Reilly O’Neill, Blogs Editor
@roneillcourant
For most students, using the bathroom is simple: leave class, walk into the nearest boys or girls room, and take care of business. For transgender students, however, the process is more complex; do you use the bathroom for your preferred identity or biological gender? Or do you travel the building for a gender-neutral bathroom?
In an executive order signed on February 23, Governor Dannel P. Malloy reaffirmed transgender students right to not be discriminated against based on gender. During the Obama administration in May of 2016, in a joint letter from President Obama and the Department of Justice extended Title IX protections, which guard against sex discrimination, to also include transgender students. This guidance worked to ensure that transgender students were treated fairly in publicly funded schools. This included allowing them access to facilities that coordinate with their gender identity. However, in February, President Trump rolled back these guidelines. Many advocates for transgender rights have been alarmed by this action. But, the fact is that state law protects transgender students to affirm this principle. The day of the rollback, Connecticut and thirteen other states passed legislation affirming trans students’ right to use the bathroom they identify with.
“Ultimately at NCHS, we want students to feel comfortable wherever they go to the bathroom,” Principal William Egan said. “In doing so, we have made sure there are gender neutral bathrooms available to all.” Currently, there are many gender neutral restrooms in New Canaan High School. As of right now, students can use the nurse’s office, the library, a staff bathroom near the Wagner room, and the guidance office and main office, all of which are gender neutral bathrooms.
School Nurse, Josie Davis, has made the bathroom in the nurse’s office available to all students for the past five years. “It is their legal right, first and foremost. And I think that any student, particularly in a high school setting needs to be comfortable particularly when it involves something personal, like using a restroom,” Mrs. Davis said. “We like to have our restroom available to all students, the whole student body. Particularly for someone who might not feel comfortable [in other restrooms].”
While it is legal for students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with, senior Luka chooses not to use the boys bathrooms and opts instead for the ones in the nurse’s office and library. “I was worried, as far as what kinds of things would happen if I were to enter a bathroom appearing feminine, or straying from the stereotypical New Canaan guy,” Luka said. “I use the nurse’s office for my safety and also because it’s very clean.” So while the order by President Trump didn’t directly affect the bathroom issue within Connecticut, it did represent another threat to the acceptance of transgender students.
With a suicide rate of 41%, according to various studies including one by The Williams Institute, transgender teens are one of the most vulnerable groups to bullying, harassment and hate, with 80% reporting that they feel unsafe in their school communities because of their gender identity. “[Trans] students I have worked with in the past have had a very difficult transition, i think mainly because a support system has not been all there,“ Kids in Crisis Outreach worker Jillian Beale said. “I think a really common misconception about being trans is that it’s wrong or weird. And that it’s frowned upon. There’s a huge stigma attached to the word and that needs to end. I think school is a place where all students should feel safe, and unfortunately I don’t think that’s the case for some students.”
Despite the issue for many transgender students across the nation, it is clear that New Canaan High School is dedicated to upholding state law governing their rights and creating a welcoming and safe environment for in accordance with state law. “This is such a special high school. We are fortunate in the sense that everyone really looks out for each other,” Mr. Egan said. “My goal as an administrator is to make sure everyone, no matter who they are, feels safe everyday at New Canaan High School.”
