Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020

Email to:SARATOGANY@aol.com

The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project
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Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
294 Washington Street, Suite 740
Boston, MA 02108.4608

Telephone:617.426.1350
Facsimile:617.426.3594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, October 12, 2000

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jennifer L. Levi, Esq.
(617) 426-1350

BROCKTON COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF TRANSGENDER STUDENT

A Massachusetts Superior Court in Brockton ruled yesterday that a middle school may not prohibit a transgender student from expressing her gender identity even if that expression does not conform with the sex ascribed to her at birth. In a case brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders ("GLAD") on behalf of a 15-year old student who was born male but has a female gender identity (known in court records only as Pat Doe), the court ruled that disciplining a biologically male student for wearing girls' clothing would violate her First Amendment right of free expression and constitute sex discrimination.

According to GLAD Staff Attorney Jennifer Levi who argued the case, "As the first reported decision addressing the rights of a transgender student to express her gender identity in school, it is tremendously important. We know that a large number of transgender students face serious hostility from teachers and administrators who lack a basic understanding about gender identity. This case confirms that a school may not exert its authority over a student simply to enforce stereotyped ideas of how boys and girls should look. Nor can a school's discomfort with the fact that a biologically male student has a female gender identity, justify enforcing a dress code in a discriminatory way."

The case was brought against the Brockton School Department when the school prohibited Pat from attending wearing what the principal considered to be girls' clothing. This exclusion from school followed nearly two years of disciplinary action against Pat for wearing girls' clothing, starting from the time she began to identify as transgender. The term transgender is used to describe people whose gender identity, meaning a person's internal, deeply felt sense of being either male or female, is not consistent with their anatomical sex at birth.

Despite acknowledging that girls who wore the same clothes Pat did were not prevented from attending or otherwise disciplined, the school tried to justify its exclusion of Pat based on other students' discomfort. The court rejected this argument, holding that prohibiting Pat from wearing girls' clothing was akin to "the stifling of plaintiff's selfhood merely because it causes some members of the community discomfort."

The court affirmed that transgender students need the same support and protection for their safety that other students need. It further recognized that "exposing children to diversity at an early age serves the important social goals of increasing their ability to tolerate differences" and teaches "respect for everyone's unique personal experience."

Founded in 1978, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England's leading legal rights organization for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and people with HIV. GLAD's mission is to achieve full equality and justice for all individuals in these groups, primarily through impact litigation and education.

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PRIMER WEBSITES

LIGALY Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth
http://www.ligaly.com/
GLSEN --- Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
www.glsen.org
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
www.lambdalegal.org
Safe Schools Coalition of Washington
www.safeschools-wa.org
The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project Home Page
www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org
Empire State (NY) Pride Agenda
www.prideagenda.org
GLAAD
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
www.glaad.org

"The Real or Perceived Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Student Protection Project"
("Being safe at school should not be a radical concept".. Jamie Nabozny)

A project of:
Coalition for Safer Schools of New York State

John Myers
Director of Operations and Programs
PO Box 2345
Malta, NY 12020
(518) 587-0176

Email:SARATOGANY@aol.com

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