Monterey Peninsula Schools: Transgender students can use bathroom that matches gender identity

The transgender bathroom controversy is spreading across the country. On Friday, the Obama administration said the federal government won’t tolerate discrimination.

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District said it’s always been accommodating to transgender students because it’s the law.

In a letter issued to all public schools, the government said transgender students are allowed to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity. Under federal law, schools getting money from the federal government may not discriminate based on a student’s sex.

“I think it’s great,” said April Celestino, who has three kids in Monterey schools. “If they identify as something else they weren’t born as then they shouldn’t be punished for that or be treated differently for that.”

Celestino said it’s important that all students feel safe on campus.

“People’s reaction generally isn’t accepting, and they need to feel accepted,” said Celestino.

The announcement comes amid heated debate over transgender rights in schools. North Carolina is in the middle of a legal battle with the federal government the over this issue. A recent law in North Carolina said transgender people must use bathrooms according to their birth gender, not how they identify.
Still, assistant superintendent Tony Shah said there are also state and school policies already in place to make sure students feel accepted in Monterey.

“All students, regardless of what gender they conform with, has equal access to his or her education and is educated in a safe and nurturing environment, free of all discrimination,” said Shah.

And so far, Shah said there hasn’t been a need for any changes for transgender students, such as unisex bathrooms.

“We feel very comfortable that students will either use the restroom they conform to as far as gender identify goes, or we will work with the family and the student and allow them access to a staff restroom,” said Shah.

It is a message parents like Celestino said needs to also be taught at home.

“I let them know, ‘hey you can’t judge them, because you don’t know what’s going on,’ and I think it’s showing them a very good message,” said Celestino.