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July 17, 2006
Progressive school policy helps transgendered students assimilateAccording to an article in the Miami Herald, a 5-year old "girl" starting kindergarten this fall is actually a transgendered boy. The child's parents along with school administrators have agreed that it's best for the child to blend in as a female.
Mental health professionals have diagnosed Pat--not his real name--with gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person believes that he or she is the opposite gender. After two years of examination, they have determined that he is not simply effeminate or going through a phase.
While this tyke is likely the youngest transgendered child admitted to a South Florida school, he is not unique. Both the Broward and Miami-Dade County school systems have policies in place to smooth the way for such students and their families.Equality Florida, which advocates for Florida's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, and PFLAG--Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays--say the two school districts have the most progressive policies in the state.
American School Board Journal covered the issue of protecting gay students in schools in 1999. NSBA also offers Sexual Orientation Issues for Schools 101 which contains sample policies, excerpts from publications, articles, and more from the Office of School Health. For legal information in dealing with sexual orientation, download a copy of Dealing with Legal Matters Surrounding Students' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Be sure to check out 2005 National School Climate Survey of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the only national survey to document the experiences of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) in America's schools.
Posted July 17, 2006 2:04 PM | Health & Wellness
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