Education

Berkeley County School District’s Transgender Restroom Policy Draws Mixed Reaction

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell

transgender BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–The Berkeley County School District has become one of the first school districts in the state to weigh in on the controversial transgender restroom debate, making it clear to faculty that students are okay to use the restroom to which they identify with.

“Our policies align with those of the U.S. Department of Education and the S.C. Department of Education. BCSD does not have district or school policies written specific to restroom usage. BCSD implements current anti-discrimination policies under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Education,” read a statement from school district spokesperson, Katie Orvin.

Some parents and residents of Berkeley County have welcomed the district’s transgender restroom policy with open arms, taking to social media to express their approval.

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m saying these words – I’m proud of my former school district! South Carolina continues to be a pleasant surprise,” stated Shelby Chiasson.

“If only Berkeley County had this policy when I was enrolled in high school, the environment would have been less hateful to students in general,” stated Aleksandr Barlow.

However, some people disapprove of the district’s restroom policy, claiming it makes it unsafe for their children, especially daughters, to go to the restroom. Some parents have also stated that they plan to address the controversial policy at the next school board meeting on May 10th at 6:30 p.m.

“I don’t agree with this. If you have a penis go to the men’s room. If you have a vagina use the women’s restroom. This is making things uncomfortable not only for kids but parents,” stated Heather Hamilton Infinger. “Why is society bowing down to everyone who whines about everything they don’t agree with? Our government is going to hell. I don’t have a problem with transgender people. To each his/her own. But boys go to the bathroom with boys and girls with girls.”

“Maybe it’s time to home school. If everyone pulls out of Berkeley County schools, they’ll rethink their opinion. The entire country has lost their mind. I think the school system is opening up to a lawsuit,” stated Jan Thomas. “The first time a boy assaults a girl in the bathroom, then the school system failed to secure a safe environment. This is something the school is forcing on the rest of the kids.”

Meanwhile, an Horry County mother of a transgender student is urging school district leaders in the Grand Strand to update their own restroom policy, making it similar to what the Berkeley County School District has in place.

The mother, identified only as Lynne, said her transgender son has been using the boys’ room at Socastee High School for just over three years until October when he was ordered to use the girls’ restroom or go to the nurse’s office.

Lynne pulled her son, identified as “R,” out of the school and enrolled him in online school. “R” won’t get to walk on stage at the end of his senior year to get his diploma. She said her son felt uncomfortable with using the girls’ room or the nurse’s room and was suspended in January for using the boys’ bathroom.

The Transgender Law Center recently sent a letter to Horry County Schools, warning that the district would face a lawsuit if students were barred from using the restroom of the gender students identify with.

“The District maintains the privacy of all of its students. The District seeks to accommodate the individual needs of its transgender students in compliance with the law, including Title IX,” the school district said in a statement. “We will continue our efforts to ensure a welcoming school environment for all students.”

Transgender students are protected by federal law.  In 2014, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights issued guidance saying that transgender students are protected under Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The guidance defines discrimination against transgender people as actions “based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity.”

This year, South Carolina lawmakers introduced a bill similar to North Carolina’s new law. The bill would prohibit cities and counties from passing local laws to allow transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender they identify as. Political experts say the bill is likely to be vetoed by Governor Nikki Haley–it it makes it out of the Senate first. Haley has stated that there is no need for this particular law.

 
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Follow Me
Latest posts by Nikki Gaskins Campbell (see all)

Comments are closed.