In dozens of online responses to a News Miner’s report of the school board’s decision, readers expressed concern that the policy actually could violate the privacy rights of many male and female students who believe that gender identity is a matter of biology and not personal feeling.
Gender identity gains momentum
While the Fairbanks decision is a first for Alaska, it follows on the heels of other national and international efforts to include gender identity as a protected quality. In some cases, the right to choose one’s own gender identity is viewed as a fundamental human right.
From California to Europe, an increasing number of schools, colleges and other organizations have begun to formally recognize gender identity.
In the News Miner article, Fairbanks school board members cited several reasons to expand the district policy including the need to be "more inclusive" and protect students from harassment.
"It’s really important to give people a voice and through this policy, we say we value you and we recognize you," one school board member was quoted as saying in the News Miner.
Board member Wendy Dominique compared recognition of gender identity to recognition of civil rights for African-Americans in the 1960s.
"We have a lot of ignorant people out there," Dominique was quoted. "This is not the 1960s anymore."
In the days leading up to the school board vote, Bent Alaska, a central coordinating web site for gay rights activity, urged Alaskans to email Fairbanks school board members and testify at the meetings in support of the new policy. The Web site, which serves to coordinate political activity across the state, including Anchorage, hailed the policy change as an opportunity to "make history in Alaska."
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Printed with permission from the CatholicAnchor.org.