What is meant by "defining your own gender" ?

School risks millions over gender law

CHRISTOPHER CLAIRE


DEVOUT Christians on a California district school board have defied a state anti-discrimination law that allows students and staff to define their own gender because it violates their principles.

The board in the Orange County school district of Westminster say the law could lead to promotion of a transsexual agenda in the classroom, cross-dressing on campus and boys and girls mixing in school bathrooms.

They risk losing millions of dollars in funding and a possible state takeover by voting to hold firm to its views.

In a series of votes over recent months, the three-trustee majority on the five-member board has made the board the only one of 1,056 in California to resist the state law.

The stand has prompted state Superintendent for Public Instruction Jack O’Connell to threaten withdrawal of $7.8m (£4.3m) in annual funding if the district fails to comply with the law by midnight tomorrow.

The three trustees are fighting considerable community opposition. Even parents in traditionally conservative Orange County who are sympathetic to the trustees’ concerns question their willingness to place school funding at risk.

"My kids are going to suffer because of the three village idiots," said parent Louise Morley before Monday’s vote. "You can’t bring religious beliefs into public education."

In an emergency meeting last week before a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200, the board’s three defiant trustees voted for a revised policy that grants some of the state’s demands but draws the line at letting students define their gender.

The state is reviewing the district’s revised policy, but O’Connell, the state schools chief, issued a statement saying: "Every child in this state deserves unequivocal protection from discrimination," he wrote.

"I am disappointed that in 2004 this fundamental civil right is being debated."

The three trustees, led by board member Judy Ahrens, have described their position on the law as a stand against moral erosion.

"According to the people who are angry at us, there is a price on morality," Ahrens said in March. "I say, ‘Our kids are not for sale’."

©2004 Scotsman.com

 

Thanks, JohnV for clearing that up. I was scratching my head on that one.