Keller teacher’s petition urges district to reverse policy on bathrooms, pronoun use
(3).JPG "A Keller teacher started a petition urging the school board to reverse its bathroom and pronoun policy.")
A theater teacher in the Keller school district organized a petition that has garnered more than 16,000 signatures urging the school board to reverse policies on bathroom and pronoun use.
Marc Weaver posted his petition on change.org on June 28. It is unclear how many signatures are from residents in the school district. He teaches at Independence Elementary in far north Fort Worth, according to a district directory.
Weaver declined to comment.
However, he wrote in his petition that the policies, adopted June 28, would encourage the use of “mis-identifying” pronouns and prevent students from using restrooms that correspond to their gender identity. More than 50 people signed up to speak at the specially called meeting.
“It is crucial for KISD to prioritize the well-being and success of all its students by implementing policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination. By doing so, we can foster an environment where every student feels valued and respected,” Weaver wrote in his petition.
A message to board president Charles Randklev was not immediately returned.
Weaver also stated that according to information from the National Transgender Center for Equality, over 80% of transgender students report feeling unsafe at school due to harassment or discrimination based on their gender identity.
Weaver wrote that transgender students have higher academic scores and better mental health outcomes when school districts adopt inclusive policies
The policies require students to use restrooms and locker rooms based on the sex listed on their birth certificates unless they request an accommodation. Also, district employees are not required to use pronouns that do not correspond to the student’s biological sex at birth.
The ACLU of Texas warned the district that the policies violate state and federal anti-discrimination laws.