Mat-Su school officials banned transgender students from using bathrooms that match their gender identity. Transgender advocates say that the abrupt shift to an outdated practice poses real risks to students in the midst of transitioning.
People show their support for a speaker during public testimony at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District school board meeting on Wednesday evening, Sept. 7, 2022. The school board voted 5-1 to no longer allow transgender students to choose bathrooms that match their gender identity.
At least one district teacher is offering the private bathroom in her classroom to any transgender students.The new interim transgender policy, which does not apply to school employees, was announced last week in a message from Superintendent Randy Trani to families. She wouldn’t say if any students have been penalized for violating the new policy or specifically what the penalties are.Mat-Su appears to be the only school district in the state that’s lifted transgender student protections, according to Megan Edge, a spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska.
But that doesn’t necessarily make the Mat-Su policy change legal, according to Mara Kimmel, ACLU of Alaska’s executive director. Houghtelling testified before the school board last week, saying she had received threats but would not apologize “for bringing this issue to light. My child showed up to the locker room and realized there is a biological male.”
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District school board member Jeff Taylor apologized to district families during a meeting in Palmer on Wednesday evening, Sept. 7, 2022.