Schools strive to support gender identity choices

A now 22-year-old Inwood resident was born a girl but when Carter — who declined to use his real name — reached puberty, he began to feel differently about his sexual orientation.
As a Lawrence High School sophomore, he had his first crush on a girl. He ignored those emotions, thinking it was a fluke. He continued being attracted to girls, however, and eventually could no longer disregard those feelings.
Carter considered the possibility that he was bisexual. Then, between ages 18 and 19, he began to think of himself as a lesbian because he was primarily attracted to girls.
His discomfort with being referred to as “she” led him to encourage friends to call him by a more masculine name when he was 20. That helped for a short time, but didn’t solve his gender identify crisis until he spoke with a friend who was transgender. Their discussion led Carter to the realization that he felt more male than female, and he now considers himself transgender.
“If someone identifies with the gender opposite, he or she should be allowed to dress, act and live life the way they want to,” Carter said. “That may mean, if a school has a dress code, that [the person] can choose which uniform — a boy’s or girl’s — to wear. Or maybe it means being referred to in the manner they want or being allowed to use the bathroom they feel comfortable using. Openness and support from a school is really important.”
In an effort to offer that support and to create a more secure school environment for transgender and gender-nonconforming students, the State Education Department has outlined definitions, examples and resources to complement the existing Dignity for All Students Act.
The document, titled “Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Guidance,” includes an array of information to help school districts comply with local, state and federal laws governing bullying, harassment, discrimination and student privacy.
“The important thing we must do is to keep children safe,” State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tsch stated in a press release. “Children cannot be expected to learn unless they feel welcome, safe and comfortable at school.”
Schools should work closely with transgender students and their families on a case-by-case basis, the guidelines recommend, either helping the students maintain the confidentiality of their transgender status or helping them identify publicly.
Samantha Walker, a senior at Hewlett High School and a member of the school’s Straight to Equality Club, agrees that a student’s health and safety should be considered when it comes to setting regulations and making decisions that relate to sexual orientation.
“I also think that it is appropriate to make sure that the level of privacy and confidentially of the students is maintained …,” Walker said. “If a student does not wish to share their choice in gender identity, whether it be with the parents or the school, they shouldn’t have to, nor should the school force-help a student who doesn’t wish to receive it.”
Hewlett-Woodmere School District Superintendent Dr. Ralph Marino Jr. said the district is committed to nurturing an atmosphere in which all students learn and mature without fear of being bullied or harassed.
“We implemented the DASA requirements long before we were required to do so, and take pride in providing a respectful, tolerant school environment,” Marino said. “We continue to look for ways to improve. We will examine current practices and make adjustments where appropriate.”
The Lawrence School District, which describes itself as a “cultural mosaic,” takes pride in its diversity, Superintendent Gary Schall said. “We are the most culturally diverse district on Long Island, and have effective character education programs in place,” he said. “Acceptance of gender identity is part of overall acceptance of our differences that Lawrence students are so open-minded about. In addition, there are clubs at Lawrence High School that support this.”
To view the state’s new guidelines, go to http://bit.ly/1CSy1ZC.

Carina Kohn contributed to this story.