Following the Obama Administration’s groundbreaking letter to primary and some secondary schools clarifying who is protected under Title IX, courts and federal agencies concluded discrimination or harassment because a person is transgender or gender non-conforming constitute sex discrimination.
To help students understand and assert their rights in schools, the National Center for Transgender Equality is releasing Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students: Your Rights at School, a new resource that outlines the laws protecting trans people in school and steps for bringing harassment and discrimination complaints to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
In the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, participants who expressed a transgender identity or gender nonconformity while in grades K-12 faced alarming obstacles:
- Seventy-eight percent reported harassment
- Thirty-five percent reported physical assault
- Twelve percent reported sexual violence
- Fifteen percent reported leaving school
- Fifty-one percent of participants who were harassed/bullied in school reported attempting suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population
These shocking numbers show how important it is that all members of a school community work together to fight against discrimination. Anyone, including friends, family, and school staff, can file a complaint. Complaints do not need to be filed by the person(s) experiencing the bullying, harassment or discrimination. More details on filing complaints, as well as other options and resources, are available in our new guide.
many times before, If I never met him or sheard the relationship that I did with him, I would have done exactly what he did. We came out to one and other, which is something I never woulda have done without him telling me everything will be alright.I myself have a wonderful mother who has tried to read and comprehend all about trans idividuals. My mother met Aiden on multiple occasions, sleep overs and what not and she knew how much he meant to me. Yet, now she is afraid to let me star testosterone because she feel like it played a role in his death.You and Patty couldn’t have been better parents. You loved him through all of his endevors, younger and older. You let him drop out because of harassment and the harassment didn’t stop and I know that all too well. I myself dropped out of school because I was harrassed physically and emotionally. I even had to lie about the reason I was dropping out to my mother and teachers in fear that if I told someone and they actually took action against the individuals(that I never knew and still don’t to this day), that they would try to harm me outside of school. I may not have the funds to change my name or start hormone treatment, but the last 4 years I’m finally me.Even after his death I am harassed, afraid of being in public for too long because I don’t look like my age or sound like it, I won’t apply for a job because I don’t want to hear my real name, and now I have PTSD due to the phyiscal harassment I received for almost 3 years at Rockville High. I know a lot of kids who have it the same way. I’m glad you are are stepping forward and trying what you can to gain rights for the trans community.If you ever feel need for a youth advoicate, you can always contact me. I owe you and Patty a lot for bringing Aiden into this world and letting him live as close to the life he wanted to live as possible. You have always treated me as if I was your son. Some of my favorite memories of my time with Aiden is when I would come to dinner with just us four. I felt like I belonged somewhere for once. I never had a dad(as in helping raise me and being a part of my life), my mother has been working 2 jobs so we couldn’t ever converse about the life I lead and the person I am. Aiden loved you both a lot and greatly appreciated what you did to try to understand as best you could’ve.Last, I daily help other FTM trans youth via sharing his story and posting this website. Multiple people have come forth and told me that my attempt his story in hopes none will end up in the same, and they told me has saved their lives. That you both so much. I love you with all my heart and will always be your other son.Love and Faith be with you,Clarke