New Gender Discrimination Guidelines Stir Controversy

[Butterfly]

New Gender Discrimination Guidelines Stir Controversy
MPBN
By: Tom Porter
09 February, 2010


http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/10923/Default.aspx


The Maine Human Rights Commission today released draft guidelines designed to protect students against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The guidelines assert the rights of transgender students to have access to the bathrooms and to the sports teams that correspond with the way they see their sexual identity.

Transgender students are defined as those whose identity differs from their biological, or assigned sex at birth. So a biological boy who identifies as a female should have the right to play for the girls' team, says John Gause, an attorney with the Maine Human Rights Commission.

"What we hope to do is give students, schools, colleges, athletic associations, some answers to the questions that we've thought about for a long time, and hopefully those answers will enable students who are transgender to participate equally in schools," Gause says. In 2005 the Maine Human Rights Act was amended to include sexual orientation, and these guidelines, says Gause, offer protection to all students, up to and including college level.

[SarahFaceDoom]

Once people see that the world didn't end, they'll realize all of this uproar was silly.

[Muffin]

As opened minded as I consider myself to be I can still really understand why people will object to this. What's that saying? The art of persuasion is at best a slow process? These aren't baby steps but record breaking long jumps. lol! So.... where does one draw that proverbial line? SO many questions!
Speaking of long jump and lines, if some sports are at an advantage according to biological strength, height etc then wouldn't say a mtf on a female team be at a 'physical' advantage? Or should I shut my mouth and not throw rocks at these windows?

[Sarah B]

Interesting times ahead.

Kind Regards
Sarah B

Be who you want to be.