New Jersey school district proposes transgender policy, Christian group threatens legal action
A school district in New Jersey is proposing a transgender policy, and a Christian group is threatening to take legal action against it.
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is considering a policy that would protect the rights of transgender students. Should the policy come into effect, it would allow them to, among other things, use restrooms and join sports teams based on their gender identity. In opposition to the proposed policy, Liberty Counsel, a Christian law firm based in Florida, sent a letter to the district last week, saying this would violate the rights to privacy of the other students.
According to NorthJersey.com, the letter said that New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination does say that transgenders may use facilities like locker rooms based on gender identity or expression. Their involvement is to "prevent irreparable harm to cherished liberties."
P. Erik Gundersen, the superintendent of the Pascack Valley Schools, considered the letter as a "threat."
The legal team of the school district assured Gundersen that the proposed policy is legally sound. Similar policies have already been adopted by other school districts in New Jersey, such North Arlington, Westwood, and East Rutherford, albeit without much fanfare.
The Parsack school district, however, seems to have been taking caution against bringing too much attention to the policy. It was discovered in February by Carolee Adams of the national group Eagle Forum upon attending a Board of Education meeting. She was reportedly "shocked the board would do this" since no "proactive parental notification" was given.
On Tuesday, the school officials, in a meeting, provided parents with information about the proposed transgender policy, with another meeting set on Monday and the vote expected to happen the week after.
In a Facebook post, Parsack Valley alum Hannah Simpson showed support.
"The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is working to pass pass new policy to affirm and protect the rights of transgender students, including respecting their expressed identities, and offering them access to resources consistent with their gender expression," Simpson wrote. "As an alumna myself (PV class of 2003) and transgender woman who transitioned after high school, because such a policy as this — let alone the social awareness behind it — simply did not exist yet."
