Gender Equity in the Madison Metropolitan School District

We, the students, staff, and families of the Madison Metropolitan School District respect and protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. We fervently believe individuals have the right to choose when, where, how, and to whom they tell their gender identity. This policy infringes on the rights of our peers and we will not simply take a repeal of the Guidance & Policies to Support Transgender, Gender Non-binary, and Gender Expansive Students.

Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in such a manner will not only force students to face hatred and discrimination in words, but also in actions. Students with unsupportive families nation-wide have found themselves homeless, in conversion therapy, and facing other horrible treatment. To prevent MMSD students from facing these adversities, we must support the students by allowing them to decide when, how, and if to tell their families. According the Dane County Youth Assessment Survey, LGBTQ+ students are also at a greater risk to commit suicide or engage in self-harm.

No individual should have any personal information disclosed without their permission. To allow MMSD staff to reveal students’ genders without their consent is discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. MMSD should be a supportive environment for everyone. We shall not stand for this blatant bigotry.