Out In The Mountains : News - Burlington Protects Trans Students

Ed.'s note: This press release came in just before deadline.

      In a unanimous vote in late March, the Burlington School Board voted to amend its student harassment policy to include gender identity and expression. The new language has added "gender identity and expression" to the list of protected characteristics and was motivated by the need to ensure that all students are able to learn in a safe and supportive environment.
      The change in the harassment policy was initiated last summer after the board began to review its existing policy. Several Board members felt that the existing policy did not provide adequate protection to LGBT students and wanted to include gender identity and expression as part of the District's student harassment policy. A 2001 National School Climate Study found that 89 percent of transgender youth – youth whose gender identity and expression does not conform to the identity or expression traditionally associated with their biological sex – have faced harassment in school, and nearly one third of those students have suffered physical assault.
      School Commissioner Christopher Haessly, a primary sponsor of the change, noted, "Burlington is the first school district in Vermont to include gender identity and expression as part of its student harassment policy, and is one of only a handful of districts across the country to extend protection to transgender students. All students deserve to learn in a safe and supportive environment, and this policy is another step toward that goal."
      The district's policy had already extended protection to students and staff regarding sexual orientation; this change will extend protections against defamation and discrimination to transgender students. A similar change is pending with district's employee harassment policy.