Proposal fuels debate among citizens, advocates

While Maddie is now making plans to transition to college, a debate is raging in Delaware educational circles about how other transgender students are treated in public schools.

The controversy revolves around Regulation 225, the draft policy of a statewide school anti-discrimination regulation sought by Gov. John Carney.

The key point of contention is a provision that would allow schools to not notify parents if a transgender student wants to use a different name than at home. Before possibly notifying parents, according to the pending draft, schools would first be required to “take into consideration the safety, health and well-being of the student.”

There’s also widespread controversy over the section that currently says schools will provide “access to locker rooms and bathrooms that correspond to students’ gender identity or expression.”

The draft has generated 11,000 written comments, most in opposition.

One foe wrote: “This bill is a terrible idea all around. Bullying should never be allowed, but this bill goes way beyond common sense.”

A supporter wrote: “All students should feel safe in school, and no student should face discrimination.”

And this comment: “LGBTQ students, especially transgender students, need this guidance so that all schools understand that LGBTQ students should be treated in a non-discriminatory manner.”

Nicole Theis, executive director of the conservative Delaware Family Policy Council, contends the proposal would illegally elevate the rights of minor children over those of adult parents.

Her group has helped galvanize opposition to the policy, mostly from downstate residents or people who live outside of Delaware.

“If this were to be implemented in our schools, we would allow students, with no age stipulation, so as young as 4 or 5 years old, to really explore the idea of being an opposite gender or not,’’ Theis said.

“And if a parent is deemed unsupportive of that, very easily the school system could decide to get around the parent and interact with the student differently than their biological reality.”

Theis and allies vow to sue the state and districts that adopt such a policy.

“Whatever it takes to preserve parental authority,” she said, “we’ll be all in.”