Stand Up for Common Sense: Urge School Districts to Protect the Privacy of Our Children
| Target Name | Target Organization |
| Dr. Terri Bresnahan | (Superintendent) |
| Mrs. Angie Bien | (Assistant to the Superintendent) |
| Dr. Kathryn Moesch | (Dir. of Assessment and School Improvement) |
| Mr. Dale White | (Facilities and Transportation Supervisor) |
| Board of Education | (Secretary) |
All people agree that bullying is wrong. To that end, Illinois School District 87, and almost every other U.S. school district, already has anti-bullying policies in place, and rightfully so! But is it bullying to allow girls the right to privacy of their own bodies?
The problem is that District 87's current "Transgender Non-Discrimination Policy" is, at minimum, very vague. And, concerned citizens should especially be concerned that this policy has the potential to violate the privacy and modesty rights of students, re-victimize sex abuse survivors, and hinder the practice of common sense.
Concerned citizens should also fear that this policy may spread from District 87 to other districts and states. – politicians and school boards should understand that this policy is completely unacceptable.
Sign the petition to send and make it clear that forcing our children into embarrassing or even threatening situations in school bathrooms and locker rooms is completely unacceptable.
While separately accommodating gender-confused people, this petition demands that, in venues where students must undress for any reason, biological sex be the determining factor in who shares such facilities. Any new policy must reflect the right of every student to have his or her privacy and modesty respected.
Even inmates in prison are afforded this basic human right.
Below, please learn about the current policy's shortcomings and TAKE ACTION to fix it!
I. THE CURRENT POLICY IS MISLEADING AND CITES UNLAWFUL AGREEMENTS
The current "Non-Discrimination" policy implies that there are Federal and State laws which mandate such a policy. This is untrue. In fact, a number of relevant court cases have confirmed that this is untrue.
Moreover, this policy will promote and educate our children that their gender is not fixed, that it is fluid, and ever-changing. This current policy recommends that if our children were to note that there are gender differences, or if they were to make gender distinctions, that schools should inform our kids that they are engaging in “gender stereotypes.”
This type of social indoctrination is a violation of the parent-child relationship, and these types of conversation are of an intimate nature and should be reserved for parents only.
II. FORCING GIRLS TO UNDRESS IN FRONT OF GENDER-CONFUSED INDIVIDUALS COULD TRIGGER EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
ALL SUICIDES ARE TRAGIC! We must have compassion on those who are so emotionally troubled that they would consider taking their own life!
One of the leading causes of suicide is childhood sexual molestation. According to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1 in 4 girls will have been sexually abused before age 18. This may be hard to believe, but it is possible 1,000 girls within District 87 have been abused.
The number of gender-confused individuals is 0.3%. Allowing a gender-confused, fully-developed male to undress in front of one of these girls, or forcing her to undress in front of him, can trigger traumatic flashbacks, extreme feelings of being unsafe and in danger, and suicidal feelings. Aren’t these girls’ stories, their feelings of shame, suicide and despair important too?
Please sign the petition to the District 87 School Board, to establish a common sense policy that respects the rights, feelings, and privacy of ALL students.
Thank you!
The Petition
Please Amend Policy 7:10-R1.
As a concerned citizen I object to the vague policy that puts the desires of 0.3% of the population above the privacy and protection of the other 99.7% of the population, and call on the Board of Education and Superintendent to amend Policy 7:10-R1.
All people agree that bullying is wrong. To that end, District 87 (like many school districts) already has anti-bullying policies in place, and rightfully so! But, it is not bullying to allow girls and boys the right to privacy of their own bodies.
District 87's current "Transgender Non-Discrimination Policy" is, at minimum, vague. I am especially concerned that this policy has the potential to violate the privacy and modesty rights of students, re-victimize sex abuse survivors, and hinder the practice of common sense.
As a concerned citizen I also fear that this policy may spread from District 87 to other districts; I want our politicians and school boards to understand that this policy is completely unacceptable.
Therefore, I join in proposing the following common sense policy that protects the rights of ALL students, clarifies vague language, and brings policy into compliance with precedents set by the Courts.
STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY POLICY
I. PURPOSE
In recognition of student physical privacy rights and the need to ensure student safety and maintain school discipline, this Policy is enacted to advise school site staff and administration regarding their duties in relation to student use of restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and other school facilities where students may be in a state of undress in the presence of other students.
II. DEFINITIONS
“Biological sex” means the biological condition of being male or female as determined at birth based on physical differences, or, when necessary, at the chromosomal level.
III. POLICY
A. Use of School Facilities
Notwithstanding any other Board Policy, student restrooms, locker rooms, and showers that are designated for one biological sex shall only be used by members of that biological sex. In any other school facilities or settings where a student may be in a state of undress in the presence of one or more other students (i.e. changing costumes during school theatrical productions, etc.), school personnel shall provide separate, private areas designated for use by students based on their biological sex.
B. Accommodation of Biological Sex Non-Conforming Students
Students that exclusively and consistently assert, at school, that their gender is different from their biological sex shall be provided with the best available accommodation that meets their needs. But, in no event, shall that be access to the school restroom, locker room, or shower of the opposite biological sex. Such accommodations may include, but not be limited to: access to a single-stall bathroom; access to a uni-sex bathroom; or, controlled use of a faculty bathroom, locker room, or shower.
Thank you for protecting the privacy and modesty of every student in school, and thank you for implementing this new policy as soon as humanly possible.
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