Sarasota County School Board continues debate on trans-inclusive bathrooms

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The Sarasota County School Board heard public opinion yet again on whether to implement new trans-inclusive bathroom policies countywide at the March 1 board meeting.

The community has been divided on the issue since the school board first heard public debate on the subject at the Feb. 2 board meeting. A Feb. 16 workshop left the board divided on whether or not to implement the policy leading to a request from them to hear more public discussion.

The school board took up the issue after Pine View, a grades 2-12 magnet school in Osprey, Fla., changed their bathroom policy to be inclusive of transgender students.

The school board meeting was attended by more than 200 people, divided by clothing color: those in black shirts fought for trans-inclusive bathroom rights and those in white shirts adamantly against.

There were 64 people who spoke to the school board in a meeting that lasted over three hours. After a few admonishments from board chair Shirley Brown for clapping, most in attendance waved their hands in the air to show support for the speakers on their side.

Dozens of speakers, mostly students, spoke about discrimination and the dangers of not recognizing the diversity within their schools.

“Why are we uncomfortable? What are we protecting are children from? It’s an unfounded fear that sexual assault will occur,” Jack Fitzgerald, a Sarasota County student, said.

Along with students, speakers ranging from parents to doctors to counselors spoke in support of adding a trans-inclusive bathroom policy.

Equality Florida Transgender Inclusion Director Gina Duncan spoke to the board urging it to adopt a policy that is already a part of many Florida counties’ policies.

“The time is now,” Duncan said. “The focus should not just be about bathrooms. This isn’t about bathrooms, and it’s not about religion.”

The pressure built on both sides as Equality Florida co-chair Ken Shelin stepped to the microphone to speak to the board and addressed board member Frank Kovach’s lack of attention during the meeting.

“Am I boring you Mr. Kovach?” Shelinsaid, which sparked applause from the black shirts in the crowd.

The board continued hearing public opinion from both sides: Many who oppose adding a trans-inclusive policy stated they were speaking out for children’s safety and because that’s what God would want, comparing the trans students to people with anorexia, sexual predators and, in one case, confused children who think they are dinosaurs.

“These kids saying they are trans is [sic] just like my child telling me he thinks he’s a dinosaur and wants to go around biting people,” the parent said to the board.

One of the final speakers to the board was Michael Barfield from ACLU of Florida who advised the board that by implementing a trans-inclusive bathroom policy would not only make them a more open and accepting county, but would also put them in line with federal law.

“Allowing transgender students to access bathrooms and other sex segregated facilities, it’s not just in the students’ best interest; it’s in compliance with federal law,” Barfield said. “We’ve waited three weeks for you to adopt a policy district wide that would allow for transgender students to access bathrooms consistent with their gender identity.”

“We are not going to stand for the rights of students to be bullied. We ask you to move quickly to adopt a district wide policy consistent with federal law,” he added.“You’re not going out on a limb here.”

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