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Transgender student suspended for using bathroom at SC high school

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Transgender student suspended for using bathroom at SC high school
A transgender student was suspended from Socastee High School after using the boy’s bathroom.The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, identifies as a male despite being genetically female.When the student started transitioning in middle school, female students complained about a boy being in the girl’s bathroom.The student's family met with school administrators at Forestbrook Middle School and all decided the student should use the boy's bathroom because that would be the most comfortable option for everyone.For three years, the student used the boy's bathroom at Socastee High School. One day in the fall semester, the student said a male teacher was walking out of the boy's bathroom as the student was headed in."He must've looked at his records and saw the sex on his records because that's the only way he could've known,” the student’s mother said.The next day, the student said administrators called the child into the office and said to either use the girl's bathroom or go to the nurse’s office.The student's mother said most people don’t know her son is transgender and consider the child male."If he started using the girl's bathroom in 12th grade, it's going to create a problem,” she said. “I felt like that would be dangerous."As for the nurse’s office, she said it’s out of the way of his classes"The nurse's office is downstairs on the first floor of the school and the school has three stories,” she said.The child has tried avoiding the bathroom altogether.  "He was holding it. He was trying not to go and all of that's unhealthy,” the mother said.She told her child to keep using the boy's bathroom.Two weeks ago, the student left an assembly to use the bathroom and passed teachers along the way. Although a teacher said to use the closest bathroom, the child said it was dirty and went to the next one. The student said the teacher followed and the boy's bathroom was used. The next day the child was suspended from school for a day."They did not give me a copy of the write up,” his mother said. “They did not talk to me."  The student is now enrolled in an online school. The mother said her child is missing out on everything else school offers."He had to stop drama,” the mother said. “He had to drop out of the play he was doing."The child's mom worries about this happening to other transgender students in Horry County Schools."Let the transgender kids be themselves,” she said. “Let them be safe and let them be comfortable. Let them have their education in an environment where they are not harassed or felt to be unsafe.”A spokesperson for Horry County Schools said the district doesn’t have a specific policy on bathroom usage for transgender students, but will make accommodations based on individual needs and schools.The student's mother said Socastee High School administrators would not cooperate on a plan for the student's bathroom use and said the principal said the student needed a doctor's note to work through the issue.The student’s mother said the Department of Education told her in an email bathroom usage is covered under Title IX, but the school district spokesperson said it depends on the circumstances.The Department of Education said Title IX covers sex discrimination for all LGBTQ students and several court cases have settled in favor of transgender students who had been denied access to bathrooms and locker rooms with which they identify.“I think it’s singling us out,” said Lisa Larson, a transgender who lives in Myrtle Beach. “It is separating us from the masses and really and truly most of us, we just don’t even want to be known.” Larson emphasized gender identity is solely about gender and not about sex. Larson also pointed out it’s not a choice.“Dysphoria is crippling and people don’t understand that,” Larson said. “I don’t know what I can do to make people understand what it’s like.”Copyright 2016 WMBF News. All rights reserved.

A transgender student was suspended from Socastee High School after using the boy’s bathroom.

The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, identifies as a male despite being genetically female.

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When the student started transitioning in middle school, female students complained about a boy being in the girl’s bathroom.

The student's family met with school administrators at Forestbrook Middle School and all decided the student should use the boy's bathroom because that would be the most comfortable option for everyone.

For three years, the student used the boy's bathroom at Socastee High School. One day in the fall semester, the student said a male teacher was walking out of the boy's bathroom as the student was headed in.

"He must've looked at his records and saw the sex on his records because that's the only way he could've known,” the student’s mother said.

The next day, the student said administrators called the child into the office and said to either use the girl's bathroom or go to the nurse’s office.

The student's mother said most people don’t know her son is transgender and consider the child male.

"If he started using the girl's bathroom in 12th grade, it's going to create a problem,” she said. “I felt like that would be dangerous."

As for the nurse’s office, she said it’s out of the way of his classes

"The nurse's office is downstairs on the first floor of the school and the school has three stories,” she said.

The child has tried avoiding the bathroom altogether.  

"He was holding it. He was trying not to go and all of that's unhealthy,” the mother said.

She told her child to keep using the boy's bathroom.

Two weeks ago, the student left an assembly to use the bathroom and passed teachers along the way. Although a teacher said to use the closest bathroom, the child said it was dirty and went to the next one. The student said the teacher followed and the boy's bathroom was used. The next day the child was suspended from school for a day.

"They did not give me a copy of the write up,” his mother said. “They did not talk to me."  

The student is now enrolled in an online school. The mother said her child is missing out on everything else school offers.

"He had to stop drama,” the mother said. “He had to drop out of the play he was doing."

The child's mom worries about this happening to other transgender students in Horry County Schools.

"Let the transgender kids be themselves,” she said. “Let them be safe and let them be comfortable. Let them have their education in an environment where they are not harassed or felt to be unsafe.”

A spokesperson for Horry County Schools said the district doesn’t have a specific policy on bathroom usage for transgender students, but will make accommodations based on individual needs and schools.

The student's mother said Socastee High School administrators would not cooperate on a plan for the student's bathroom use and said the principal said the student needed a doctor's note to work through the issue.

The student’s mother said the Department of Education told her in an email bathroom usage is covered under Title IX, but the school district spokesperson said it depends on the circumstances.

The Department of Education said Title IX covers sex discrimination for all LGBTQ students and several court cases have settled in favor of transgender students who had been denied access to bathrooms and locker rooms with which they identify.

“I think it’s singling us out,” said Lisa Larson, a transgender who lives in Myrtle Beach. “It is separating us from the masses and really and truly most of us, we just don’t even want to be known.” 

Larson emphasized gender identity is solely about gender and not about sex. Larson also pointed out it’s not a choice.

“Dysphoria is crippling and people don’t understand that,” Larson said. “I don’t know what I can do to make people understand what it’s like.”

Copyright 2016 WMBF News. All rights reserved.