Mixed Gender Locker Rooms At Harford County Public Schools Upset Student, Parents

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A Maryland state senator has contacted Harford County Public Schools leaders regarding a middle-schooler whose parents say their child suffered mental anguish because of mixed gender locker rooms at school.

School officials said they received no complaints from a student or parents, and the district is following state guidance on gender.

Sen. Bob Cassilly, Legislative District 34 in Harford County, wrote a letter last month addressed to the Harford County School Board stating that he had a "very troubling conversation" with an HCPS student.

"I understand that this school now allows sexually developed (redacted) students to enter the (redacted) locker room and observe the (redacted) changing for gym," Cassilly wrote.

The student reportedly told the legislator that this experience caused "considerable embarrassment and mental anguish" having to disrobe in front of a student of another gender.

"I would like to know by what right the school chooses to override students' natural, healthy, and wholesome desire for physical privacy. By what right does the school intrude upon students' mental, emotional, and spiritual development," Cassilly wrote.

He went on to describe the mental trauma "the school is inflicting" as "outrageous." Cassilly then demanded to meet with school board members.

On Oct. 4, school board president Rachel Gauthier wrote a letter addressed to the legislator. She said that no one on the school board, the superintendent, nor the school principal or staff knew anything about the situation the middle-schooler discussed with the legislator. She also communicated that HCPS follows Maryland State Department of Education guidance regarding issues of gender identify.

"Importantly, the guidelines seek to not only ensure non-discrimination relating to a transgender or a gender non-conforming student, but they also seek to offer respect, safety, and comfort for all students in these sensitive situations. In particular, while a student may be permitted to use a locker room that corresponds to that student's gender identify, other students, such as the (redacted) you referenced in your letter, should also be allowed to feel comfortable," Gauthier wrote.

According to Fox News, the school board said students and parents who feel uncomfortable with the policy can voice their complaints to the school to request accommodations. But neither the student involved nor their parents filed a complaint with the school.

When the Harford County Public Schools system was reached for comment by Fox News, they offered a response:

"This is not an HCPS policy… it is consistent with guidance from MSDE… and federal law," the district wrote. "As noted in the Board response to Mr. Cassilly, we were not aware of any student concern prior to Mr. Cassilly’s letter. At the time of this email to you, no student or parent/guardian has come forward with any concern related to that presented in Mr. Cassilly’s letter."

View copies of the letters below and on the school district's website at https://www.hcps.org/news/news...