"Beyond the Binary" Scenarios

Scenario 1
Robert is an eighth grade student who often dresses and acts in a traditionally “feminine” manner. One day, Robert wears a skirt and blouse to school. His teacher sends him to the principal’s office with a request that Robert be sent home to change his clothes.

Questions to Consider:
Did the teacher take the right action? Why or why not?

In my view the teacher did not take the right action. The teacher made it a crime for Robert to wear a skirt and blouse. The subjective basis of deciding that the skirt and blouse warranted sending Robert to the principal's office shows how ridiculous the claim is. Why didn't the teacher stop Robert one day when he was "acting" in a feminine manner? Because when people draw the line they betray the fact that the line--demarcating what is appropriate, and what is not--is very hard to draw and requires that a person make a decision about what they will "tolerate." However it is not up to anyone to "tolerate" or "not tolerate" other people's choice of dress, except if that dress had something directly hurtful on it, like if someone was wearing a t-shirt with a hateful slogan. But a skirt and a blouse are generally tolerated at school--it shouldn't matter who puts them on.

What kinds of questions, if any, should the Principal ask Robert?

Maybe the Principal could ask Robert if he's okay--he has just been told that who he is is something not permissible.

Should Robert’s parent(s) or guardian(s) be called? If so, when?

I would say yes, after Robert has left the Principal's office, after making sure that he is not undergoing any immediate trauma. If anything to apologize on behalf of the school and teacher.

What kind(s) of referrals to resources could the Principal or another school employee give to Robert?
They could direct Robert to the nearest LGBTQ positive space.

What should the Principal say to Robert’s teacher? Should the Principal take any disciplinary action against Robert’s teacher?

I think that this teacher needs to think about and question their beliefs and actions not just as a teacher but importantly as a person. I'm not sure about discipline.

What, if anything, should Robert’s classmates be told? I don't think anything, except for an overriding of the teacher's decision and the assurance that anybody can wear a blouse and a skirt at school, or anything else that they feel comfortable in provided it does not hurt anyone.

Scenario 3
Cameron identifies as transgender and would like to use the boy’s restroom at his school. He presents as male and uses male pronouns. When he tries to use the boy’s restroom, he is often harassed and taunted in the facility and school staff and students always tell him to use the girl’s restroom. Fed-up with the harassment, he asks the principal for a gender-neutral bathroom.

Questions to Consider:
How should the principal address Cameron’s situation in a way that is confidential and respectful of Cameron?

The principal should not single out Cameron as the face of a new campaign. If the school is going to implement gender-neutral bathrooms, it should install them everywhere there are binary-gendered bathrooms. Also to treat Cameron's situation as a catalyst for change instead of a problem that needs fixing would be more respectful, not just of Cameron but of everyone else, and would demand a level of respect from all students and staff. That is, treat this problem through its context of a larger problem.

How can Cameron be supported mentally and emotionally in a way that affirms his gender identity?

To install gender-neutral bathrooms--and to direct him to an LGBTQ space, maybe he will find more support there, and the school, by bridging the gap between the school itself and the LGBTQ positive space might show and give its support to not only Cameron but all students.

What should the principal do to train staff about their obligations to protect transgender students from harassment and discrimination?

To make sure that the staff are aware that harassment and discrimination are real problems and occurrences, and to encourage staff to 1) understand their own views/takes on gender, to recognize how they themselves approach students, and 2) to then attempt to understand how others understand gender and on that basis try to encourage a change of mind and heart in students who harrass and discriminate.

What plan should the principal put in place to educate students about transgender issues?
General Assembly/Day of Remembrance/Classroom education

What steps should the school take to ensure that they have safe facilities for transgender and gender nonconforming students?
Security? And a long term goal of building a safe environment through people's personal awareness? This is a difficult question.