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Our Gender,
Our Lives
Support Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students. Protect the Right of Gender Confidentiality.
Background
Information
The gender confidentiality rights for transgender and gender-expansive students is under scrutiny. The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), currently has a guidance which advises staff members to not reveal a student's gender to anyone without their consent (unless legally or contractually required).
The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), a Milwaulkee-based conservative group, has challenged this guidance and is threatening to sue MMSD unless this guidance is changed. MMSD has reaffirmed its support for the trans/gender-expansive community and is standing by the guidance.
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Gender confidentiality is a human right. Join us and support trans and gender-expansive youth.
Why do we need gender confidentiality?
Safety
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Violence against transgender/gender-expansive individuals is not uncommon. By choosing not to reveal their gender, individuals are protecting themselves from harm. Respect their decision to protect them.
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Self-awareness
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Questioning and figuring out your gender can be confusuing and overwhelming. Learning about yourself is an individual process which takes time. Respect gender confidentiality to support others' journey of self-awareness.​
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Respect
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Everyone has a different experience of gender which means they will have different relationships with it. Respecting gender confidentiality is respecting a person's gender: allow others to live their most comfortable lives by supporting their choice of confidentialtiy.
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Universal transphobia
We live in a world where transphobia is unavoidable. Trans and gender-expansive individuals are told each day they are not accepted and they do not exist. Gender confidentiality helps protect individuals from this hate. Respect gedner confidentiality to protect ohers from transphobia.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to build a wave of support for MMSD transgender and gender-expansive students during this troubling time. Through a public stance against WILL, we hope to continue to make a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth. This is a great opportunity to educate the Madison community about the importance of gender confidentiality and respecting youths' genders.
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