Parents, School Board Clash Over Transgender Policy In Bridgewater-Raritan

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Emotions ran high at a packed Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Board of Education meeting on Tuesday with parents coming out in droves to support or criticize Policy 5756(Transgender Student Guidance for School Districts).

About 50 parents came to the meeting and spoke over two hours during public comment to share their opinions on the policy. This followed the Feb. 25 BOE meeting when Board members Lanfang "Lucy" Li and Jeremy Li introduced a vote to abolish the policy. Read More: 2 School Board Members Try To Abolish Transgender Student Policy In Bridgewater-Raritan

"This policy is fundamentally flawed and must be revoked," said Bridgewater Councilman Filipe Pedroso, who spoke as a father of children in the district. "Yes some families may struggle to accept [a transgender child] but most parents in our community may offer the love, guidance, and support their child needs. Cutting parents out does more harm than good."

Parent Jennifer Menendez, who used to have children in the district, stressed that repealing this policy could "out" students at risk.

"Your job on the Board is to do what is right for the kids, NOT the parents," said Menedez. "I implore that you let the child come out when they are ready not out them before they are ready because the difference may be dramatic. And we are talking suicides."

Another parent who identified herself as Kaity demanded the school board repeal the policy claiming "it is a reckless rule that endangers" her daughter.

Kaity pointed to President Donald Trump's executive order recognizing male and female as the only two sexes and added that the Board could risk losing federal funding if they do not repeal the policy.

"Some of you frame this as progressive a badge of honor in a liberal game but it is not brave it’s spineless dressed up as compassion," said Kaity. "Ignoring biology isn’t enlightened, it’s delusional. Risking their privacy isn’t generous, it's negligent. Gambling our funding isn’t clever, it’s reckless roulette with our kids' lives."

Many doctors, counselors, and teachers also spoke and listed the risks of "outing" students and cited The Trevor Project(a suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people):

• 39 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year — including 46 percent of transgender and nonbinary young people. LGBTQ+ youth of color reported higher rates than White peers.
• More than half (54 percent) of transgender and nonbinary young people found their school to be gender-affirming, and those who did reported lower rates of attempting suicide.

Parent Frank Morano who serves as Vice Chair of the Somerset County LGBTQ Advisory Board thanked the Board for not repealing the policy at the Feb. 25 meeting and continued to advocate for keeping the policy in place.

"If this policy is rescinded any harm or self-harm that comes to any transgender nonbinary student is on the hands of this Board," said Morano. "Protect the children you have been elected to. With the present policies in place these students, which we all know have a higher rate of suicide or a safe place to live, as they're authentic self without fear."

Another parent Loretta Grace spoke about having a nonbinary child and a transgender child and how one of them was hospitalized for suicidal ideation because of the gender dysphoria they felt.

Following public comment, Jeremy Li once again made a motion to rescind Policy 5756. However, no other Board member seconded the motion and Li ultimately rescinded his request.

Board member Jennifer Loughran also asked that the Academic Committee review Policy 5756 and compare it to the New Jersey School Board Association Gender Identity and Expression policy, which Lucy Li brought up at the previous meeting.

"There are several reasons why I feel this policy is more inclusive. It addresses many of the concerns people have brought to this Board that board members have discussed without taking away anything, without outing anybody. And I think it would be a disservice to not review this policy and consider it in place of the current one that we have," said Loughran.

Superintendent Robert Beers said there was a "growing frustration" as he said the schools follow the policy as it is based on law.

"The change in policy will do absolutely zero. And I will say it again, it will do nothing to change our practice and protocols. It’s a pure political game. That’s all it is. And I know people have their talking points but this is about politics," said Beers. "I have tremendous respect for everyone who spoke tonight but this was all due to a political stunt and it was no more than that."

Loughran disagreed with Beers' statements adding that, "Politics are directly tied to policy. We are elected based on our character and based on who believes that we represent them and our job as a Board of Education is to review policy so I didn’t bring this up because I am being political. I brought this up because I listened to everybody at the board meeting."

Beers noted that those who disagree with the law or policy are protesting in the wrong place.

"We don't legislate here in Bridgewater. They legislate in Trenton," said Beers.

"I will tell you as the leader of this district we are following the guidance from the [Department of Education] and we are not going to deviate from that. And if people need to escort me out the door, have at it. But we’re going to follow this guidance," said Beers.

Board member Barry Walker questioned Loughran about what will be the effect of changing the policy?

Loughran said the NJSBA policy addresses gender identity and expression.

Walker pointed to Policy 5756 which also addresses the same topic.

"In the first line of the first paragraph of the [Policy 5756] document, 'It generally makes it unlawful for schools to subject individuals to differential treatment of gender identity and expression.' That’s in the first paragraph," said Walker.

"I am not sure I like the [NJSBA] policy any better and I am not sure it meets the needs any better but if you want to send it to committee to discuss it I am good with it," said Walker.

After close to a four-hour meeting, Board President Steven Singer asked that they stop talking in circles. "At this point, we have talked about this ad nauseam."

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