLU questioned Leibowitz on the same topic, and he responded that prohibiting transgender students from making use of the restrooms that suit their gender identity is tantamount to violation of their rights. Moreover, it affects them not only physically but also psychologically. Miller (n.p.) denotes the speech of an attorney in a courtroom commenting on the issue of transgender students restricted to use bathrooms of their choice, “It erodes your psychological well-being. It sends a message that …who they are is not valid. It’s society reducing them to their genitals.” The statement indicates that the mainstream community would cause psychological harm to them, and they might end up feeling rejected and develop suicidal thoughts. It reiterated the need for schools to acknowledge students that identify as transgender to have equal rights as their counterparts.

In summary, the topic regarding transgender people has been a hot topic for decades. Most individuals believe that transgender people have psychological issues, although that might not be the case. This is reflected in the advent of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act in 2016 that was intended to prohibit transgender students from having the same privacy as their peers. The policy was dehumanizing, given that it was dismissing their existence. As such, a response from the federal government triggered a wave of events that led to their recognition in the society. The students must be involved in the community, given that they also have rights. Although the response led to the filing of numerous lawsuits accusing the federal government of overstepping its authority, it was for a good cause. The students would be harmed psychologically with the introduction of the act because of the alienation from mainstream society. Their rights are similar and equal to anyone’s right. Therefore, transgender students ought to be left to decide which restroom to use as their colleagues.

Works Cited

Arenas, Alberto, Kristin L. Gunckel, and William L. Smith. “7 reasons for accommodating transgender students at school.” Phi Delta Kappan 98.1 (2016): 20-24.

Maza, C, and C. Lowndes. “VIDEO: Here’s The Truth About The Anti-LGBT “Bathroom Predator” Myth.” Media Matters for America. N.p., 2019. Web. 24 Oct. 2019.

Miller, M. “‘I Felt Really Humiliated:’ Teen Blasts School District’s Transgender Bathroom Policy.” pennlive. N.p., 2019. Web. 24 Oct. 2019.