Lower Merion Schools Pass Transgender Policy: Report

LOWER MERION, PA -- The Lower Merion School District became just the fourth school in Pennsylvania to pass a progressive policy on transgender students, the school board determined at a meeting Monday.

The policy lays out privacy regulations, what kinds of names and pronouns to use for transgender students, and addresses other needs, according to Philadelphia Gay News.

Lower Merion is one of five districts in Pennsylvania that have passed similar policies aimed at welcoming transgender students, the report states. Thos distircts are Great Valley, Upper Dublin, Springfield, and Cheltenham.

Students attending the board meeting Monday were happy with the vote, the report states:

After the vote, Kristen Cooney, a junior, and Maxwell Bruno Reiver, a senior, from Harriton High School in the district, streamed into the hallway outside the board room with other students who spoke during the meeting. They hugged and gave each other high fives. Cooney had tears in her eyes.

“This policy is the icing on the cake for [Lower Merion School District] to show that we are a district to be looked up to,” Bruno Reiver said. “As a graduating senior, I cannot express how grateful I am to have attended such a progressive, open-minded institution.”

Bruno Reiver said he first began to explore his gender in 2013 and found Harriton a “positive, supportive community.”

“I, as a trans youth, trying to figure everything out, much like my peers, was treated and regarded as equal to any other student.”

Bruno Reiver spoke along with 24 others, including parents and students; current and former employees; health professionals; a reverend; and Ilene Wasserman, chair of the Lower Merion Human Relations Commission. Everyone who offered comment was in favor of the policy, called policy 259 for gender expansive and transgender students.

Pittsburgh schools will reportedly vote on a similar policy in the coming month.