15 LGBTQ and allied organizations (listed below) urged the Pickens County School District to develop a trans-inclusive bathroom policy. The group, led by Georgia Equality, is disappointed in the Pickens County Board of Education’s recent determination to suspend its decision to allow transgender students to use restrooms that align with their gender identity. The decision comes after a heated discussion during an open Town Hall held by the school board on Monday with hundreds of parents and community members in attendance. The discussion was centered around the reasons parents disagreed with the decision to allow transgender students the right to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The school board has reported death threats, threats of violence, and vandalism tied to this debate as the reason for the suspension of their initial decision to allow a trans affirming policy for bathroom use. We condemn these threats of violence and hatred.
In its statement Wednesday, the school district said it would “return to bathroom procedures in place at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year until it can consult with law enforcement and other safety professionals so that these concerns may be addressed.” While we support the school board’s efforts to ensure student safety, we are committed to working with them to address the needs of transgender students in the school district. The following organizations support the call for a trans-inclusive bathroom policy for the school district:
- Georgia Equality
- ACLU of Georgia
- Anti-Defamation League
- Faith in Public Life
- Georgia Safe Schools Coalition
- Human Rights Campaign
- Juxtaposed Center for Transformation
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- National LGBTQ Task Force
- PFLAG Woodstock
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative (SNaP Co)
- TRANScending Barriers
- The Trevor Project
- Trans Housing Atlanta Program (THAP)
“It’s disappointing that the parents of these students are raising unfounded safety concerns,” said Chanel Haley, Gender Inclusion Manager at Georgia Equality. “It’s simple, going to the restroom is a natural and private act for all people – and everyone, including transgender people, deserves to use the restroom and go about their day unharmed.”
A wave of court decisions has recognized that federal law requires schools to treat transgender students equally, including allowing access to facilities that match their gender identity. But more protections are needed. For example, the state of Georgia doesn’t expressly provide protections for anyone, including LGBTQ people, in the areas of public accommodations. There are an estimated 360,600 Georgians who identify as LGBTQ who also lack statewide non-discrimination protections. We continue to work toward a safe and inclusive Georgia.