Guidance proposed for schools with transgender students
By Lindsay Tice, Staff Writer
Feb 24, 2010 12:00 am
Next Monday, the Maine Human Rights Commission may advise schools to allow transgender students to dress, play sports and choose bathrooms based on the gender with which they identify, rather than their birth gender.
The commission said the proposed guidance is its interpretation of the Maine Human Rights Act and reflects several rulings it has made in discrimination cases since 2005. It said the advice does not have the force of law and schools cannot be sued for not following it.
But some schools, the Maine School Management Association and the Maine Principals' Association say they take the commission's guidance seriously and worry about lawsuits if they don't follow it. They're also concerned about maintaining student safety in schools and fairness in sports if they follow it.
http://www.sunjournal.com/node/801590++++++++++++++++++
New Transgender Guidelines Expected
Published : Thursday, 25 Feb 2010, 11:20 AM EST
The Maine Human Rights Commission is expected to recommend some big changes to how schools handle transgender students.
On Monday, the Commission is preparing to recommend that public schools allow transgender students to dress, play sports, and choose bathrooms based on the gender with which they identify.
Some fear this could open the door to a slew of lawsuits if males are allowed to use girl's bathrooms and play on girl's sports teams.
(Provided by News 13)
http://www.myfoxmaine.com/dpp/news/20100225-new-transgender-guidelines-expected
