Welcome Back To School, 2019-2020 TBLGQ Students!

School is starting for many students in Texas this week, and later this month for Texas colleges and universities.   While this is the favorite time of the year for parents and the retailers enjoying their cash registers ringing from the just concluded sales tax holiday, the kids are lamenting the end of their summer vacations. 

The start of the 2019-2020 school year is upon us, and I'm wondering what kind of school year that will be for our trans kids.  While Cruella DeVos has been rolling back protections for our kids at the Department of Education level and looks for new ways to inflict cruelty on our trans and GNC kids from pre-K to graduate school, our trans and gender non conforming kids despite the obstacles continue to survive and in some cases thrive   

There are a few districts in Texas and other states that have policies that protect the humanity and human rights of trans students, teachers and employees.

You'll also as this school year plays out pass into the start of another decade of the 21st century during the winter break and the start of a presidential election year.

Bur during this first week, my thoughts are with our trans kids.   I'm definitely concerned about the ones who are about to start elementary school.  I'm also concerned about the ones making the jump from elementary to middle school since we elder all know how rough puberty was before adding trans issues on top of it. 

And with my 40th high school reunion happening next year, I'm thinking about our trans and gender non conforming kids who are either starting their freshman year in high school or beginning their senior year.

I'm also thinking about the ones who about to take that giant leap to college or our trans folks who are in grad school.   Major props also go to the trans people who are in law school or medical school with the goal of serving our community in the medical and legal professions once they finish. 

I have no doubts that like many of your trans student predecessors, you will not only accomplish your educational goals, but in some cases will make history along the way.   There are still schools that have never had a trans homecoming or prom king or queen.  I'm still waiting to gleefully write about that first out trans valedictorian or salutatorian.   The first out trans class president.

Some of you during the 2019-20 school year will unfortunately have to fight anti-trans bigotry along the way as you strive to get your educations.   Some of you who wish to participate in high school athletics will have to fight tooth and nail just to be able to compete while trans. 

Some of you will have to fight just to be able to wear clothing at prom or your graduations that reflects your true selves   But it's worth that battle for you to do so. 

Know that if you choose to fight for you human rights, your parents, your trans elders and our allies will help you fight that battle against the transphobes if that comes to pass.

As a TK, I'm exceedingly proud not only of our trans and GNC students, I'm proud of all you trans folks who teach, whether it be at the K-12 or collegiate level.  You have my utmost respect and love as you do the most important job in our society and educate our next generations.

Happy 2019-2020 school year, TBLGQ students!   Hope it turns out to be a wonderful. and memorable one for all of you 

Soldier Accepts His Trans Daughter Video

Every now and then you get to see a video that tugs on your heart and reminds you what you are fighting for. 

I constantly say in any interview I do that the trans rights work I'm getting recognized for is about the kids behind me and leaving a better world for them.

This video short illustrates that better world I and other trans advocates are working to make a reality.   This video is about a teen trans girl who has a father in the military and transitions while he is deployed. 

You'll have to watch it and see what happens when he finds out his child has transitioned while he's away. 

Transphobic Oklahomans Plot Hate Attack On Pre Teen Trans Child

If I need any more incentive to push harder to pass hate crimes and nondiscrimination legislation that protects trans people, I need to look no further than north of the Red River into Oklahoma

This disgusting series of Facebook posts came to light from Oklahoma courtesy of the Hate Trackers website .  Burney and Jamie Crenshaw in the Achille ISD parents group began ranting about a 12 year old trans girl attending school in the district just north of the Texas-Oklahoma border.   It didn't take long for the Facebook posts to dive into the transphobia ignorance and dehumanizing trans hate speech sewer.

And nope, these aren't the trans child's peers.  They are adults.

One post by Kevin Bickerstaff advocated encouraging Achille ISD students to violently attack the trans girl in question until she is too afraid and traumatized to come to school. 

"Just tell kids to kick ass in the bathroom and it won't want to come back,"  wrote Bickerstaff in his FB post.

Eddie Belcher, who has alleged white supremacist ties, advocated cutting the trans child's genitals.

"If he wants to be female, make him female.  A good sharp knife will do the trick," wrote Belcher.

The conspirators also advocated in those trans hate posts coming to subsequent Achille ISD board meetings to demand they take action against the pre-teen trans student.

Gee, wonder if they will be bringing pitchforks and tiki torches to those Achille ISD meetings as well?

The disturbing posts also got the attention of trans parents groups, the Oklahoma media,  the Achille ISD and our TBLGIQ accomplices.  Meanwhile in reaction to the violent transphobes, the parents of the trans girl sought an emergency protective order on August 10 against Crenshaw. 

Achille ISD took down the transphobic  posts from their Facebook page, and it does have an anti-bullying policy   Wonder what Achille ISD superintendent Rick Beene thinks about it and these violent parents wishing to harm a trans child?

Hopefully they have also gotten the attention of law enforcement officials in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma was one of the Republican controlled states in which the legislature pushed for anti-trans hate legislation that fortunately failed.

What happened in Achille is a salient example of anti-trans rhetoric being peddled by the TERF's, the conservative movement, white fundamentalists, right wing media and the GOP for political advantage now filtering down to the unwashed rural Trump loving masses and having negative impacts on the real lives of transgender people.

Anti-trans hate thoughts + anti-trans hate speech = anti-trans hate violence/murders.   You hatemongers are aiming that rhetoric against trans children and it needs to stop. 

I repeat, stop it now before it gets to the violence and murder result of the Equation of Trans Hate.

Dale Hansen Unplugged- Mack Beggs

Whenever I'm in the Dallas-Ft Worth area and have time to watch the local news there, I tune into WFAA-TV 8 so I can watch Dale Hansen's sports reports and his 'Hansen Unplugged' commentary.  

Yesterday he commented on Euless Trinity trans wrestler Mack Beggs' Texas Class 6A girls wrestling state championship in his weight class and the stuck on stupid UIL trans athletic policy that led to it.

Beggs because of the lack of UIL vision and their transphobia, was forced to despite being on testosterone for his transition and he and his family asking he allowed to wrestle against boys, forced by UIL bureaucrats to wrestle against girls.

That lack of UIL vision led to Beggs undefeated 56-0 championship season that shined a glaring spotlight on how unfair the UIL policy was to all concerned.   It will hopefully lead the UIL idiots in Austin to change it to mirror the more progressive NCAA standards.  

Here's Dale Hansen's commentary on Mack Beggs..

 

January 2017 National Geographic Cover Makes Trans History

One of the cool things about being trans is that we can and are making history at times.

This latest bit of trans history involves the iconic international magazine National Geographic.

When the January 2017 issue of National Geographic comes out, it will have an article in it entitled 'The Gender Revolution' that has a picture of trans teen Trinity Neal in it.  

National Geographic is also airing a documentary on February 6 entitled 'Gender Revolution, A Journey With Katie Couric.'

Couric will in the documentary be interviewing parents of trans kids, people undergoing gender confirmation surgery and intersex individuals.

"It's hard to avoid hearing about some aspect of gender these days. Every time you check your phone, turn on the TV or scan Twitter, there's another story that's challenging our preconceived notions of what gender is, how it's determined and the impact these new definitions are having on society," Couric said in a statement. "I set out on a journey to try to educate myself about a topic that young people are living with so effortlessly—and get to know the real people behind the headlines. Because the first step to inclusiveness and tolerance is understanding."

One of the covers for this National Geographic gender issue will be 7 year old Avery Jackson, who will become the first out trans person in the nearly 130 year history of the magazine to grace its cover.

 “National Geographic is almost 130 years old, and we have been covering cultures, societies and social issues for all of those years. It struck us, listening to the national conversation, that gender was at the center of so many of these issues in the news,” Susan Goldberg, editorial director of National Geographic Partners and editor-in-chief of National Geographic magazine, told NBC Out.

Goldberg emphasises that while throughout the year there was a lot of emphasis on celebrities, she wanted this issue to focus on the lives of the common man.
Goldberg emphasises that while throughout the year there was a lot of emphasis on celebrities, she wanted this issue to focus on the lives of the common man.

There is an alternate cover with a group of seven people on it

Congrats to Avery for making that amazing history and proving once again that trans people are part of the diverse mosaic of human life, and everyone who was interviewed either for the magazine article or the documentary.

Trans Girl Wins Her Fight With A DoDEA Superintendent

Sometimes the worst bullies that transgender kids face are not their fellow classmates, but school administrators and legislators. We had an example of that surface recently from Germany.

