Recently an 8th grader contacted me saying the following:

“Ok so I'm trans and I have co Ed gym and they'll be like "boys to one side and girls to another" and then they won't let me go on the boys side because "I'm still legally a female and if I get hurt my family could sue and she'll lose her job" so I basically skip gym or sit around. Because it makes me want to kill myself “

I think this is very urgent to take care of, especially since on the Kenmore West website it says:

“Mission Statement:

Kenmore West High School is committed to developing

knowledgeable, principled, and compassionate young adults,

through academic, personal, and occupational experiences,

in preparation for an ever-changing global landscape.”

The thing that really speaks out to me is the word “Compassionate”. We must practice compassion in this situation. It troubles me deeply that an eighth grader is forced into a high school and mature situations and can’t be treated with respect and given the rights he wants. It is not only gym class that is troubling him it is also his guidance counselor calling him by his name that was forced upon him at birth. He has EVERY right to be called what he wants. He stated “She brings up my birthname when she shouldn't. She shouldn't even say it” And he is completely right. Especially in this “ever-changing global landscape” we need to change the way transgender students are treated in our school and in America.

This is a beyond important issue because if we have to pass gym in order to pass high school every student has to be comfortable enough to participate in gym but in this students case he says “I would rather kill Myself than play with girls. And I'm being 100% serious.” So at this point I’m calling for, not only action, but CHANGE.

So sign this to show that you support A boy participating in a BOY gym class.