School refuses to acknowledge my transgender status?

[StressedFtMTexas]

I go to high school and at my high school I am out as Trans and pretty much everyone accepts me... Except the adults.

I've had conflict with three teachers though who would refuse to call me my preferred name and always called me she and, when my friends referred to me as he, one of my teachers went out of their way to even say "She is a girl and that is what I will remain to call and see her as."

The administration sees me as a nuisance, and it's like they're trying to sweep me under the rug and hope i'll go away.
They won't even use my preferred name at my school, won't tell teachers they have to but just to call me by my last name, and the nurse doesn't care even if i ask her not to call me my first name. she'll loud n proud yell my real name in front of everyone, which usually includes people I don't know who assumed i was bio male, that in turn lets people know my actual name and sex. This leads to people calling me a lesbian in the hallway, and saying stuff like, "yea you wanna be a guy but you're a girl. Stop trying to be something you're not."
They also wont talk to the teachers who refuse to respect my identity. They say, "We all have our opinions you cant make anyone agree."
They make me use the girls restroom.

I'm also in JROTC. I have to wear the female uniform. It's so degrading and upsetting. Anyone know if theres anything i can do about this?

I just don't know what to do at school. I don't know my legal rights. They won't even do anything about acknowledging me as male. The staff treats me as female, and for example will stop me while laughing with friends in the hallway and say stuff like, "girls get to class."

I'm sick of this. I'm a good student. I'm respectful to ALL my teachers.

What can I do? Can I make them call me my preferred name and pronouns? To allow me to use something other than the female restroom? What are my legal rights here...

Thanks guys

Please be gentle, i'm sorry if anything i said offended somehow or anything

[mmmmm]

I'm not shure how exactly these things go in Texas... but I suggest you get name and gender marker changed as soon as you can... and those bigoted staff members at your school, they can go f*** themselves after that.

[Eevee]

If your school won't accept your identity at any level, you might try going over their heads about this. Talk to people higher up in your school district. I'm not sure how all parts of Texas will handle it, since the state doesn't have the best reputation, but it's worth a try.

[mrs izzy]

You are also entitled to protections under the first amendment of expression.

The federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funds (Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972) bars sexual harassment of any student. Title IX also prohibits gender-based harassment, which includes harassment based on a student's departure from sex stereotypes. Therefore, Title IX should protect transgender students from harassment and discrimination, but the courts are still grappling with the issue. Title IX applies to all public schools, and to many private schools that receive federal funding.

[fallofadam]

I agree with Eevee. Talk to someone higher up. Something similar happened when a gay couple wanted to run for homecoming court at my school and the principle said no. They went to the superintendent and not only got permission to run, but won.

[suzifrommd]

Contact the nearest PFLAG chapter, or whatever LGBT support organizations are around. If you can't find anyone local, try one of the national organizations, like Transgender Law Center, or Lambda Legal. There are federal guidelines on how to treat transgender students and this sounds like a violation. You shouldn't have to fight this battle alone. Please get some more muscle on your side.

Reference: http://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/kyr/KnowYourRightsSchools_April2014.pdf:

"You have the right to wear clothing and otherwise present yourself in a way that is consistent with your gender identity"

Please keep us posted. What they are doing is unfair. Get all the help you can.

[Devlyn]

I go to high school and at my high school I am out as Trans and pretty much everyone accepts me... Except the adults.

I've had conflict with three teachers though who would refuse to call me my preferred name and always called me she and, when my friends referred to me as he, one of my teachers went out of their way to even say "She is a girl and that is what I will remain to call and see her as."

The administration sees me as a nuisance, and it's like they're trying to sweep me under the rug and hope i'll go away.
They won't even use my preferred name at my school, won't tell teachers they have to but just to call me by my last name, and the nurse doesn't care even if i ask her not to call me my first name. she'll loud n proud yell my real name in front of everyone, which usually includes people I don't know who assumed i was bio male, that in turn lets people know my actual name and sex. This leads to people calling me a lesbian in the hallway, and saying stuff like, "yea you wanna be a guy but you're a girl. Stop trying to be something you're not."
They also wont talk to the teachers who refuse to respect my identity. They say, "We all have our opinions you cant make anyone agree."
They make me use the girls restroom.

I'm also in JROTC. I have to wear the female uniform. It's so degrading and upsetting. Anyone know if theres anything i can do about this?

I just don't know what to do at school. I don't know my legal rights. They won't even do anything about acknowledging me as male. The staff treats me as female, and for example will stop me while laughing with friends in the hallway and say stuff like, "girls get to class."

I'm sick of this. I'm a good student. I'm respectful to ALL my teachers.