Blue is the trans daughter of an Air Force active duty father serving at Ramstein Air Base.  The 11 year old fifth grader came out as trans during the summer and has been accepted by her parents, fellow students and administrators at Ramstein Intermediate School, one of the four schools on the base administered by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

The DoDEA operates 191 schools in 12 nations, seven states, Guam and Puerto Rico and serves more than 82,000 children of active duty military and DOD civilian families .

She had been given approval to use the bathroom and locker facilities that match her gender presentation by the principal of the school, but that decision was overruled by Liz Dunham, the superintendent of the Bavaria district of the DoDEA.

Dunham told Blue's parents she would either have to use the boys bathroom or a single stall one several flights of floors below her classroom.   When Blue's parents pointed out that there were four other trans students on the base , Dunham according to Blue's mother Jess reportedly didn't care.

Well, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter did care.   So did Ashley Broadway-Mack, the president of the American Military Partner Association who blasted Dunham's trans oppressive attitude.

"All students, regardless of their gender identity, deserve to be able to go to school in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The Department of Defense school system is currently observing October as National Bullying Prevention Month, yet this superintendent has unacceptably chosen to single out and discriminate against a student because of her gender identity. Transgender youth already face high rates of marginalization, bullying, and harassment, and we urge the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, Mr. Thomas Brady, to immediately step in and correct this unconscionable decision."

And never underestimate or piss off a Mama Bear.

Dunham's decision was overruled, and Blue and all trans students in DoDEA schools will be able to use the bathrooms and facilities that match their gender presentation.

That's supposed to happen tomorrow.   We'll see if it does for Blue and all trans students in those schools and across the DoDEA system.

'Stacey's Not A Girl' Indiegogo Campaign Has Four Days Left

I've talked about the book Stacey's Not A Girl and the Indiegogo campaign to raise $9,000 to get the book published.

Thanks to all of you who shared my post, the link to Colt's site, the link to the book's Facebook page , who preordered it, or just for supporting this effort to bring this book to life, I'm happy to report that with four days left the Indiegogo campaign has hit and exceeded its target.

Thanks to all of you who contributed toward making that happen, and if you still wish to chip in something toward the publishing costs or order the book, please do so.    

CDC Forgets The T In Their Infographic

Several of my readers sent this link to me of a Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  sponsored infographic campaign in which they are attempting to draw attention to the violence faced by our TBLGQ younglings.

So what's the problem with this poster?  They forgot to include the group of young people that is facing the most disproportionate level of violence in trans and gender nonconforming kids.

WTF CDC?   As of this moment a federal district court hearing is taking place in Wichita Falls in which transphobic federal judge Reed O'Connor is being asked to clarify his previous unjust ruling.  

We have Texas GOP state officials openly planning on targeting the trans community when the legislative session starts in January, Republicans across the country along with white fundamentalists attacking trans kids, an explosion of anti-trans bills and lawsuits that are feeding anti-trans hatred, bigotry and discrimination, and you ignore all of this when you put this campaign together?

I'll say it again.   WTF CDC?    The data exists pointing out trans and gender nonconforming kids are under attack and have disproportionate levels of violence being aimed at them..

I'll repeat this one more time.  Trans and gender nonconforming kids are the ones being disproportionately targeted for violence and abuse.  

A 2013 study of middle and high school age students found that 74% of the respondents to that survey were verbally harassed for gender identity and 55% were harassed for gender expression

72% of the victims of anti-TBLGQ homicides were trans women, and 67% of those trans women murdered due to anti-trans violence are trans women of color.

And BTW, my sis Raquel Willis fixed your graphic to more correctly reflect the community

The CD did try to respond to why trans and gender non conforming youth were erased in this infographic campaign, and here is their weak response:.

This is inexcusable.  As a reminder, trans people are part of the over 300 million people that make up the American population, and our tax dollars we contribute every April 15 do go toward the CDC's budget

We don't need excuses CDC for erasure.  Erasure is deadly to our community, and especially for trans women of color.    Fix it CDC.


H/T Raquel Willis  

Must See Trans TV Alert- 'Modern Family' Trans Episode To Feature Trans Child Actor

You may wish to set your DVR's for this upcoming ABC Modern Family episode Wednesday at 8 PM CDT.   It's going to feature a historic first in an open trans child actor playing a trans role.

In this episode entitled 'A Stereotypical Day', same sex parents Cam and Mitchell allow their cis daughter Lily to invite her trans masculine classmate Tom over for a play date.  Their pride at raising a daughter in Lily who is open minded and accepting quickly turns when they overhear Lily unwittingly insult her trans friend.

