I was a longtime educator in Ohio and I am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve spent years advocating for LGBTQ+ students and educators and serve as the Chair of the NEA LGBTQ+ Caucus. The caucus works to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ educators, advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ students, and advance the understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in all areas of society.
I was approached by a school board member about a parent within my district who had a transgender son. The school board member wanted me to hear from the parent about their family’s journey and their concerns about how the district was choosing to accommodate their son’s transition.
There was a clear need for explicit policies to protect transgender students.
The nondiscrimination language used by the district failed to outline necessary protections and safeguards.
We organized our community and brought a new policy forward.
Unfortunately, the school board voted against implementing the policy. Students felt unprotected and staff members lacked the support necessary to fully accommodate transgender students.
I spoke out at several school board meetings asking for resources to ensure transgender students felt safe and respected—but my message was ignored. For my advocacy, I was asked to resign or face termination.
I filed a federal lawsuit against my school district based on wrongful termination and violation of first amendment rights. The school district settled the lawsuit.
I’m no longer in that school district and the most vulnerable students there are still without the protections that they desperately need.
This is why we need the Equality Act because it will provide nationwide nondiscrimination language inclusive of all individuals and require those protections.
People shouldn’t be forced to hide who they are or who they may love for fear of losing their job.
