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LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — Vice President (and trans ally) Joe Biden famous’ quote: “This is a big fucking deal” is most apt here, following a recent unanimous decision by a Mount Horeb, Wisconsin school board to adopt a pro-trans kids measure allowing access to restrooms, and sports, along with adding “transgender status” to the district’s nondiscrimination policy.

Backstory: It was only a few weeks ago that a principal planned a public reading in school of trans kid Jazz Jenning’s influential book “I Am Jazz.” However, he was ambushed by a hate-tsunami from the religious right triggered by noted hate group Liberty Counsel. Under threat of a federal lawsuit from them, school administrators cowed and quickly axed the reading.

The local community, however, got behind the lone trans student (name undisclosed) by holding a reading of “I Am Jazz” off campus at public library where 600 people showed up in support — an impressive outcome in itself.

Following that, the school board this week took action to counter the earlier hate-driven threats from Liberty Counsel by giving trans kids official protection and access they didn’t have prior that group appearing on the scene.

School board member Peter Strube: “Let the word go forth here and now that this board will stand united and we will not be intimidated, and we will teach tolerance and will be accepting to everyone.”

——

Wow, the Mount Horeb school board deserves wider recognition and kudos for standing up for trans kids in the face of direct threats from religious extremists. Other school boards have cowered, or faced divisions among themselves. Others responded only when ordered to do so by court order. There is no doubt pressure from hate groups and certain members of the community will continue at full force, but board members at Mount Horeb put kids ahead of everything else.

I wrote about the Mount Horeb book banning 2 weeks ago: https://lexiecannes.com/2015/11/28/religious-extremists-get-trans-kid-jazz-jennings-book-i-am-jazz-banned/

School board decision: http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/12/09/wisconsin-school-board-adds-trans-protections-after-canceled-i-am-jazz

Library reading of ‘I Am Jazz’: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/in-response-to-controversy-hundreds-pack-mount-horeb-library-for/article_095da109-0caf-534e-9879-3cb4e0c769ee.html

Watch LEXIE CANNES right now: http://www.amazon.com/Lexie-Cannes-CourtneyODonnell/dp/B00KEYH3LQ Or get the DVD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332

Read Lexie Cannes in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/

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Categories: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans