Delaware’s Red Clay School Board has proposed board policy 8005, the Transgender and Gender Diverse Student Policy, to ensure that the Red Clay School District follows federal law and guidance regarding the rights of transgender students. We support Red Clay in affirming the rights of all students, and ensuring every child can have a safe and supportive learning environment.
Transgender and gender diverse students have the right to be themselves at school – freedom of speech and expression is their First Amendment right. Therefore, students can talk and write affirmatively about who they are, the pronouns corresponding to their gender, and their experiences related to gender identity and expression. The right of transgender and gender diverse students to express themselves through clothes and other means of expression is protected not only by the U.S. Constitution, but also by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and by Delaware’s Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act.
This is a matter of civil rights for all, including students in public schools. Everyone has the right to be themselves at school. Enacting this policy at the local level would ensure protections are effectively implemented and would remain in place far into the future. Passing this policy will send a clear message that all students have a right to express themselves in ways that honor diversity, value differences, and encourage self-expression.
Get involved
Make your voice heard at the Red Clay School Board meeting on Wednesday, December 15, at 7 p.m. Location and registration information are listed below.
Red Clay School Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 15 @ 7 p.m.
Richardson Park Elementary School
16 Idealia Ave, Wilmington, DE 19804
Note: this link will take you to a third-party website, docs.google.com.
Short on time? You can send a message to the Red Clay School Board in support of this policy at the link below.
Read our letter to the Red Clay School Board below.