What can I do? Can I make them call me my preferred name and pronouns? To allow me to use something other than the female restroom? What are my legal rights here...

Thanks guys

Please be gentle, i'm sorry if anything i said offended somehow or anything

Big hug! If your documents say female, the school has no choice but to address you that way. Things would be a mess if they did otherwise.  You need to see about changing your legal status. Suzi posted some good information, but it shows your rights are clearly not being violated. See if there's any information here to get you started: https://www.susans.org/wiki/Category:Documentation_changes

Hugs, Devlyn

[FTMax]

What do your parents have to say about it? Are they willing to meet with people, help you make documentation changes, etc.? That would be my first stop if I was in your position. Perhaps download some forms for name and gender changes and pre-fill them, then ask your parents if they're willing to help with getting them submitted. I'm not sure how this works where you are, but it's something to look into.

Get some people on your side. Look for local LGBT groups (or even just ones in your state if there isn't much locally). See what help they can offer you. Groups of people making a stink about something and getting some publicity is a school board's nightmare, and it's easy nowadays.

My only concern would be JROTC. I'm not entirely sure what rules they have to follow due to the military association. You likely won't be able to be seen as male there without documentation changes. But if you get your documents changed, depending on how close that military association is, you may not be able to participate in it at all and could have to drop the class. I'm not too terribly clear on where the funding for JROTC comes from and if there's anything you have to sign when you take the class.

[mac1]

I don't understand the choices in the poll.

[ImagineKate]

First stop would be your parents. If they are not supportive, local LGBT organizations including PFLAG would help.

Plenty of hugs, brother. I hope you get through it.

[StressedFtMTexas]

I don't understand the choices in the poll.

I'm new here and this was kinda like my first forum post so i didn't know what that had meant until now

[StressedFtMTexas]

What do your parents have to say about it? Are they willing to meet with people, help you make documentation changes, etc.? That would be my first stop if I was in your position. Perhaps download some forms for name and gender changes and pre-fill them, then ask your parents if they're willing to help with getting them submitted. I'm not sure how this works where you are, but it's something to look into.

Get some people on your side. Look for local LGBT groups (or even just ones in your state if there isn't much locally). See what help they can offer you. Groups of people making a stink about something and getting some publicity is a school board's nightmare, and it's easy nowadays.

My only concern would be JROTC. I'm not entirely sure what rules they have to follow due to the military association. You likely won't be able to be seen as male there without documentation changes. But if you get your documents changed, depending on how close that military association is, you may not be able to participate in it at all and could have to drop the class. I'm not too terribly clear on where the funding for JROTC comes from and if there's anything you have to sign when you take the class.

My parents are completely supportive and have been holding conferences with them but all the principle will do is make teachers call me by my last name. We're working on name change, but I thought you had to have surgery to get your gender legally changed?

[StressedFtMTexas]

and thanks everyone for the kind wishes and support and stuff, I'll defintely go about asking my local LGBT support group things about what I should do/if they can help.
You all rock!

[FriendsCallMeChris]

I'm looking into teaching in Texas and have discovered that each ISD has different resources for trans* students and staff. I suggest Googling your ISD to see what they have in place.  There are some other outside resources that you can appeal to as a student. Again Googling will help you find them. I'm looking for some I bookmarked and will post them as soon as I find them

[FTMax]

My parents are completely supportive and have been holding conferences with them but all the principle will do is make teachers call me by my last name. We're working on name change, but I thought you had to have surgery to get your gender legally changed?

You'll have to check on the laws where you are. I know where I am, I just needed a letter from my doctor that said I was transitioning and my documents should reflect that I identify as male. It used to be that surgery was required, but many places are changing this.

[FriendsCallMeChris]

Here's a link to Texas Civil Rights organization that you might explore.  If you are in one of the ISDs that has embraced this project, then you have some good information and contacts.  If not, then the folks here still might be able to advise you.

http://www.texascivilrightsproject.org/programs-and-services/safe-schools/safe-schools-what-we-do/

that's still not quite the link I was looking for. Let me keep digging

note: edited to give a more specific link

[ImagineKate]

You'll have to check on the laws where you are. I know where I am, I just needed a letter from my doctor that said I was transitioning and my documents should reflect that I identify as male. It used to be that surgery was required, but many places are changing this.

Texas needs surgery I think. Worse yet they need an order from a judge before they do anything.

[awilliams1701]

Unfortunately this is 100% up to your parents to make anything happen. If they are accepting then you have options. If they aren't I don't think there is a lot you can do unfortunately.
If your parents are accepting they can
1) sue the school for trans rights
2) legally change your name (which also makes #1 even more likely to succeed)
3) Tell the local news (they have a lot of power, but you need to sell your trans status to them first)