I'm a high school dropout.
Before I did, I competed in English and science academic competitions. I placed in the 95th through 99th percentiles on state testing. I published poetry in national school publications. I'm a transgender man and dealing with using the wrong bathrooms, locker rooms, and discrimination led to me dropping out because it was so painful and such a weight on my day-to-day ability to navigate school.
I was out of school for 11 years before I got a GED and sailed through an associate's degree and then a bachelor's degree. I graduated at the top of my class, receiving leadership and achievement awards. This is what lost potential from not protecting trans students looks like. This is lost income that will have repercussions for the rest of my life, retirement, and my children's lives. This is the kind of legacy not protecting trans students creates.
What most people don’t know is that for many years now Lakota, other public schools and many private schools (locally and across the nation) have been quietly supporting their trans students using facilities that align with their gender identity. And you know what? The sky didn't fall, the world didn't end, and no one was harmed by these kids using the restroom. There have been no recorded issues or complaints on these trans youth using the restroom or locker room that aligns with their gender identity.
Do you use multi-stall restrooms in public? You’ve most likely shared the space with a trans person. There are thousands of us in Greater Cincinnati. You aren’t aware we were there because we’re just minding our own business and trying to get back to the movie, ballgame, or dinner with our family just like you. Once someone has taken the time to learn about transgender people, current research, or simply talks to a trans person, they find out that being trans isn't something made up on a whim and we’re not so scary.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital has a trans clinic which treats nearly a thousand trans youth. University Hospital, Mercy, and St. Elizabeth all have doctors that specialize in providing care to trans people. Nearly every major respected medical and education organizations from the American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio School Boards Association, National Education Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, to the National Association of Secondary School Principals – the list goes on and on – have put out position statements supporting trans people or policies protecting trans people in writing. Many major employers have policies supporting trans workers and their families such as P&G, Toyota and Kroger, to name a few.
Multiple local public schools and districts, including Cincinnati Public Schools, have made public declarations about how they support their trans students and give them access to facilities that align with the youth’s gender identity. However, none have put their support into writing – yet. It's only a matter of time before one of them does.
Lakota School District is uniquely positioned among local districts to be the first in the area to codify in writing the safety of their trans students, to lead the charge for equality by providing a map for others to follow. Lakota values innovation, progressive thinking, and our youth, and they can show us all three of these traits at once through the creation of policy which protects our trans youth.
Lakota, revisit your decision: You will be removing social stigma from these youth by making this policy, you will be educating the public about diversity, creating safer and more inclusive classrooms and sending the clear message to trans youth that you see them, they matter and they have a place here.
Lakota, be that voice. Show these kids they matter, they are part of the natural spectrum of humanity, and show our community you are the progressive district, the leader of the pack and on the right side of history.
Jonah Yokoyama is executive director of the Heartland Trans Wellness Group.