Keller school board votes on gender-based policies limiting restroom, pronoun use
(3).JPG "The Keller Recreation Center’s rock gym, built with a grant from the federal governments Civil Works Administration, a forerunner of the better-known Works Progress Administration.
, photographed in 1992. (Star-Telegram archives)")
Keller school board members voted during a special meeting Wednesday to adopt gender-based policies that limit the use of pronouns and require students to use restrooms that correspond to their biological sex at birth.
The school board voted 5-0 to adopt the policies with Ruthie Keyes abstaining from the vote. Board member Micah Young was absent.
More than 50 people signed up to speak on the policies, according to a report from WFAA Channel 8.
Some parents, including Laney Hawes, were critical of the policies. He said the board was going too far, and that the timing was “purposeful” since June is Pride month.
Ashley Hine supported the school board’s actions. Hine didn’t speak at the meeting, but told WFAA that children were punished at school for “not calling kids by other pronouns.”
The policies take effect immediately. They require students to use restrooms, locker rooms and other multi-use facilities based on the sex listed on their birth certificates unless they request an accommodation. Also, district employees are not required to use pronouns that don’t correspond to the student’s biological sex at birth.
Earlier this month, the ACLU of Texas warned the school district that the policies would harm students in the LGBTQ community and would open the possibility of legal action. In its letter, the ACLU said the policies violate state and federal laws including privacy rights, Title IX and the Equal Rights Protection clause.
The Grapevine-Colleyville and Frisco school districts have similar gender-based policies in place.