On Thursday evening, trustees of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District established a policy with overwhelming support that would alert parents if their child uses a pronoun that differs from their biological sex while attending school.
Earlier this week, children and district families swiftly criticized the policy, which was approved by five school board trustees and rejected by one.
Students and community members voiced their opposition to the decision on Thursday. Earlier in the day, local state leaders pleaded with the board to delay the vote and cautioned about the possible legal repercussions of the Parent Rights and Responsibilities policy.
In a letter released Thursday, state senator Molly Cook and state representative Jon Rosenthal stated that while disclosing a student’s gender identification exposes Cy-Fair schools to legal issues, it also puts pupils in risk, especially those who might not be accepted at home. While many families are supportive and affectionate, some could react negatively or even violently. Vulnerable students should be protected, including from potentially dangerous school activities.
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The proposed policy from Cy-Fair ISD would require parents to seek in writing an accommodation that would allow their child to use their chosen pronouns at school. However, district documents state that if calling that youngster by their preferred pronouns conflicts with their own “sincerely held belief,” staff members may request their own accommodation.
The Human Rights Campaign, Texas Freedom Network, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, and an organization composed in part of current and former Cy-Fair ISD students signed another letter on Thursday urging trustees to reject the policy.
According to that letter, transgender students are not your political puppets. Tonight, we implore you to categorically oppose this detrimental policy and discuss concerns impacting community stakeholders. We see you and value your dedication to providing high-quality public education, to those who have the bravery and heart to serve your children regardless of their gender identification.
On Monday, Cy-Fair ISD trustees stated that the new policy is being considered in response to parental concerns and a lack of clarity on the district’s current policies involving pupils with gender preferences. After board vice president Natalie Blasingame gave the district’s policy committee documents from the Austin-based conservative think group Texas Public Policy Foundation, the committee began debating the policy.
A request for response from Houston Public Media was not answered by the organization.
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Trustee Julie Hinaman stated during Thursday’s meeting that she had not previously discussed gender identity or gender fluidity with stakeholders.
She stated that this new policy is not a top priority. We have more pressing matters to attend to. Saying that safety is your top concern, that student accomplishment is the most important thing, or that special education is a focus, and then passing a policy that does not make children safer, is dishonest. On the contrary, it targets disadvantaged student subpopulations and has no positive impact on academic attainment.
Without debate, the policy was passed by the trustees with a resounding majority.
The suggested policy defines gender identity as an opinion that “espouses the view that an individual’s biological sex is different from that person’s biological sex or should be changed to match’ a gender,” and/or an opinion that “supports hormone therapy or other medical treatments or procedures to temporarily or permanently alter a person’s body so that it matches’ a gender different from that person s biological sex.”
The policy prohibits the adoption, support, or promotion of gender identification or fluidity as part of any district education in extracurricular activities and instructional materials. Additionally, the legislation stipulates that students can only participate in sports teams and tournaments that match their biological sex.
According to board documentation, parents play the most important role in guiding their children’s beliefs and safeguarding their health and wellbeing.
The policy closely resembles Katy ISD’s “gender fluidity” guidelines, which mandate that kids use locker rooms and restrooms that match their biological sex. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights received complaints about the policy and launched an ongoing federal inquiry.
Trustee Todd LeCompte and other district officials defended the policy’s complete conformity with state law when questions about its constitutionality were raised during Monday’s Cy-Fair ISD school board meeting.
READ MORE: Cy-Fair ISD is thinking about implementing a gender identification policy that would inform parents of their preferred pronouns.
Speakers claimed that hundreds of pupils in the district will be impacted by the new policy prior to Thursday’s decision.
A student from Katy ISD named Zeo McGehee stated that this policy had no advantages. As a teenage student, I can guarantee you that kids of all ages don’t hide things from their parents for amusement. Perceived danger is the reason for their actions. A teacher does not have to step in to facilitate a safe conversation. When the child feels ready, the family will handle it organically.
