The two educators at North Middle School Katie Medart, and Rachel Damiano published a video speaking about changing restroom names to anatomically male, and female. Trying to accomplish forcing transgender men and women into the wrong bathroom. This would mean people transitioning from male to female would be forced to use to male bathrooms and vise versa. This not only goes against the Oregon state law, but also the equality act. North middle school says that they support all races, gender identities, religions, sexualities, ethnicity’s, etc.

In addition they also petitioned that transgender students would be required to meet with their teachers and parents or guardians to discuss whether their pronouns and name are valid enough to be used in a teaching environment. This is not only incredibly offensive, disrespectful but also dehumanizing. No one gets to tell a person if their name and pronouns are valid. Only that person can make that decision. Not everyone is blessed with excepting and supportive parents, students should not also receive judgment at school. When having a parent that’s not supportive but also a teacher how does that play role in a young persons identity and mental health? According to pediatrics.aappublications.org transgender adolescents have an attempted suicide rate of 50.8 percent. forbes.com reports 60 percent and an additional 40 percent have seriously considered suicide. Adding transphobic educators to our school system will be devastating to lgbtq+ students mental health. 

My concern is having two individuals working in a industry such as teaching. We’re at an age where students are impressional, and vulnerable. Lots of students are trying to figure out who they are, and lots of students look up to their educators for guidance. Having transphobic, homophobic, and racist teachers at any school but especially a middle school is unacceptable. Administrative leave is not enough! Should these teachers return to the school it will make a population of students feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and unvalued. Permanently remove these teachers from our district.