How are schools supporting the needs of transgender students?

[DriftingCrow]

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/america-tonight-blog/2013/12/31/how-are-schools-supportingtheneedsoftransgenderstudents.html
Al-Jazeera America; The Flagship

By definition, transgender means someone who identifies as the opposite sex. We often associate the term with adults, but a growing number of children are also coming out. This poses a challenge for schools, which have traditionally assigned bathrooms, sports teams and locker rooms based on gender.

It's tough to say how many children are coming out as transgender or how many schools are taking steps to be more supportive. Kylar Broadus of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said there has been no extensive study to quantify that, but an increasing number of schools are implementing guidelines.

Teen therapist Megan Kennedy is pushing for schools across the nation to integrate gender identity issues into the curriculum.

[suzifrommd]

It's tough to say how many children are coming out as transgender or how many schools are taking steps to be more supportive.

This really bothers me. We keep such detailed records on who has what medical condition, but we have no clue how many people, adults or children, are transgender. Another way our community has been marginalized.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Well, I think, (In the case of kids, at least) that a lot of them A: Have parents that see the signs but choose to ignore it. and B: You have some kids that are too scared of what could happen if they chose to come out to actually say: "I'm a boy/girl" (depending on the individual) so it's hard to get the true numbers.

[Jamie D]

I spent a great deal of time on the National Review Online site, in the wake of the attacks made on the transgirl in Colorado this past year.

National Review is, by any standard, a right-leaning publication.  It's readers are not, by and large, sympathetic to our existence and quest for civil rights.  Nevertheless, I felt I had to explain and educate, because I span both worlds.

Even though I was pilloried by many, I was surprised at how many folks were receptive to the simple truths and arguments based in medical finding and natural rights.  Talking with the Bible-thumpers was a lost cause, because they are not open to reason.  But many other "conservatives" were.

Another thing that I find interesting is how many of the young folks (teens) were accepting of the transgirl and annoyed at the attacks on her.

It is for us to continue to reach out in a constructive manner, to wins hearts and minds where they can be won, and not worry about those reject reason.

[suzifrommd]

Talking with the Bible-thumpers was a lost cause, because they are not open to reason. 

I find questions work well with religious folk. Requires to them to think about things rather than just hide behind dogma.

"Given the high suicide and depression rate among transgender people who don't transition and given that no medical, psychological, or religious institution seems to have a way to cure transgender, what would YOUR compassionate solution be for those who are born with this condition?"

Doesn't always work, but I find they usually don't have a quick answer back.

[Vicky]

what would YOUR compassionate solution be for those who are born with this condition?"

Doesn't always work, but I find they usually don't have a quick answer back.

Gawd doesn't let them be born with that conditon!!  Its not in the bible!!


Just my experience Suzi   

[suzifrommd]

Gawd doesn't let them be born with that conditon!!  Its not in the bible!!


Just my experience Suzi   

Acknowledged.

Yes, there will always be people who resist being educated. I hope we don't get so discouraged by them that we stop trying.

[Kaety Sowards]

There are a lot of schools and universities now are giving their support and even respect to choices of their students to identify their desired gender. This  issue has been rampant  and I think, even universities by this time have accepted transgenders.They are also a member in this society and treated normally these days. The acceptance reason maybe because of Transgenders' success in many areas such as in politics and media respectively.  However, same sex marriages are not still tolerated by some, eventually, homosexuality is now a part and supported by the schools and has been accepted all over.