NC School District's 'Gender Unicorn' Training Saying Parental Involvement Optional Receives Nearly 2,500 Complaint Letters
A North Carolina school district that is considering measures that go against state law regarding transgender access to bathrooms and that tells faculty parental involvement in student gender identity issues may be optional has received nearly 2,500 complaint letters.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools decided earlier this year to allow transgender students to use the restrooms and facilities of their chosen gender identity, defying North Carolina's HB 2 law.
In response, the pro-HB 2 group NC Values Coalition created a complaint letter that it called upon concerned citizens to send to the school board in advance of their Tuesday meeting.
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Jim Quick, spokesman for the Coalition, told The Christian Post about the number of people protesting the transgender facility policy of CMS.
"We have had 1,575 individuals download the NC Values Coalition letter to sign and mail into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and an additional 877 families have sent each board member an email through the KeepMyNCSafe.com website," explained Quick.
"95 percent of the individuals we are connecting with through the email service have children inside the CMS school system."
Earlier this year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools decided to implement a policy allowing students to use the public facilities of their chosen gender identity rather than their biological sex.
The move came in response to North Carolina's HB 2 law, also called the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, which states that an individual must use the bathroom corresponding with the gender of their birth certificate in government facilities.
Through the site Keep NC Safe, the Coalition encouraged concerned parents and others to send a complaint letter to CMS leadership.
"CMS' decision reflects neither courage, understanding, nor compassion. On the contrary, it violates hundreds of children's privacy rights and dignity interests by forcing students to share restrooms, locker rooms, and accommodations on overnight trips with members of the opposite biological sex," read the letter.
"I respectfully request an explanation regarding how you believe this new policy protects the privacy rights and dignity interests of every student entrusted to your care, specifically those students who cannot undress, shower, or share a room with a member of the opposite biological sex."
CMS gained increased controversy when the Keep NC Safe site posted a link to a training presentation that featured a cartoon character known as the "gender unicorn."
The pro-LGBT "gender unicorn" character was part of the session in which faculty were told parental involvement may not be required for students struggling with gender identity issues.
For her part, CMS Superintendent Ann Clark announced last week that the school district was delaying implementation of part of their policy due to a recent decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.
"As a result of [Wednesday]'s U.S. Supreme Court ruling, we have placed a temporary hold on the section of the CMS bullying prevention regulation which states that transgender students will be given access to the restroom and locker room facilities corresponding to their gender identity," stated Superintendent Clark.
"CMS remains committed to nurturing a safe and welcoming learning environment for every student … The rest of the regulation, which is intended to promote consistency in anti-bullying support for all students, will remain intact."
In comments emailed to CP, NC Values Coalition Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald said that the proposed transgender policy violates students' "constitutionally protected right to privacy."
"The District can create anti-bullying policies that show respect for all boys and girls without allowing them to share bathrooms, showers, locker rooms, and even overnight sleeping facilities in public schools," stated Fitzgerald.
"NC Values Coalition encourages Ann Clark and the CMS Board of Education to hold more conversations with parents instead of forcing the majority of students and parents to abide by mandates driven by LGBT lobbying groups and the Obama administration."