How do Cam and Mitchell handle the situation?  You'll have to tune in and watch Modern Family tomorrow on your local ABC station.

Tom is played by 8 year old Jackson Millarker who is from Atlanta,  While we have had a few shows in the last few years that have featured adult trans actors playing trans roles, this is the first time we have had an out trans child actor playing a trans child.

This is a BFD for trans kind and all the trans kids out there who finally get to see someone like themselves on a television show, and I couldn't be happier to see it.

Now if Hollywood would just stop casting cis male actors in trans feminine roles.  

Trinity's ESSENCE Article

I met Trinity and her mom DeShanna back during this year's Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, and have much love for the Delaware based trans teen who began her transition at age 4.

As she has said to me, she is going to make trans history, and she wasn't kidding.  She recently visited Delaware Governor Jack Markell's (D) office with her family,

An ESSENCE magazine article came out today featuring her story, and I found it amazing since it wasn't that long ago Tracey Norman was shooting her sixth cover for ESSENCE and it was shut down after someone shadily outed her to Susan L Taylor.   Now they have had Laverne Cox on the cover twice, but still have yet to give her a solo one.

I'm talking about that past history in needed to point our just how far ESSENCE has moved on covering trans people in our community since the early 80's. An article about a trans teen in an iconic Black magazine is a big deal.

Twelve year old Trinity tells her story to ESSENCE readers, and said in it she wants to make the world more friendly for trans people.

"I want to tell kids to be themselves and release who they are," said Trinity.  "They don't need to hide all the time.  I had to tell my parents, and they could do the same thing.  I want to change the world by making it much more friendly to trans people."

Here's the link to the ESSENCE article, and thanks Trinity for telling your story in one of our iconic magazines.  I have a feeling it won't be the last interview you do.

Dads For Transgender Equality Video

I've talked more than a few times on this blog about the 'Mama Bears', the awesome mothers of transgender children call themselves who are fighting for the humanity and human rights of their gender variant kids.

We don't hear too often from the fathers of those trans kids, but many of them are just as involved, amazing and determined to make lives better for their kids as the mons are.

I've met and enjoyed talking to one of those trans dad in Wayne Maines, and have been getting more acquainted with those trans das as my interactions with trans parents hear and around the country increase.  

One thing I'm happy to see is that Wayne and the other fathers of trans children are stepping up their leadership game and becoming more vocal advocates for their kids.

Here's a video from HRC highlighting the Dads For Transgender Equality

Our Trans Kids At Times Are Leading Us Trans Elders

There is a Biblical scripture that states, "And a little child shall lead them.'.  That scripture has become reality repeatedly in my nearly two decades as a trans advocate.

We've witnessed more than a few times this year in Trans World the all hands on deck efforts to kill unjust anti-trans bills popping up all over the country being fearlessly led by our trans kids..

We all are aware of the amazing Jazz Jennings, who has been doing this trans advocacy work since she was the ripe old age of six and has an ever lengthening list of accomplishments and awards for the work she does as her parents and family ensure she has the space and time to just be a normal teenage kid.

Then there are trans kids like Capri Culpepper, Nicole Maines, and Gavin Grimm who were thrust unexpectedly in the national spotlight because they were forced to confront anti-trans bigotry aimed at them.  They fought back and filed with the help of their parents lawsuits that were ultimately successful in redressing the transphobic wrongs aimed at them.   Gavin Grimm's case against his VA school district is ongoing, but it may be the key in killing the odious Hate Bill 2 in North Carolina..

There are the trans kids who make news by making trans history or attempting to do so.  Becoming the first trans persons to become a homecoming king or queen at their schools in their various home states, playing sports, or simply being the first out trans students to graduate from their high schools.

There are the trans kids who become the faces of lobbying efforts to kill unjust anti-trans legislation like Kendra Heathscott was in South Dakota or efforts to pass trans inclusive administrative policies like Zeam Porter was in Minnesota...

In our fight to get people to realize that there is nothing wrong with being our trans selves, some of our best advocates to convey that message have been our trans kids.

Jazz now has help across the country from an amazing array of trans kids, trans teens and young trans adults who are emphatically pointing out that we exist, we aren't going away, and all they want are the same things that any kids cis or trans who are in their peer group want.

Trans kids just want to be able to live their lives to the best of their abilities, and make their dreams come true.. And it has been as a trans elder a beautiful thing to watch transpire..

