Sac City schools must support trans and non-binary students. Bathrooms are a first step

The choice of Texans to criminalize parents who protect their children’s healthiest course of human development — as guided by science that validates gender-affirming healthcare as the most health-giving and life-affirming — is despicable. Closer to home, here in Sacramento, we can do better for our transgender kids, too.

Recently, the Queer Student Alliance at C.K. McClatchy High School approached Principal Andrea Egan about increasing and improving bathroom facilities for transgender/non-binary students. To her credit, Egan recognized that having only three toilets available as non-gendered bathrooms in a school serving over 2,000 students is insufficient. The challenge will be figuring out solutions, but the will to do so is there.

McClatchy, however, isn’t the only school with this need.

In a 2019 article on demographic trends in transgender identities posted on the National Institute of Health’s website, authors Ian T. Nolan, Christopher J. Kuhner and Geloani W. Dy noted two trends: The first trend was of growth in the proportion of self-identifying transgender and non-binary people over time, and the second was a growing proportion of transgender/non-binary identities “among the younger generations.”

One 2018 federal study found that the prevalence of transgender/non-binary-identifying youth has more than doubled in recent years — composing nearly 2% of the youth population.

Despite a hesitance among some in our country to accept transgender/non-binary identities as legitimate expressions of human gender, the rising number of people, especially young people, who identify as transgender/non-binary demand recognition. I’m proud that we have laws protecting transgender and non-binary people from harassment in California, and laws that acknowledge their rights.

But the question remains: How much longer until all schools provide adequate bathroom and changing facilities for transgender and non-binary individuals? While some may argue this is not a priority concern right now, relative priority makes a poor excuse the longer we require students to be in environments that are not respectful of their needs.

“Girls” and “boys” facilities are increasingly insufficient to meet the social and physical needs of the students in our schools. Our non-binary students experience stigmatization and a fundamental rejection of personhood when they are forced to choose a facility that doesn’t match their experience of self.

When a school environment ensures respect for all individuals, regardless of gender, everyone (trans, non-binary and cisgender folks) can use non-gendered facilities safely. Furthermore, most schools have enough facilities to convert some bathrooms to non-gendered facilities and keep some gendered for the students who prefer gendered facilities.

Sacramento City Unified School District espouses the following Core Value: “We recognize that our system is inequitable by design and we vigilantly work to confront and interrupt inequities that exist to level the playing field and provide opportunities for everyone to learn, grow and reach their greatness.” Despite this, inadequate facilities for transgender and non-binary SCUSD students remains a persisting inequity.

It’s not enough to provide one or two single toilet facilities to serve all transgender and non-binary people, especially when they are conspicuously located, difficult to get to during a passing period or require help from staff to unlock. The ability to use the restroom and change one’s clothing in private are essential to a positive learning environment. It’s time that every campus has multiple facilities for transgender and non-binary students to use without stigma or fear. This need will continue to grow, and our delay in addressing it adds to the pain, stress and isolation of students who have a right to the respect and support that all studies demonstrate are required for individuals to succeed.