Wareham School System Adopts Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Policy

Wareham Public Schools have decided to implement policy that reiterates the existing state law against discriminating against someone for reasons of being transgender.

According to Wareham Week, at a School Committee meeting last week, the committee voted unanimously to ban discrimination because of a student’s gender identity.

A transgender is a person who do not identify with what their “biological” sex was at birth.

The new policy specifically comes up with a plan to put the students' needs first before the parents. The new policy will force staff members to discuss the student’s gender identity directly with the student before talking with parents.

The policy also tackles the issue of interscholastic sports...making it possible for students to participate in gender-segregated sports “in a manner consistent with their gender identity". Students would also be given access to changing facilities, locker rooms, and restrooms “that [correspond] to the student’s gender identity" after having a conversation with the school's principal.

The school committee cited that the reason for the change was brought about by incidents of discrimination and harassment to transgenders.  A survey released in 2011 showed that 78 percent of transgender students were harassed or assaulted for being transgender and to date, while there have been no reported cases of violence against non-transgender people by transgender people.

What are your thoughts about these policy changes? Are they long overdue...or are they unnecessary?

Additional Reporting by Kiah Heron