The trans kids are gonna be more than alright.  They are in many cases not waiting for us to pass the leadership torch to them, they are stepping up to handle their leadership business themselves.

Mount Horeb School Board Unanimously Enacts Trans Protections

This probably wasn't the result the Liberty Counsel expected when they stuck their transphobic noses in the business of a Mount Horeb trans feminine child and browbeat the Mount Horeb Primary Center into canceling a November 23 reading of I Am Jazz for the students to help them understand the trans student's transition journey.

The action ignited a controversy triggering two well attended community public readings of I Am Jazz at the high school and the public library, the Mount Horeb School Board rebuked the transphobes.

Board member Peter Strube forcefully said to cheers of the 80 people in attendance prior to the start of the board meeting,"Let the word go forth here and now that this board will stand united, we will not be intimidated and we will teach tolerance and will be accepting to everyone.

The Mount Horeb School board backed up the tough talk of Board member Strube by conducting a quick board meeting that included a public comment period in which 14 people spoke in favor of the new trans policies and 5 people spoke in opposition to.

Then by a unanimous 7-0 vote, the Mount Horeb School Board passed measures to protect trans students in the district and added 'transgender status' to their nondiscrimination policy.

After the vote the mother of the six year old trans child in question, who was watching the proceedings, felt moved to speak and thanked the board.

"This has been the most difficult thing my family has ever had to deal with,"she said.  "I am so glad we are part of this school district going through something like this...This isn't just about our child, this is about all the other children, too."

The trans policies are applied on a case by case basis by school administrators, and apply to students who has in the words of the policy, 'held the belief deeply, followed the belief over a consistent period of time, is supported by the student's parent or guardian, and has sought guidance and counseling in coming ti the decision.'  

Mount Horeb trans students will be allowed to participate in intramural athletics and physical education classes 'in a manner consistent with their gender presentation',  They will also be granted access to restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender presentations.

The passage of the policy makes Mount Horeb one of the few districts in the state of Wisconsin that have trans inclusive non discrimination policies, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Trans Teen Makes Vancouver 50 Most Powerful People List

I keep saying that our trans younglings are going to do some amazing things if just given the opportunity and the chance to live their lives to the best of their ability. In some cases, they are role modeling for their trans elders the courage and leadership it will take to make trans human rights laws, trans acceptance and recognition of our humanity a reality.

More evidence of that is coming from north of the border in Vancouver.

Vancouver magazine recently published their 15th annual list of the 50 most powerful people in the city. On this list that includes CEO's, politicians, labor leaders, First Nations leaders. and other movers and shakers in the city, at number 20 is 12 year old trans teen Tru Wilson

“I didn’t expect to be on posters and people recognizing me and making a difference for other kids,”says Tru. “I just wanted to be me.”

But that's exactly what happened.   Because Tru and her family refused to take no for an answer from the Catholic school  powers that be and pushed for her humanity to be recognized, the successful human rights complaint forced the Vancouver Catholic school system to develop policies for trans students like herself that the Vancouver Public Schools were already working on.

Global TV was also telling their story at the time, and since that successfully mediated BC human rights complaint Tru has continued speaking out about transgender issues with a bigger goal in mind.

What's that goal?   To have a chat with new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about getting trams people's human rights ensconced into federal law in the Great White North.

Congrats Tru!  So proud of you and looking forward to seeing if you get to have that meeting with not only Premier Christy Clark in your home province of British Columbia, but the one with PM Trudeau as well.

Happy 15th Birthday Jazz!

Y'all know here at TransGriot I'm ride or die for all things Jazz Jennings, and today I want to take a moment to wish this amazing teen a happy 15th birthday!

I had the pleasure of meeting her and much of her family in 2014,  and I'm definitely looking forward to the next time I get the opportunity to share the same space with them.  

Ever since Jazz burst onto the scene as a precocious six year old advocate for our community and kids like her, she has gone from being the face and voice for our trans kids to the face of Clean and Clear.   She has done stuff many trans people twice her age have yet to do

And now our fave trans kid is a high school freshman and a teenage girl who has happened to have a reality TV show, published a book and has a future so bright she needs shades.   

And it has been fun to watch it all transpire.

Happy 15th birthday Jazz!     May you have a happy, fun and blessings filled one, and you recive the ultimate blessings of getting to celebrate many more of them in the decades to come. 

Congratulations Landon!

