It’s a scary time to be transgender in America. It seems as though there is a new law being considered every week to deny transgender people equal rights.
School District Under Fire
Now,a Kenosha, Wisconsin school district is being sued for allegedly forcing one of its transgender students to wear a bracelet identifying him as transgender.
The lawsuit claims, in part, that the school is guilty of:
“…Instructing guidance counselors to issue bright green wristbands to A.W. and any other transgender students at the school, to more easily monitor and enforce these students’ restroom usage…”
It is truly a sad world we live in when schools — where students should feel safe — are telling their employees to virtually brand transgender CHILDREN to “monitor” them.
Does this sound familiar to any of you?
Oh. Right.
This is not the first time in our history that a group in power has marked those whom they consider to be “deviant” in some way.
The lawsuit, filed on the student’s behalf by the Transgender Law Center, also states that the school is guilty of “denying him access to boys’ restrooms at school” and “intentionally and repeatedly using his birth name and female pronouns,” among other charges of blatant discrimination.
Furthermore, the school initially told the student he could not run for prom king, only queen. They reversed their decision after an outcry from the student body.
A Nationwide Struggle
This student is just one of many across the nation who is simply fighting for the right to exist. It’s happening not far from me, in Wisconsin. It’s also happening in my old high school district. And it very well could be happening in your town. The Kenosha school district is, of course, denying all the allegations.
Transgender people are at higher risk of violent attacks, suicide, homelessness, and unemployment than just about any other marginalized group in the country. And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Transgender persons of all ages are subject to harassment and ridicule on a daily basis.
We need to do everything we can to combat these discriminatory practices and defeat these heinous laws.
Featured image screengrab via YouTube
