Story (please don't put this in the paper. The student I interviewed specififcally does not want to be found)

New Policy Protecting Trans students put in Place At McCallum

   In the recent comings of the ever growing transgender high school support community, the new policy was no shock to students. The new policy states that “The District prohibits acts of any kind, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law (e.g., cyberbullying via social network sites). Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of District policy and is prohibited,” which now protects transgender students and allows them to possibly explain a bullying situation to a teacher or counselor we they feel attacked by their gender identity.

   A student who will remain anonymous spoke out about what they thought of the new policy. " I think it's about time that we are protected under the same rules and regulations cisgender people (denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity conforms with the gender that corresponds to their biological sex) are covered under. I think especially at Mac, since we have such an amazing LGBTQA Support group known as Spectrum, that the policy is no surprise in it's contents but more of a surprise that we were not covered by a policy in the past." anon said.


    In a poll of ten transgender students at McCallum, seven out of the eight said they had been discriminated against because of their gender identity. Three of those seven said that it had happened by a teacher, not just a student. Transgender students at McCallum say that everyday is a new experience. Junior Ezra Ferrel told of how each day brought something new to their eyes. “Coming (to school) everyday to a place that I don’t know is safe or not for me is pretty hard. People don’t realize how scary  it can be when you aren’t even comfortable in your own skin and then you have to go somewhere that makes you feel even worse and crushes you ideals of changing.” said Ferrel. Continuing, Ferrel tells about how coming to this place that makes them feel so bad, also really helped them become who they are now. “Coming here made me not care about what others think. It’s my gender (identity) and mine alone. McCallum also gave the opportunity for Spectrum to grow and that helps pretty much everyone, not just the LGBTQA.” The new policy gives hope for even more pro LGBTQA policies to be pasted and Spectrum clubs meets every Wednesday to think of new ideas to help the McCallum community.


    If you or a student you know is the target of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law, be it by a teacher a fellow student, administrator, or another AISD employee, please find a counselor or another trusted adult to talk about the situation so that they can help you and let the right people know. Look around for posters that give the number for Campus Crime Stoppers.