I and your trans elders are proud of you members of the Trans Class of 2016, and know that over time, you will do amazing things that will continue to justify our faith in investing in your success.   
-TransGriot, August 22, 2015

Well, it didn't take long for a member of the Trans Class of 2016 to make some trans history.

Meet Landon Patterson.  The Oak Park High School senior found out during halftime of her school's September 12 homecoming game with William Chrisman High School that her classmates had chosen her as their school's homecoming queen.

"Just knowing that I did this and broke some barriers, I can't put it into words how I feel right now," Patterson Said in am interview. "I'm just excited and hope it's going to help others put there." .

Landon has dreamed about this moment of riding in the homecoming parade as the homecoming queen since her freshman year, but she doubted that her classmates would see her as female.

She transitioned during her junior year, was an active member of her school's show choir and Oak Park's cheerleading squad, and her classmates made it clear how they viewed Landon by voting her as their homecoming queen.

Her mom Debbie Hall;proudly rode next to her in the homecoming parade as she stated to local media she saw no other option but to support her child.

That's my child. You have to back your children. The haters out there, I just want to say, 'What would you say if it was your child?'" Hall said.

Congrats Landon!    Hope the rest of your senior year goes as wonderfully as your day being named your school's homecoming queen did. 

Jazz And Jeanette On 'The View'

So what did you do this morning?  

If you're the fabulous trans teen  Jazz Jennings you woke up early this morning in New York along with your wonderful mom Jeanette to get ready for a live TV appearance on ABC's The View. 

I think Jazz has more frequent flier miles than I do this year, but I digress.

As you all know the TLC reality show featuring Jazz and her amazing family I Am Jazz is set to start on July 15.  Jazz is also a spokesmodel for Clean and Clear, has written a picture book to inspire other trans kids with the same title, and as someone who has had the pleasure of meeting her, is one very sweet kid.

She's had some amazing stuff happened for her. as she continues to live her life, fight for the human rights of transpeople, educate others along the way and be a shining example for other trans kids.

Hey. she's also a wonderful role model for us adult trans folks as well.

As soon as I find the video for this morning's broadcast, I'll post it on the blog for you peeps to see it.

Looking forward to seeing this The View episode since I missed it, the reality show and seeing what happens next for this amazing young lady.

Debi Jackson Talks To GLAAD

Remember when Debi Jackson gave the moving speech about her trans child AJ and did some mythbusting along the way?

Well it's a year later, and she's now talking about acceptance and that journey she's been taken on with her trans feminine daughter with Claire Pires

Jazz Speaks At The Time To Thrive Conference

Y'all know how much I love the amazing Jazz Jennings, and when I finally met her and members of her family last summer during the Philly Trans Health Conference, I was more excited about it than she was.

She is not only one beautiful and amazing young woman, she has been an advocate for trans kids and our community since she was six years old.

So you'll always see Jazz videos here on TransGriot, and here she is speaking at the recent Time To Thrive conference.

Tracey Update

A few months ago I wrote about Tracey Wilson, the trans kid in Vancouver whose parents filed a human rights complaint with the BC Human Rights tribunal when her Catholic school refused to recognize her femininity, refused to authorize a name change, let her use the female restroom or allow Tracey to wear the girls school uniform while claiming they didn't have a policy for it.

There's good news to report in Tracey's case

The human rights complaint filed by Tracey's parents on her behalf against the semi-private Catholic school and the Catholic Schools Vancouver has resulted in a new policy entitled the "CISVA Elementary School Policy regarding Gender Expression and Gender Dysphoria.”

“Where a request for accommodation is received on the basis of gender dysphoria or gender expression, the administrative staff should respond in a prompt and supportive manner, and in accordance with the principles outlined in this policy.”

The new CISVA policy states the student has the right to be addressed by their preferred name, even if they don’t legally change it.  School  records will be amended to reflect any changes.  Gender presentation appropriate school uniforms will be provided upon written request by the student's parent/guardian . 

“Upon receipt of a written request by a student’s parents/guardians in the attached form, a school shall provide an alternative uniform for that student, in designated school colours. The alternative uniform shall be determined in collaboration with the student’s parents and the school administration.”

So it looks as though it was a huge human rights win for not only Tracey, but every trans child who will go through the Vancouver Catholic school system.

Now if only the province of British Columbia will follow suit and protect the human rights of Tracey and all its trans citizens like five other provinces and the Northwest Territories have already done.