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trans2005-08-01 12:04 pm
pirate-poet.livejournal.com) wrote in trans2005-08-01 12:04 pm
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SONDA and legal implications for NY public schools?
I was a senior in high school in Westchester County, NY when SONDA passed.
Our school board met to approve the addition of "sexual orientation" to the non-discrimination policy. I, and other members of the high school's GSA, attended the meeting and spoke to the board why the words "real or perceived" ought to precede all the terms listed in the non-discrimination policy, as well ass to add "gender identity" and "gender expression" to that list of terms.
A few members of board met with us once after that, to gain an understanding of what "gender identity" and "gender expression" meant. Things seemed to be going well. Then, we found out that after "consulting a lawyer" that those terms were rejected. We were given no explanation, but were told that "real or perceived" would be added to the statement of non-discrimination. (None of this was in writing; we found this out via one of our faculty advisors.)
Now, a year later, I came upon the non-discrimination policy, printed in a publication for the 2005-2006 school year. The statement does not include "real or perceived" nor does it include "sexual orientation." I know there is no legal issue involved in their omitting the terms "real or perceived", but it was my understanding that under SONDA, all public schools in NY state were legally required to add "sexual orientation" to their statement of non-discrimination.
Does anyone know if I was incorrect in my understanding of SONDA?
Or is my former high school in fact violating SONDA, thus breaking the law?
---
Our school board met to approve the addition of "sexual orientation" to the non-discrimination policy. I, and other members of the high school's GSA, attended the meeting and spoke to the board why the words "real or perceived" ought to precede all the terms listed in the non-discrimination policy, as well ass to add "gender identity" and "gender expression" to that list of terms.
A few members of board met with us once after that, to gain an understanding of what "gender identity" and "gender expression" meant. Things seemed to be going well. Then, we found out that after "consulting a lawyer" that those terms were rejected. We were given no explanation, but were told that "real or perceived" would be added to the statement of non-discrimination. (None of this was in writing; we found this out via one of our faculty advisors.)
Now, a year later, I came upon the non-discrimination policy, printed in a publication for the 2005-2006 school year. The statement does not include "real or perceived" nor does it include "sexual orientation." I know there is no legal issue involved in their omitting the terms "real or perceived", but it was my understanding that under SONDA, all public schools in NY state were legally required to add "sexual orientation" to their statement of non-discrimination.
Does anyone know if I was incorrect in my understanding of SONDA?
Or is my former high school in fact violating SONDA, thus breaking the law?
---
To see the full text of SONDA: http://www.prideagenda.org/sonda/sondatext.pdf.
More information on SONDA here: Empire State Pride Agenda - SONDA Action Center